Kareem Abdul-Jabbar vs. LeBron James: Career Scoring Comparison
We break down the scoring legacies of LeBron James and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to determine who has the better numbers. Here you can compare their career totals, points per game, games of 40+ points, 50+, etc. and their year-by-year scoring averages side by side, both in the Regular Season and Playoffs.
LeBron James and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar are among the most prolific scorers in NBA history—with LeBron as the all-time leader they combine for an staggering season total of 80,571 points—and they also have two of the all-time best scoring averages. Here we compare all their scoring stats.
By taking a look at their career numbers for points, the first conclusion one can arrive at is that LeBron James has better scoring stats than Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in averages and totals, both in the regular season and Playoffs. However, we won't stop there and we'll go into detail to analyze what these statistics are made up of, from how many games they had in each threshold (30+ points, 40+, 50+, etc.) to their season-by-season scoring averages.
On this page we compare: |
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Who has better scoring stats? Career Numbers |
Career Numbers
Who has the better scoring stats?
Points in the Regular Season
In his 22 NBA regular seasons played, LeBron James averages 2.4 points more than Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in his 20 seasons (27.0 points against 24.6), and he also scored a total of 3,797 points more (42,184 vs. 38,387).
Points Per Game | Seasons | ||
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 24.6 | 20 | |
| LeBron James | 27.0 | +2.4 | 22 |
Total Points | Seasons | ||
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 38,387 | 20 | |
| LeBron James | 42,184 | +3,797 | 22 |
Scoring Titles | ||
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 2 |  +1 |
| LeBron James | 1 | |
Points in the Playoffs
Similar to what happens in the regular season, in the NBA postseason LeBron James has a better career point average than Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (+4.1 points per game) and he also scored more points (+2,527).
Points Per Game | Playoffs | ||
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 24.3 | 18 | |
| LeBron James | 28.4 | +4.1 | 18 |
Total Points | Playoffs | ||
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 5,762 | 18 | |
| LeBron James | 8,289 | +2,527 | 18 |
Points by Thresholds
Regular Season
60+ Point Games | ||||
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 0 | |||
| LeBron James | 1 | +1 | ||
20+ Point Games | ||||
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 1,122 | |||
| LeBron James | 1,286 | +164 | ||
10+ Point Games | ||||
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 1,509 | |||
| LeBron James | 1,554 | +45 | ||
1+ Point Games (games with points) | ||||
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 1,559 | |||
| LeBron James | 1,562 | +3 | ||
0 Point Games (games without points) | ||||
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 1 | +1 | ||
| LeBron James | 0 | |||
Playoffs
50+ Point Games | ||||
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 0 | |||
| LeBron James | 1 | +1 | ||
20+ Point Games | ||||
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 169 | |||
| LeBron James | 261 | +92 | ||
10+ Point Games | ||||
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 223 | |||
| LeBron James | 290 | +67 | ||
1+ Point Games (games with points) | ||||
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 237 | |||
| LeBron James | 292 | +55 | ||
0 Point Games (games without points) | ||||
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 0 | |||
| LeBron James | 0 | |||
Career Shooting Stats Comparison
Regular Season
Stats Per Game
| Pts | FGM / A | % | 3PM / A | % | FTM / A | % | Yrs | Gms | ||||
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 24.6 | 10.2 | 18.1 | 55.9 | * 0.0 | * 0.0 | * 5.6 | 4.3 | 6.0 | 72.1 | 20 | 1,560 |
| difference: | +2.4 | +0.3 | +1.5 | +5.3 | +1.6 | +4.7 | +29.3 | +1.2 | +1.5 | +1.6 | +2 | +2 |
| LeBron James | 27.0 | 9.9 | 19.6 | 50.6 | 1.6 | 4.7 | 34.9 | 5.5 | 7.5 | 73.7 | 22 | 1,562 |
Total Stats
| Pts | FGM / A | % | 3PM / A | % | FTM / A | % | Yrs | Gms | ||||
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 38,387 | 15,837 | 28,307 | 55.9 | * 1 | * 18 | * 5.6 | 6,712 | 9,304 | 72.1 | 20 | 1,560 |
| difference: | +3,797 | +349 | +2,276 | +5.3 | +2,558 | +7,304 | +29.3 | +1,937 | +2,431 | +1.6 | +2 | +2 |
| LeBron James | 42,184 | 15,488 | 30,583 | 50.6 | 2,559 | 7,322 | 34.9 | 8,649 | 11,735 | 73.7 | 22 | 1,562 |
Notes: Three-point shots were implemented in 1979-80.
* = some years in his career didn't have the stat.
Playoffs
Stats Per Game
| Pts | FGM / A | % | 3PM / A | % | FTM / A | % | Yrs | Gms | ||||
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 24.3 | 9.9 | 18.7 | 53.3 | * 0.0 | * 0.0 | * 0.0 | 4.4 | 6.0 | 74.0 | 18 | 237 |
| difference: | +4.1 | +0.3 | +1.8 | +3.6 | +1.6 | +4.9 | +33.3 | +2.0 | +2.6 | +0.1 | +55 | |
| LeBron James | 28.4 | 10.2 | 20.5 | 49.6 | 1.6 | 4.9 | 33.3 | 6.4 | 8.6 | 74.1 | 18 | 292 |
Total Stats
| Pts | FGM / A | % | 3PM / A | % | FTM / A | % | Yrs | Gms | ||||
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 5,762 | 2,356 | 4,422 | 53.3 | * 0 | * 4 | * 0.0 | 1,050 | 1,419 | 74.0 | 18 | 237 |
| difference: | +2,527 | +615 | +1,562 | +3.6 | +480 | +1,439 | +33.3 | +817 | +1,100 | +0.1 | +55 | |
| LeBron James | 8,289 | 2,971 | 5,984 | 49.6 | 480 | 1,443 | 33.3 | 1,867 | 2,519 | 74.1 | 18 | 292 |
Year by Year Points Average Comparison
= NBA Scoring Leader
= NBA ChampionRegular Season
Rookie Season | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 28.8 | +7.9 | 1970 | 82 |
| LeBron James | 20.9 | 2004 | 79 | |
Season 2 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 31.7 | +4.5 | 1971 | 82 |
| LeBron James | 27.2 | 2005 | 80 | |
Season 3 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 34.8 | +3.4 | 1972 | 81 |
| LeBron James | 31.4 | 2006 | 79 | |
Season 4 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 30.2 | +2.9 | 1973 | 76 |
| LeBron James | 27.3 | 2007 | 78 | |
Season 5 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 27.0 | 1974 | 81 | |
| LeBron James | 30.0 | +3.0 | 2008 | 75 |
Season 6 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 30.0 | +1.6 | 1975 | 65 |
| LeBron James | 28.4 | 2009 | 81 | |
Season 7 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 27.7 | 1976 | 82 | |
| LeBron James | 29.7 | +2.0 | 2010 | 76 |
Season 8 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 26.2 | 1977 | 82 | |
| LeBron James | 26.7 | +0.5 | 2011 | 79 |
Season 9 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 25.8 | 1978 | 62 | |
| LeBron James | 27.1 | +1.3 | 2012 | 62 |
Season 10 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 23.8 | 1979 | 80 | |
| LeBron James | 26.8 | +3.0 | 2013 | 76 |
Season 11 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 24.8 | 1980 | 82 | |
| LeBron James | 27.1 | +2.3 | 2014 | 77 |
Season 12 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 26.2 | +0.9 | 1981 | 80 |
| LeBron James | 25.3 | 2015 | 69 | |
Season 13 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 23.9 | 1982 | 76 | |
| LeBron James | 25.3 | +1.4 | 2016 | 76 |
Season 14 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 21.8 | 1983 | 79 | |
| LeBron James | 26.4 | +4.6 | 2017 | 74 |
Season 15 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 21.5 | 1984 | 80 | |
| LeBron James | 27.5 | +6.0 | 2018 | 82 |
Season 16 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 22.0 | 1985 | 79 | |
| LeBron James | 27.4 | +5.4 | 2019 | 55 |
Season 17 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 23.4 | 1986 | 79 | |
| LeBron James | 25.3 | +1.9 | 2020 | 67 |
Season 18 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 17.5 | 1987 | 78 | |
| LeBron James | 25.0 | +7.5 | 2021 | 45 |
LeBron James' additional seasons: | ||||
* LeBron James played 2 seasons more than Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in the NBA. In those years—his seasons 21 to 22, from 2024 to 2025—he averaged 25.0 points in a total of 141 regular season games. |
Playoffs
Rookie Season | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 35.2 | +35.2 | 1970 | 10 |
| LeBron James | - | DNP | 2004 | 0 |
Season 2 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 26.6 | +26.6 | 1971 | 14 |
| LeBron James | - | DNP | 2005 | 0 |
Season 3 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 28.7 | 1972 | 11 | |
| LeBron James | 30.8 | +2.1 | 2006 | 13 |
Season 4 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 22.8 | 1973 | 6 | |
| LeBron James | 25.1 | +2.3 | 2007 | 20 |
Season 5 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 32.2 | +4.0 | 1974 | 16 |
| LeBron James | 28.2 | 2008 | 13 | |
Season 6 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | - | DNP | 1975 | 0 |
| LeBron James | 35.3 | +35.3 | 2009 | 14 |
Season 7 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | - | DNP | 1976 | 0 |
| LeBron James | 29.1 | +29.1 | 2010 | 11 |
Season 8 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 34.6 | +10.9 | 1977 | 11 |
| LeBron James | 23.7 | 2011 | 21 | |
Season 9 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 27.0 | 1978 | 3 | |
| LeBron James | 30.3 | +3.3 | 2012 | 23 |
Season 10 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 28.5 | +2.6 | 1979 | 8 |
| LeBron James | 25.9 | 2013 | 23 | |
Season 11 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 31.9 | +4.5 | 1980 | 15 |
| LeBron James | 27.4 | 2014 | 20 | |
Season 12 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 26.7 | 1981 | 3 | |
| LeBron James | 30.1 | +3.4 | 2015 | 20 |
Season 13 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 20.4 | 1982 | 14 | |
| LeBron James | 26.3 | +5.9 | 2016 | 21 |
Season 14 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 27.1 | 1983 | 15 | |
| LeBron James | 32.8 | +5.7 | 2017 | 18 |
Season 15 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 23.9 | 1984 | 21 | |
| LeBron James | 34.0 | +10.1 | 2018 | 22 |
Season 16 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 21.9 | +21.9 | 1985 | 19 |
| LeBron James | - | DNP | 2019 | 0 |
Season 17 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 25.9 | 1986 | 14 | |
| LeBron James | 27.6 | +1.7 | 2020 | 21 |
Season 18 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 19.2 | 1987 | 18 | |
| LeBron James | 23.3 | +4.1 | 2021 | 6 |
Season 19 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 14.1 | +14.1 | 1988 | 24 |
| LeBron James | - | DNP | 2022 | 0 |
LeBron James' additional Playoffs: | ||||
* During his 2 additional NBA seasons, LeBron James played in two Playoffs. In those postseasons he averaged 26.6 points in a total of 10 games. |