The purple and gold jersey carries a heavy weight. It’s not just the fabric; it’s the sheer volume of buckets that have been dropped in it over the decades. When you look at the Lakers all time scoring list, you aren't just looking at a spreadsheet of names and numbers. You’re looking at the evolution of basketball itself. From the set shots of the 50s to the skyhooks of the 80s and the logo threes of today, this list is basically a history book of greatness.
Honestly, the list is a bit of a mind-bender. We’re talking about a franchise that has had the luxury of employing three of the top four scorers in NBA history at various points. But here’s the kicker: being a top-five NBA scorer doesn’t automatically make you the king of the Lakers' mountain.
The Top of the Mountain: Kobe Bean Bryant
Let’s get the obvious out of the way. Kobe Bryant is the undisputed leader of the Lakers all time scoring list. 33,643 points. All of them in a Lakers uniform.
That number is staggering. It took him 20 seasons to build that fortress. Think about the consistency required to stay that productive for two decades. Most players are lucky to have a five-year peak; Kobe had a twenty-year obsession. He wasn't just scoring; he was demoralizing defenders with footwork that looked like ballet and a jumper that felt inevitable.
What’s wild is that Kobe actually trails Kareem and LeBron in total career points across the whole league, but on this specific franchise list, he's the runaway winner. Why? Because he never left. He stayed through the Shaq era, the Smush Parker "dark ages," and the late-career resurgence.
Jerry West: The Logo’s Underrated Total
You’ve seen his silhouette on every NBA broadcast since forever, but people kinda forget just how lethal Jerry West was as a pure scorer. He sits at number two with 25,192 points.
- Seasons: 14
- Average: 27.0 PPG
- Era: 1960–1974
West did this without a three-point line. Let that sink in for a second. If "The Logo" played in the modern era with the green light to pull up from deep, his total would be pushing 30k easily. He was the original "Mr. Outside," a guy who could get a bucket from literally anywhere on the hardwood.
The Lakers All Time Scoring List: Breaking Down the Top 10
When we move past Kobe and West, the names start to sound like a Hall of Fame induction ceremony. It’s almost unfair how much talent has moved through Los Angeles.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is third with 24,176 points. Now, casual fans might get confused here. Kareem is the guy who held the NBA's total scoring record for nearly 40 years with over 38,000 points. So why is he third? Simple: he spent the first chunk of his career in Milwaukee. Those 14,000+ points he scored as a Buck don't count toward his Lakers total. But the 24k he dropped in LA? Mostly skyhooks. It’s the most unguardable shot in the history of the game. Period.
Then you have Elgin Baylor. 23,149 points. Elgin was basically the prototype for the modern high-flying wing. He was LeBron before LeBron, a guy who could hang in the air, adjust mid-flight, and still finish with a soft touch. He’s the fourth and final Laker to cross the 20,000-point threshold while wearing the uniform.
Magic and the Showtime Era
Magic Johnson rounds out the top five with 17,707 points. Magic is a weird case because he famously preferred the pass to the shot. He’s the all-time leader in assists for the franchise (10,141), but he was also a 6'9" nightmare in the post. If Magic had been selfish, he’d probably be second on this list. But he wasn't. He wanted to win, and he wanted his teammates to look good doing it.
Here is how the rest of the top tier looks:
- James Worthy: 16,320 points. "Big Game James" was the ultimate transition finisher. If Magic was the engine, Worthy was the turbo boost.
- Shaquille O'Neal: 13,895 points. Shaq only played eight seasons in LA. If he’d stayed for 12, he might have challenged Kobe. He was the most dominant physical force to ever wear the jersey.
- Gail Goodrich: 13,044 points. The "Stumpy" nickname belied a guy who was a scoring machine on the 1972 championship team.
- Byron Scott: 12,780 points. A reliable, lethal shooter who benefitted from the open looks Magic provided.
- Jamaal Wilkes: 10,601 points. "Silk." His jumper looked like it started behind his ear, but it almost always went in.
Where Does LeBron James Fit?
This is the question everyone asks. LeBron James is the NBA's all-time leading scorer. He’s passed 40,000 career points and shows no signs of actually being human. But on the Lakers all time scoring list, he’s still climbing.
As of early 2026, LeBron is deep into the top 15, recently surpassing legends like Pau Gasol. He’s been a Laker for eight seasons now. That’s a significant chunk of time, but it pales in comparison to Kobe’s 20 or West’s 14.
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LeBron’s Laker tenure has been a statistical anomaly. He’s averaging over 25 points a game even into his 40s. While he likely won't catch Kobe for the #1 spot—he’d need another 15,000 points as a Laker for that—he is quickly cementing himself among the franchise's elite producers. It’s a testament to his longevity that he can join a team at age 33 and still end up on their "Mount Rushmore" of scorers.
The Evolution of the Bucket
The game has changed. When George Mikan was leading the Minneapolis Lakers to titles in the 50s, the lane was narrow and the pace was different. Mikan finished with 10,156 points (putting him just outside the top 10).
Modern players have the advantage of the three-point line and a faster pace. But they also face more complex defenses. You can’t really compare West’s 25k to LeBron’s LA points without acknowledging the different worlds they played in. West was taking 20-footers for two points. LeBron is taking 28-footers for three.
Why the List Matters
Fans love to argue about "The Greatest Laker." Usually, it comes down to Kobe vs. Magic. But the scoring list provides a concrete, undeniable metric of contribution. It tells you who showed up, night after night, and put the ball in the hoop.
It’s also a list of heartbreak. Think about Elgin Baylor, who scored over 23,000 points and led the team to eight Finals, but never got a ring. Or Jerry West, who had to lose to the Celtics year after year before finally breaking through in '72. These numbers aren't just points; they’re the scars of a franchise that demands excellence.
What to Watch for Next
The list isn't static. Anthony Davis is moving up. He’s already in the top 30 and, health permitting, could crack the top 10 within a couple of seasons. He currently sits with nearly 700 blocks as a Laker too, proving he's doing it on both ends.
If you want to keep track of this history, don't just look at the totals. Look at the efficiency. Look at the context. A Shaq point in 2000 was a different kind of violence than a Kobe fadeaway in 2010.
Next Steps for the Serious Fan:
- Check the game logs: Look at Basketball-Reference to see how many games it took Shaq vs. Kareem to reach their milestones.
- Watch the tape: YouTube the 1970 Finals to see Jerry West's 60-foot shot; it didn't count for three back then, but it’s still the greatest bucket in team history.
- Track AD: Keep an eye on Anthony Davis’s nightly totals this season as he chases the 10,000-point mark in purple and gold.