As the 2025-26 NBA season looms, the scoring landscape is rich with players climbing both career and seasonal charts.
Below is an in-depth look at the Top 10 NBA Scorers Entering the 2025-26 Season — players whose scoring resumes, projected usage and momentum make them key to watch.
Setting the stage
The hunt for points in the NBA is not simply about volume any more; it’s about efficiency, opportunity and longevity.
Veteran scorers continue to add to their totals even as new challengers emerge.
Entering the 2025-26 season, the Top 10 NBA Scorers Entering the 2025-26 Season aren’t just names — they’re narratives.
Among them, some sit atop the all-time list, others are in mid-career ascents, and every one is important to the scoring story of the league.
Understanding the Top 10 NBA Scorers Entering the 2025-26 Season means keeping an eye on history being written in real time.
The List: Top 10 NBA Scorers Entering the 2025-26 Season
- LeBron James – Topping the career points chart, James continues to defy age and expectation. He’s already passed the 42,000-point mark in regular season alone.
Why he matters: As the all-time leader, every point he adds is another monument in NBA history.
Entering 2025-26: Health and role remain key – if he stays active, his scoring pad only strengthens. - Kevin Durant – Sitting comfortably among the few in the 30,000-point club, Durant remains one of the most efficient scorers in league history.
Why he matters: With his pure scoring touch and shot-creation ability, Durant can both climb the all-time list and dominate nightly.
Entering 2025-26: As long as his health holds, his usage and scoring output remain elite. - James Harden – Though past his peak, Harden is still adding meaningful career points and is among those capable of moving up the all-time list.
Why he matters: He blends volume scoring, free-throw generation and three-point firepower.
Entering 2025-26: His role may evolve, but his scoring imprint remains. - Stephen Curry – The greatest shooter ever, Curry’s scoring credentials go beyond volume; he’s redefined how points are built.
Why he matters: Even as he ages, his shot-creation and scoring versatility keep him firmly in the conversation.
Entering 2025-26: Expect high-efficiency scoring and continued impact beyond traditional volume. - Russell Westbrook – A historic triple-double machine, Westbrook’s scoring numbers in his later career still place him among top active scorers.
Why he matters: His relentless attack and usage mean he can still pile up points.
Entering 2025-26: Role adjustments may limit volume, but every point counts toward his legacy. - DeMar DeRozan – Although not often in the “superstar” category, DeRozan’s steady scoring over years has moved him up the career list.
Why he matters: Consistency in scoring marks him as one of the underrated careers in that realm.
Entering 2025-26: With health and role secured, he remains a high-volume mid-range scorer. - Giannis Antetokounmpo – Still in his elite prime, Giannis may not lead the league in pure scoring volume, but his total output and efficiency keep him in the mix.
Why he matters: His ability to score inside, draw fouls and dominate pace gives him unique scoring value.
Entering 2025-26: He may chase higher volume, and in doing so, join this list in meaningful ways. - Luka Dončić – While still building his career totals, Dončić’s scoring trajectory places him among those to watch for climbing into upper tiers.
Why he matters: High usage, elite skill, and a young age equate to big future scoring impact.
Entering 2025-26: Could be the breakthrough year where his scoring total becomes a major narrative. - Anthony Edwards – Emerging as a high-volume scorer in his young career, Edwards represents the next wave of scorers.
Why he matters: As defenses focus on older stars, he may pick up slack and boost his totals.
Entering 2025-26: Expect a higher ceiling and potential leap in career points. - Nikola Jokić – Unconventional perhaps in this list, but Jokić’s scoring output and all-round game mean his career totals are climbing fast.
Why he matters: Scoring, passing and rebounding make him a unique mix; his point totals will rise.
Entering 2025-26: As he continues to dominate, his place among top scorers becomes more secure.
Why these names?
These players make the cut for the Top 10 NBA Scorers Entering the 2025-26 Season for a combination of factors: career point totals, ongoing point production, usage & role in their teams, and future trajectory.
Some (like LeBron and Durant) are legacy scorers adding to historic totals; others (like Dončić and Edwards) are building toward those heights.
The common thread: they all enter 2025-26 with scoring narratives worth watching.
Looking ahead
The 2025-26 season will serve as both an archival update and a projection platform.
Will LeBron extend his lead? Will Durant chase down legends ahead of him? Can Dončić or Edwards surge into the upper tier of scoring lists? How will roles and health shape output?
For media, analysts and fans alike, keeping track of the Top 10 NBA Scorers Entering the 2025-26 Season gives context to both the present and the past — the scoring story of today and its legacy.
