Copyright timesnownews
With players from all around the world now making up NBA rosters, basketball has become a genuinely global sport. However, the league's American heritage endures, since many of its finest scorers began their careers on American high school courts and in their hometown gyms. New York has produced some of the highest-scoring NBA players in the history of the league. Using information from Basketball-Reference.com, the top-scoring NBA players born in New York are ranked here. Based on their total NBA career points, players were ranked. Only NBA players with a minimum of 500 career points were taken into account. Additional information included career averages, games played, and minutes played. Data is as of October 29, 2025. 5. Bernard King - City: Brooklyn - Years played: 1978-1993 (14 seasons in the NBA) - Games played: 874 (29,417 total minutes played) - Per game averages: 22.5 PTS, 5.8 REB, 3.3 AST - Total career points: 19,655 4. Carmelo Anthony - City: Brooklyn - Years played: 2004-2022 (19 seasons in the NBA) - Games played: 1,260 (43,514 total minutes played) - Per game averages: 22.5 PTS, 6.2 REB, 2.7 AST - Total career points: 28,289 3. Julius Erving - City: East Meadow - Years played: 1972-1987 (16 seasons in the NBA) - Games played: 1,243 (45,227 total minutes played) - Per game averages: 24.2 PTS, 8.5 REB, 4.2 AST - Total career points: 30,026 2. Michael Jordan - City: Brooklyn - Years played: 1985-2003 (15 seasons in the NBA) - Games played: 1,072 (41,011 total minutes played) - Per game averages: 30.1 PTS, 6.2 REB, 5.3 AST - Total career points: 32,292 1. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar - City: New York - Years played: 1970-1989 (20 seasons in the NBA) - Games played: 1,560 (57,446 total minutes played) - Per game averages: 24.6 PTS, 11.2 REB, 3.6 AST - Total career points: 38,387 A Legacy of TalentThe achievements of these players underscore New York's vital role in shaping basketball talent. The state has a rich basketball culture that has produced numerous stars who have excelled in the NBA. Their successes have not only elevated the game but have also inspired countless aspiring athletes.
