When scorers peak
For the 50 top scorers in NBA history, points per game at each age as a share of the player's own best season (his best = 100%): the line is the typical player, the shaded band the middle half.
Share of best season, by age
Michael Jordan Peak at 2437.1 a game 
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Peak at 2534.8 a game 
LeBron James Peak at 2131.4 a game 
Kobe Bryant Peak at 2735.4 a game 
Wilt Chamberlain Peak at 2550.4 a game 
Kevin Durant Peak at 2532.0 a game Age of best season
1 21
1 22
1 23
4 24
6 25
4 26
6 27
12 28
3 29
30
5 31
6 32
1 33
Show all 50
| Player | Points | Best season | PPG | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1LeBron James2005-06 | 43,440 | 2005-06 | 31.4 | 21 |
| 2Kareem Abdul-Jabbar1971-72 | 38,387 | 1971-72 | 34.8 | 25 |
| 3Karl Malone1989-90 | 36,928 | 1989-90 | 31.0 | 26 |
| 4Kobe Bryant2005-06 | 33,643 | 2005-06 | 35.4 | 27 |
| 5Kevin Durant2013-14 | 32,597 | 2013-14 | 32.0 | 25 |
| 6Michael Jordan1986-87 | 32,292 | 1986-87 | 37.1 | 24 |
| 7Dirk Nowitzki2005-06 | 31,560 | 2005-06 | 26.6 | 28 |
| 8Wilt Chamberlain1961-62 | 31,419 | 1961-62 | 50.4 | 25 |
| 9James Harden2018-19 | 29,339 | 2018-19 | 36.1 | 29 |
| 10Shaquille O'Neal1999-00 | 28,596 | 1999-00 | 29.7 | 28 |
| 11Carmelo Anthony2006-07 | 28,289 | 2006-07 | 28.9 | 23 |
| 12Moses Malone1981-82 | 27,409 | 1981-82 | 31.1 | 27 |
| 13Elvin Hayes1970-71 | 27,313 | 1970-71 | 28.7 | 25 |
| 14Russell Westbrook2016-17 | 27,176 | 2016-17 | 31.6 | 28 |
| 15Hakeem Olajuwon1994-95 | 26,946 | 1994-95 | 27.8 | 32 |
| 16DeMar DeRozan2021-22 | 26,711 | 2021-22 | 27.9 | 32 |
| 17Oscar Robertson1963-64 | 26,710 | 1963-64 | 31.4 | 25 |
| 18Dominique Wilkins1987-88 | 26,668 | 1987-88 | 30.7 | 28 |
| 19Stephen Curry2020-21 | 26,528 | 2020-21 | 32.0 | 33 |
| 20Tim Duncan2001-02 | 26,496 | 2001-02 | 25.5 | 26 |
| 21Paul Pierce2005-06 | 26,397 | 2005-06 | 26.8 | 28 |
| 22John Havlicek1970-71 | 26,395 | 1970-71 | 28.9 | 31 |
| 23Kevin Garnett2003-04 | 26,071 | 2003-04 | 24.2 | 28 |
| 24Vince Carter2000-01 | 25,728 | 2000-01 | 27.6 | 24 |
| 25Alex English1985-86 | 25,613 | 1985-86 | 29.8 | 32 |
| 26Reggie Miller1989-90 | 25,279 | 1989-90 | 24.6 | 24 |
| 27Jerry West1965-66 | 25,192 | 1965-66 | 31.3 | 28 |
| 28Patrick Ewing1989-90 | 24,815 | 1989-90 | 28.6 | 27 |
| 29Ray Allen2006-07 | 24,505 | 2006-07 | 26.4 | 31 |
| 30Allen Iverson2005-06 | 24,368 | 2005-06 | 33.0 | 31 |
| 31Charles Barkley1987-88 | 23,757 | 1987-88 | 28.3 | 25 |
| 32Robert Parish1981-82 | 23,334 | 1981-82 | 19.9 | 28 |
| 33Adrian Dantley1982-83 | 23,177 | 1982-83 | 30.7 | 28 |
| 34Dwyane Wade2008-09 | 23,165 | 2008-09 | 30.2 | 27 |
| 35Elgin Baylor1961-62 | 23,149 | 1961-62 | 38.2 | 27 |
| 36Chris Paul2008-09 | 23,058 | 2008-09 | 22.8 | 24 |
| 37Damian Lillard2022-23 | 22,598 | 2022-23 | 32.2 | 32 |
| 38Clyde Drexler1988-89 | 22,195 | 1988-89 | 27.2 | 27 |
| 39Gary Payton1999-00 | 21,813 | 1999-00 | 24.2 | 31 |
| 40Larry Bird1987-88 | 21,791 | 1987-88 | 29.9 | 31 |
| 41Hal Greer1967-68 | 21,586 | 1967-68 | 24.1 | 32 |
| 42Giannis Antetokounmpo2022-23 | 21,531 | 2022-23 | 31.1 | 28 |
| 43Walt Bellamy1961-62 | 20,941 | 1961-62 | 31.6 | 22 |
| 44Pau Gasol2006-07 | 20,894 | 2006-07 | 20.8 | 26 |
| 45Bob Pettit1961-62 | 20,880 | 1961-62 | 31.1 | 29 |
| 46David Robinson1993-94 | 20,790 | 1993-94 | 29.8 | 28 |
| 47George Gervin1979-80 | 20,708 | 1979-80 | 33.1 | 28 |
| 48LaMarcus Aldridge2014-15 | 20,558 | 2014-15 | 23.4 | 29 |
| 49Mitch Richmond1996-97 | 20,497 | 1996-97 | 25.9 | 32 |
| 50Joe Johnson2006-07 | 20,407 | 2006-07 | 25.0 | 26 |