MANILA, Philippines – NBA superstar Kobe Bryant has overtaken basketball legend Michael Jordan for the number 3 spot of all-time scorers on Sunday (US time).
Here is the #InquirerSeven top NBA scorers of all time according to NBA.com:
1. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (Professional career 1969–1989) 38,387 points
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had an average of 24.6 points, 11.2 rebounds, and 3.6 assists in his 20 year career. His signature move is the “Sky Hook” which was virtually impossible to block. Jabbar also holds the record for most blocked shots, most MVP awards, and most All-Star Games played.
2. Karl Malone (1985–2004) 36,928 points
Known as “The Mailman,” Karl Malone is considered as “the greatest power forward of all time.” Aside from being the second highest scorer of all
time, he also holds the record for most free throws and defensive rebounds in NBA’s history.
3. Kobe Bryant (1996–present) 32,293 points (as of Dec 15, 2014)
Bryant has been repeatedly compared to Michael Jordan during his career for leading his team to win five championship titles and for being a proficient scorer. Bryant has also played twice in the US Olympics team winning two gold medals and was two-time NBA Finals MVP as well as four-time NBA All-star game MVP.
“It’s a huge honor to be here in this position,” Bryant said in a report this week. “I can’t believe I’ve scored that many points, especially from where my career started, not playing and things like that. It’s a huge honor. It wasn’t something I thought about growing up as a kid. It was championships. The numbers aren’t something I’ve ever started out to accomplish.”
4. Michael Jordan (1984–1993, 1995–1998, 2001–2003) 32,292 points
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gBSYqK4HkM
Widely regarded as “the greatest basketball player of all time” Jordan has
been given several titles such as “His Airness” and “Air Jordan” to depict
his unparalleled game. Magic Johnson had said that “there’s Michael Jordan
and then there is the rest of us,” while Larry Bird said that what he saw
was “God disguised as Michael Jordan.”
5. Wilt Chamberlain (1959–1973) 31,419 points
Described as an “unstoppable force,” Chamberlain was among the most
proficient scorers in NBA history. He holds the record for most points
(100) in a single game, most consecutive field goals (18), and most
rebounds in a game (55).
6. Shaquille O’Neal (1992–2011) 28,596 points
Shaq led the Los Angeles Lakers to three consecutive championship titles
from 2000 to 2002. His sheer size and strength on the court made stopping
him the most important topic of discussion for any coach playing against
the Lakers.
7. Moses Malone (1974–1995) 27,409 points
Among the greatest centers of NBA history, Malone used his strength, and
quickness to become the NBA’s top rebounder six times in a seven-year span.
He retired after the 1995 season with a total 27,409 points scored and
16,212 rebounds.