NBA

Who Has the Most Career Points in the NBA All-Star Game?

Luke Norris Sports Editor

Published04 Mar 2021

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First played in 1951, the NBA All-Star Game has been the showcase for the league’s greatest players for six decades now. As defense isn’t often a priority, fans have been treated to some great offensive performances in that time.

Naturally, the all-time leading scorers in the game are those who play in the game year after year, such as the five men who appear on this list — LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Kevin Durant — who have combined to play in the NBA All-Star Game 75 times following the 2023 edition.

Here’s a quick look at those 75 performances as we count down the top five scorers in NBA All-Star Game history.

5. Kevin Durant — 250 (10 games)

Kevin Durant appeared in his first NBA All-Star Game in his third season in the league and has been an All-Star nearly every year since — well, kinda.

While consistently voted in, KD hasn’t appeared in the game since 2019 due to various injuries.

2010: 15 points (7-14 FG, 1-3 3P, 0-0 FT)
2011: 34 points (11-23 FG, 4-11 3P, 8-8 FT)
2012: 36 points (14-25 FG, 3-8 3P, 5-7 FT)
2013: 30 points (13-24 FG, 3-8 3P, 1-1 FT)
2014: 38 points (14-27 FG, 6-17 3P, 4-4 FT)
2015: 3 points (1-6 FG, 1-6 3P, 0-0 FT)
2016: 23 points (11-18 FG, 1-8 3P, 0-0 FT)
2017: 21 points (9-16 FG, 2-8 3P, 1-2 FT)
2018: 19 points (7-13 FG, 3-8 3P, 2-2 FT)
2019: 31 points (10-15 FG, 6-9 3P, 5-5 FT)

4. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar — 251 (18 games)

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar once held the record for the most NBA All-Star Game appearances with 18 but was surpassed in 2023 by LeBron James.

Kareem was actually a 19-time All-Star but chose not to play in 1973. The only time he didn’t make the All-Star team during his 20-year career was in 1978.

1970: 10 points (4-8 FG, 2-2 FT)
1971: 19 points (8-16 FG, 3-4 FT)
1972: 12 points (5-10 FG, 2-2 FT)
1974: 14 points (7-11 FG, 0-0 FT)
1975: 7 points (3-10 FG, 1-2 FT)
1976: 22 points (9-16 FG, 4-4 FT)
1977: 21 points (8-14 FG, 5-6 FT)
1979: 11 points (5-12 FG, 1-2 FT)
1980: 17 points (6-17 FG, 5-6 FT)
1981: 15 points (6-9 FG, 3-3 FT)
1982: 2 points (1-10 FG, 0-0 FT)
1983: 20 points (9-12 FG, 2-3 FT)
1984: 25 points (11-19 FG, 3-4 FT)
1985: 11 points (5-10 FG, 1-2 FT)
1986: 21 points (9-15 FG, 3-4 FT)
1987: 10 points (4-9 FG, 2-2 FT)
1988: 10 points (4-9 FG, 2-2 FT)
1989: 4 points (1-6 FG, 0-1 3P, 2-2 FT)

3. Michael Jordan — 262 (13 games)

Michael Jordan played parts of 15 NBA seasons and was named an All-Star every year but one, that being the season in which he wasn’t even in the league when the NBA All-Star Game was played. That, of course, was the 1994-1995 season in which he famously returned just ahead of the playoffs. MJ also missed the 1986 game with a broken foot.

1985: 7 points (2-9 FG, 0-1 3P, 3-4 FT)
1987: 11 points (5-12 FG, 0-1 3P, 1-2 FT)
1988: 40 points (17-23 FG, 0-0 3P, 6-6 FT)
1989: 28 points (13-23 FG, 0-1 3P, 2-4 FT)
1990: 17 points (8-17 FG, 1-1 3P, 0-0 FT)
1991: 26 points (10-25 FG, 0-2 3P, 6-7 FT)
1992: 18 points (9-17 FG, 0-0 3P, 0-0 FT)
1993: 30 points (10-24 FG, 1-2 3P, 9-13 FT)
1996: 20 points (8-11 FG, 0-0 3P, 4-4 FT)
1997: 14 points (5-14 FG, 0-0 3P, 4-7 FT)
1998: 23 points (10-18 FG, 1-1 3P, 2-3 FT)
2002: 8 points (4-13 FG, 0-0 3P, 0-0 FT)
2003: 20 points (9-27 FG, 0-2 3P, 2-2 FT)

2. Kobe Bryant — 290 (15 games)

Kobe Bryant made his first NBA All-Star Game appearance in his second year with the Lakers and was voted into the game every year after that. There was no All-Star Game in 1999 due to the lockout, and he was forced to miss a few near the end of his career with a string of injuries. Since his tragic death in 2020, the league has changed the game’s rules to honor him, and the MVP trophy, which he won a record four times, now bears his name.

1998: 18 points (7-16 FG, 2-3 3P, 2-2 FT)
2000: 15 points (7-16 FG, 1-4 3P, 0-0 FT)
2001: 19 points (9-17 FG, 1-2 3P, 0-0 FT)
2002: 31 points (12-25 FG, 0-4 3P, 7-7 FT)
2003: 22 points (8-17 FG, 3-5 3P, 3-6 FT)
2004: 20 points (9-12 FG, 2-3 3P, 0-1 FT)
2005: 16 points (7-14 FG, 2-5 3P, 0-0 FT)
2006: 8 points (4-11 FG, 0-5 3P, 0-0 FT)
2007: 31 points (13-24 FG, 3-9 3P, 2-2 FT)
2008: 0 points (0-0 FG, 0-0 3P, 0-2 FT)
2009: 27 points (12-23 FG, 3-8 3P, 0-0 FT)
2011: 37 points (14-26 FG, 2-7 3P, 7-8 FT)
2012: 27 points (9-17 FG, 2-5 3P, 7-8 FT)
2013: 9 points (4-9 FG, 0-3 3P, 1-2 FT)
2016: 10 points (4-11 FG, 1-5 3P, 1-2 FT)

1. LeBron James — 426 (19 games)

The only season of LeBron James’ career in which he wasn’t an All-Star was his rookie season of 2003-2004. The four-time champion has played in every NBA All-Star Game since and scored in double digits every year until 2021.