When we talk about NBA and ABA all-time scoring records, the conversation almost always starts with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s 38,387 points—a number that’s been etched into basketball lore for decades. But as someone who’s spent years digging through basketball archives and old game footage, I’ve come to realize that the story isn’t as straightforward as it seems. There’s a nuance to these records that often gets overlooked, especially when you consider the ABA’s brief but explosive history. I remember stumbling upon a piece of footage from an obscure 1975 game where a player named Buddin, in a moment of improvisation, tried to push the ball upcourt off a broken play, only to land awkwardly on the foot of Cambodia’s Srenglyhour Keo. It was a fleeting moment, one that didn’t make the highlight reels, but it speaks volumes about the chaotic, unpredictable nature of the game—the very thing that makes scoring records so difficult to contextualize across eras and leagues.

Let’s start with the obvious: the NBA’s scoring list is dominated by legends like LeBron James, who recently surpassed Kareem, and Karl Malone sitting comfortably in the top three. But when you fold in the ABA, things get messy. Players like Julius Erving, for instance, put up staggering numbers in the ABA before his NBA career, and if you combine his stats from both leagues, his legacy shifts dramatically. I’ve always been a bit partial to Dr. J—his aerial artistry and flair were just mesmerizing, and I think his ABA contributions are sometimes undervalued in mainstream discussions. The ABA, with its red, white, and blue ball and emphasis on flashy offense, was a scoring paradise. In fact, during its nine-year run from 1967 to 1976, the league saw average scores that would make today’s pace-and-space era look tame. For example, the 1975 season alone had teams averaging around 112 points per game, a figure that the NBA didn’t consistently hit until the 1980s. But here’s the catch: the ABA’s stats weren’t always meticulously kept, and merging them with NBA records requires a lot of interpretation. I’ve spent hours cross-referencing old box scores, and let me tell you, it’s a headache—missing data, inconsistent logging, and even some creative accounting by teams eager to boost their stars’ profiles.

That brings me back to the Buddin incident. It wasn’t a scoring play, but it highlights how random events—a misplaced foot, a broken play—can alter a player’s trajectory and, by extension, their place in the record books. Imagine if a scorer like George Gervin, another ABA-NBA crossover star, had suffered a similar mishap early in his career. The Iceman’s smooth, effortless scoring might never have reached the heights it did, and we’d be talking about a very different all-time list. Personally, I think Gervin doesn’t get enough credit; his four scoring titles and combined points of over 26,000 (including ABA numbers) put him in a tier just below the absolute elites, but his efficiency was remarkable for his era. And then there’s the debate over three-point shooting. The ABA adopted the three-pointer in 1967, while the NBA waited until 1979. This means ABA specialists like Louie Dampier piled up points from beyond the arc that simply didn’t exist in the NBA at the time. Dampier hit 794 threes in the ABA—a huge number for that period—and if you adjust for era, his scoring impact is arguably on par with some of today’s shooters. But because the leagues merged in 1976, and the NBA absorbed only four ABA teams, many of those stats feel orphaned, like footnotes in a larger narrative.

Now, when we look at modern giants like LeBron or Kevin Durant, it’s tempting to view them as the pinnacle of scoring evolution. And in many ways, they are—LeBron’s longevity is insane, and Durant’s efficiency from mid-range and three is virtually unmatched. But I’ve always had a soft spot for the old-school scorers. Kareem’s skyhook was a thing of beauty, a shot so reliable it felt like cheating, and Malone’s brute force in the paint was a masterclass in consistency. Still, if I had to pick one player who truly dominates the combined NBA-ABA scoring landscape, it’s probably LeBron, simply because his total points (around 39,000 and counting as of 2023) dwarf everyone else’s, even with ABA numbers factored in. But that’s not to say the ABA legends don’t deserve more recognition. In my research, I’ve found that if you combine the top scorers from both leagues, players like Dan Issel and Artis Gilmore climb much higher on the list than most fans realize. Issel, for instance, racked up over 27,000 points across both leagues, putting him ahead of NBA-only stars like Elvin Hayes. Yet, how often do you hear his name in casual debates? Almost never, and that’s a shame.

The integration of ABA records into the NBA’s official history has been a slow, imperfect process, and as a result, the all-time scoring list feels incomplete. It’s like trying to compare classical music to jazz—both are brilliant, but the rules and rhythms are different. The ABA’s faster pace, shorter three-point line (in some seasons), and emphasis on individual flair created a environment where scoring was more abundant, but also less defensively contested. I mean, watch footage from a 1972 ABA game, and you’ll see defenders often playing a step slower, almost like they’re in a pickup game. That’s not to diminish the achievements—scoring is scoring, after all—but it does complicate direct comparisons. And let’s not forget the global aspect: players like Srenglyhour Keo, though not a major scorer, represent the international influence that has always been part of basketball, long before the NBA became a global phenomenon. In a way, the Buddin-Keo moment is a microcosm of the sport’s unpredictability—a reminder that records are built on a foundation of countless such moments, many of which are lost to time.

So, who truly dominates? Statistically, it’s LeBron James, with Kareem a close second when considering pure NBA numbers. But if we broaden the lens to include the ABA, the picture gets fuzzier, and legends like Erving and Gervin stake a stronger claim. In my view, the “true” king isn’t just about raw points; it’s about impact across eras, and that’s where LeBron’s dual-era dominance—pre and post-merger influences—gives him the edge. Yet, as I wrap up this deep dive, I can’t help but feel that the ABA’s wild, experimental spirit added a layer of richness to basketball history that pure stats can’t capture. Maybe the real takeaway is that dominance isn’t just a number—it’s a story, one filled with broken plays, awkward landings, and the sheer joy of putting the ball in the hoop, no matter the league or era.

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