Do you know which NBA player leads every franchise in total points scored since the turn of the century in 2000?

Since the beginning of the century in 2000, the NBA has steadily, yet rapidly become a much more offensively driven league. From the rule changes that favor offensive players to the vast increase in three-point volume league-wide, the NBA has seen an offensive explosion unlike ever before over the last two decades. Players are breaking scoring records and averaging numbers that would be unheard of other than from a few superstars in the NBA 30-40 years ago, and fans are about as split on the game as they have ever been.

Regardless of how you feel about the game today, there is no doubt that today’s modern-day players are highly s𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁ed and talented when it comes to scoring the basketball. Today, we are going to dive into the history of every NBA team since 2000 while revealing the players who have accumulated the most points with one particular franchise. We will break down how they earned that distinction, as well as the stats and accolades they put up over that time. You are in for a treat, along with many surprises along the way, as we unveil these great offensive players who graced the hardwood between 2000 and today.

These are the leading scorers from every NBA team this century.

Atlanta Hawks – Joe Johnson (10,606 Points)

Joe Johnson, better known to the basketball world as “Iso Joe”, was one of the most talented one-on-one players of his generation. Johnson played with the Hawks for seven seasons from 2006 through 2012 while averaging 20.9 points per game on 44.9% shooting overall. Johnson would earn six All-Star selections and an All-NBA Team selection during this time as well as he helped the Hawks fight for relevance in a tough Eastern Conference.

In six of his seven seasons with the Hawks, Johnson would accumulate at least 1,100 points, with four of those seasons coming with over 1,500 points. Johnson holds this Hawks record by just 200 points over Josh Smith, while Trae Young is climbing the ladder rapidly, already at 8,990 points in five seasons with the Hawks so far. Young should only be a year or two away from taking over the top spot from Johnson in this category, with his sights set on the Hawks’ all-time record in the future.

Boston Celtics – Paul Pierce (23,230 Points)

Paul Pierce would make his rookie debut with the Boston Celtics during the 1998-99 season. That means that pretty much all of Paul Pierce’s career is covered under the umbrella of the parameters we set forth today. Pierce would remain in Boston for 15 seasons in total, giving him plenty of time to accumulate the most points scored since 2000 for their franchise.

During these 14 seasons, Pierce would average 22.0 points per game while shooting 44.7% from the floor. During this time, he would record four seasons with at least 2,000 points in total which included the 2001-02 season when he led the NBA with 2,144 total points. On top of those four seasons, Pierce would also have five other seasons in which he recorded at least 1,5000 points on his way to becoming the all-time leader in points for the Celtics franchise.

When it comes to this record for the Celtics, Pierce remains out in front by over 13,000 points. Jayson Tatum sits in second with 9,865 points, and Jaylen Brown sits in third with 8,428 points. If either of those two players remains in Boston for the remainder of their careers, they should easily pass Pierce not only for the most points scored since 2000 but also for the most points recorded in franchise history. With the way today’s NBA works, all of that could change in an instant.

Brooklyn Nets – Brook Lopez (10,444 Points)

As we covered in previous writings on the most 30-point and 40-point games in every franchise’s history, the Brooklyn Nets have failed to keep an all-time great scorer around with their franchise for more than just a few seasons. For nine seasons from 2009 through 2017, Brook Lopez was that guy for the New Jersey/Brooklyn Nets, amassing over 10,400 points while averaging 18.6 points per game on that stretch.

As the Nets’ all-time leading scorer in team history, Lopez recorded only four seasons in which he surpassed 1,5000 total points and none in which he reached 2,000. Lopez earned the only All-Star selection of his career with the Nets in 2013 and helped them transition their team from the outskirts of New Jersey into the heart of Brooklyn.

Since 2000, Lopez is the only Nets player to eclipse the 10,000-point mark. Vince Carter and Richard Jefferson are the only other players during that time to accumulate at least 8,000 points. With the Nets completely revamping their roster in the last year, there remains no sign as of now of any player coming for Lopez’s throne.

Charlotte Hornets – Kemba Walker (12,009 Points)

If you have been paying attention to all of our articles pertaining to every NBA team and their best scorers, you know Kemba Walker being here for the Hornets is one of the least surprising facts on this list. Walker made his debut for the Hornets in 2011-12 and, over the next eight seasons, became their franchise leader in total points, shots made, three-pointers made, 30-point games, and 40-point games. He averaged 19.8 points per game for those eight years and earned three All-Star selections as well as one All-NBA Team selection during that time as well.

When it comes to Hornets scorers since 2000, no player is even close to Walker’s total. Gerald Wallace was the closest with 7,437 points, while both Terry Rozier and Raymond Feltin sit in third right at 5,300 points in the last 23 years. Walker would record one 2,000-point season in 2019 with the Hornets while also recording three other seasons with over 1,500 points. It will be interesting to see if any player can insert their name into the conversation with Kemba Walker as Charlotte’s greatest score but for now, he remains the one and only.

Chicago Bulls – Luol Deng (10,286 Points)

Raise your hand if you had Luol Deng as the Bulls’ leading scorer since 2000. Anyone? I didn’t think so. Although an owner of one of the worst contracts in NBA history with the Lakers, Deng’s time with the Bulls from 2005 through 2014 was special. In 10 seasons, Deng averaged 16.1 points per game on 46.0% shooting while earning two All-Star selections and an All-Defensive Team selection in 2012.

Despite having just one 1,500-point season in his Chicago career, Deng was able to consistently score enough to hold a slim lead over Zach LaVine for their team’s top scorer since 2000. LaVine has accumulated 8,562 points in nearly 300 games less than Deng as well, and only a trade will prevent him from shattering this record in the next two years. Kirk Hinrich is the only other player for Chicago to accumulate at least 8,000 points since 2000 with 8,536 points.

Cleveland Cavaliers – LeBron James (23,119 Points)

From one of our list’s most surprising leading scorers since 2000 to perhaps the most obvious. LeBron James came into the NBA as a member of the Cavaliers in 2003-04, where he remained through the 2009-10 season. In his first stint with the team, James would accumulate 15,251 points with six straight 2,000-point seasons from 2005 through 2010.

After a four-year stint with the Miami Heat, LeBron James returned to Cleveland with one goal in mind. He would lead them to four straight NBA Finals appearances as well as an NBA championship in 2016. During this stretch, James accumulated 7,868 more points and led the NBA in total points in 2018 with 2,251. In total, James recorded seven 2,000-point seasons in 11 seasons with Cleveland and is their all-time leading scorer by a large margin.

James is the only Cavaliers player since 2000 to record at least 10,000 points, let alone 20,000. The closest player to him in that regard is former teammate Zydrunas Ilgauskas who scored 9,401 points during that stretch. As far as records go for James, this places in comparison to the all-time NBA scoring record he broke in 2023.

Dallas Mavericks – Dirk Nowitzki (31,275 Points)

Dirk Nowitzki is not only the greatest scorer in Dallas Mavericks history, but one of the greatest in NBA history as well. Nowitzki made his NBA debut in the 1998-99 season for Dallas, where he would spend the next 21 years and become the greatest player in franchise history. With his torrid shooting and overall scoring ability, Nowitzki would earn a place among the 10 best scorers of all time with 31,560 total points.

In those 21 seasons, Nowitzki would have five in which he recorded at least 2,000 points. Coincidentally, none came during his 2007 MVP season or 2011 championship season. On top of those five 2,000-point seasons, Nowitxki would also record seven other seasons with at least 1,500 points. During his 21-year career, Nowitzki averaged 20.7 points per game while shooting 47.1% overall and 38.0% from three-point range with Dallas. In 2023, Nowitzki was immortalized forever with an induction into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.

Denver Nuggets – Carmelo Anthony (13,970 Points)

If you were a fan of NBA basketball during the 2000s, then you know exactly how much of a 𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁er Carmelo Anthony was with the Denver Nuggets early in his career. He commanded respect from all three levels as a scorer, and if you didn’t give it to him, he was going to take it. Anthony played for eight seasons with the Nuggets from 2004 through 2011 and averaged 24.8 points per game on 45.9% shooting.

Anthony would record 2,000 points in just one of those seasons but recorded at least 1,5000 points in every other full season he ever played for with Denver. Unfortunately for Carmelo, his record is set to inevitably fall within the next two years. Two-time MVP and 2023 Finals MVP Nikola Jokic sits just 1,916 points behind him for the top-scoring spot since 2000. Jokic should pass Anthony’s mark by the beginning of the 2024-25 season.

Detroit Pistons – Richard Hamilton (11,582 Points)

Richard Hamilton is easily the most talented member of the Detroit Pistons, who never gets the credit he deserves for their 2004 NBA championship run. Hamilton played with the Pistons from 2003 through 2011, where he won one NBA title, appeared in two NBA Finals, and earned three All-Star selections in a row from 2006 through 2008.

Hamilton was never a 2,000-point scorer at any point in his career, but he really didn’t need to be. The Pistons’ entire system was predicated on what they did defensively, and often, it was Hamilton who reaped the benefits on the other end. Hamilton would record two seasons with at least 1,600 points in Detroit as well as five other seasons with at least 1,200 points.

Due to a lack of continuity and failure to nail down a direction they wish to go into the future, the Pistons do not have a single active player who is ready to challenge for Hamilton’s crown as the best Pistons scorer since 2000. Perhaps Cade Cunningham will be there in the future, but for now, he is just a tiny speck in the distance chasing Hamilton from a seemingly insurmountable deficit.

Golden State Warriors – Stephen Curry (21,712 Points)

The Golden State Warriors leading scorer since 2000 had to be one of the more obvious answers on this list. Stephen Curry has completely changed the game in his 14 seasons with the team that has resulted in four NBA championships, a Finals MVP award, two MVP awards, and shattering the NBA’s all-time three-pointers made record.

Curry is obviously a talented scorer outside of the impeccable shooting from any range on the court, but that is what had propelled him to legendary status among the greatest players that ever lived. Despite his dominance as a scorer, Curry had just two seasons in which he surpassed 2,000 points which included his 2016 unanimous MVP season and his 2021 scoring title season. He has also added seven other seasons with at least 1,500 points as well.

Curry’s teammate and fellow Splash Bro, Klay Thomspon, is the only one within striking distance with 14,156 points, but their standings seem unlikely to change given both of their status as Warriors for life. With over 35,000 points combined, it is no wonder why this team has been so dominant since the 2015 season and helped usher in an entirely new era of basketball with their style of play.

Houston Rockets – James Harden (18,365 Points)

When James Harden arrived in Houston in 2012-13, I don’t think anyone was really prepared for the offensive explosion that was about to come. Over the course of eight-plus seasons with the Rockets, Harden would peak as one of the best offensive players in NBA history, averaging over 30.0 points per game for three years straight with three scoring titles and an MVP award.

In his eight-plus seasons with the Rockets, Harden would average 29.6 points per game in 621 games played. He would record an astonishing seven 2,000-point seasons and led the NBA in total scoring four times. Harden’s 18,365 points since 2000 are nearly double that of what Yao Ming produced in his short career with the Rockets in the 2000s. The only current Rockets player with a chance to begin to chase Harden’s scoring record is Jalen Green, who has already accumulated 2,840 points in two seasons in Houston.

Indiana Pacers – Jermaine O’Neal (9,580 Points)

During the 2000s, Jermaine O’Neal had a reputation as one of the fiercest frontcourt players in the entire game. He would spend eight seasons with the Indiana Pacers from 2001 and earn all six of his career All-Star selections, three All-NBA Team selections, and the 2002 Most Improved Player award.

From 2001 through 2008, O’Neal hit his peak as a player on both sides of the ball. He would average 18.6 points per game while shooting 45.8% from the field and added 9.6 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per game to his resume as well. O’Neal’s tenure in Indiana would get a bad rep due to his involvement with the Malice at the Palace incident, but it does not take away from his standing as one of the best players in team history.

Danny Granger actually came incredibly close to being the number-one scorer for Indiana since 2000, finishing just nine points shy of O’Neal with 9,571 points. Paul George follows them up in third place as the only other Pacers player since 2000 to record at least 8,000 points. Current Pacers center Myles Turner is inching close to the top spot here as well, with 6,598 points over the last eight seasons with the team.

Los Angeles Clippers – Blake Griffin (10,863 Points)

During the early 2010s, Blake Griffin turned uncertainty after missing his entire rookie season, into excitement as the Clippers ushered in the Lob City era. Griffin was one of the stars of the show with his incredible athleticism and ability to put the ball in the hoop at a high rate. In eight seasons with the team from 2011 through 2018, Griffin averaged 21.6 points per game while shooting 51.2% from the floor and accumulating 10,863 total points.

Although Griffin’s Clippers would fall short of their championship goal as a team, Griffin thrived and logged seven seasons with the Clippers that totaled over 1,000 points. Griffin never reached the magical 2,000-point season club, but he would eclipse 1,500 points twice in 2011 and 2014.

Griffin’s total points record since 2000 for Los Angeles remains safely intact for the foreseeable future. Superstars Kawhi Leonard and Paul George have only just broken the 4,000-point mark for the franchise, each heading into their fifth season with the team in 2023-24. With all of the uncertainty that has come to surround them annually pertaining to their health, I am not confident in saying that I think either of them can catch Griffin in the near future.

Los Angeles Lakers – Kobe Bryant (30,888 Points)

At this point, Kobe Bryant’s all-time scoring record for the Los Angeles Lakers is under lock and key, perhaps forever. Bryant scored the fourth-most points in NBA history over the course of 20 seasons with the Lakers from 1997 through 2016 with 33,643 points. Bryant would win five NBA championships, two Finals MVPs, an MVP, and two scoring titles with the Lakers during his career as well.

In the 17 seasons he played from 2000 on, Bryant would have eight 2,000-point seasons and lead the NBA in total points four times despite winning only two scoring titles. He would average 25.0 points per game for his career while shooting 44.7% overall. Along with his eight 2,000-point seasons, Bryant would add five other seasons with at least 1,500 points, all of which came between 2000 and the end of his career.

Kobe Bryant’s 30, 888 points are more than 20,000 points higher than any other Lakers player since 2000. Let me say that again. No Lakers player besides Kobe Bryant has reached 10,000 points total since 2000, while Bryant tripled it in 17 years. For reference, LeBron James has a little over 7,600 points scored since 2019, and Anthony Davis has just 4,784 points scored since 2020.

Memphis Grizzlies – Mike Conley (11,733 Points)

Mike Conley was never given the reputation as a scorer, even at his peak with the Memphis Grizzlies early in his career. He was more celebrated for his defensive efforts and for being one of the core members of the Grit and Grind Grizzlies teams. Conley gave the first 12 seasons of his career to the Grizzlies organization, where he earned an All-Defensive Team selection in 2013. In those 12 seasons, Conley would average 14.9 points per game on 44.1% shooting to accumulate over 11,700 points.

One can only assume that Ja Morant is next up to not only take over Conley’s record since 2000 but eventually the all-time Grizzlies scoring record as well. Morant has already scored 5,557 points since the 2020 season and is only improving as an all-around scorer. Now, if he could only stay on the court and out of trouble. Don’t be surprised if teammate Jaren Jackson Jr. gives him a run for his money either. Jackson has already scored 4,391 points in his five seasons with the team as well.

Miami Heat – Dwyane Wade (21,556 Points)

Of course, the Miami Heat’s leader in scoring since 2000, and also their all-time career scoring leader, is Dwyane Wade, with 21,556 points. Wade became the greatest player in franchise history from 2004 through 2016 as well as a return for the 2018 and 2019 seasons. Wade delivered three NBA championships to South Beach as well as a Finals MVP award and 13 All-Star selections while averaging 22.7 points per game over 15 years.

Wade would win one scoring title in 2009 when he averaged 30.2 points per game and had one of his three career 2,000-point seasons. Wade also recorded two other 1,500-point seasons in his career with the Heat while turning Dade County into Wade County and becoming the most beloved figure in the City of Miami. There is no current player even close to within striking distance of Wade at this moment in time. Bam Adebayo leads all active players with 6,146 points, while Jimmy Butler has added 4,958 points.

Milwaukee Bucks – Giannis Antetokounmpo (16,280 Points)

Since 2013-14, Giannis Antetokounmpo has gone from one of the biggest question marks for the Milwaukee Bucks to their greatest player in team history. Giannis is a former two-time MVP and Finals MVP, delivering an NBA championship to the team in 2021. He is also the Bucks’ all-time leader in scoring with 16,280 points which obviously makes him their greatest scorer since 2000 as well.

Giannis began to enter elite levels as a scorer in 2017-18. From that point forward, he has averaged at least 26.9 points per game every season, hitting a career-high in 2023 with 31.1 points per game. He would have two 2,000-point seasons in 2018 and 2022 while also adding five more seasons with at least 1,500 points. With Giannis still entering his prime as a player, it should be an extremely long time before we see any player for Milwaukee approach his record as their greatest scorer this century.

Minnesota Timberwolves – Kevin Garnett (14,562 Points)

For once, this is a scoring record that Karl-Anthony Towns does not hold with the Minnesota Timberwolves, as that title and the team’s all-time scoring still belongs to Kevin Garnett. From 1996 through 2007 and again during the 2015 and 2016 seasons, Kevin Garnett was the heart and soul of a Minnesota Timberwolves team that constantly overachieved. Garnett would average 19.8 points per game over 14 seasons with Minnesota and remains the only MVP in team history.

Garnett would lead the NBA once in scoring in 2004, his MVP season, yet would never record a 2,000-point season in his career. For eight seasons straight from 2000 through 2007, Garnett would accumulate at least 1,600 points every year as one of the premier players in the NBA at the time.

Garnett does face an issue when it comes to his all-time scoring record with Minnesota, though. Karl-Anthony Towns is just behind Garnett with 11,772 points in his Timberwolves career and is looking to pass Garnett for the honor in the next few seasons. Of course, that is as long as he stays out of trade talks. For now, Kevin Garnett remains Minnesota’s greatest scorer since 2000, and in franchise history.

New Orleans Pelicans – Anthony Davis (11,059 Points)

Anthony Davis is still the most accomplished player in New Orleans Pelicans’ history despite his career there coming to an end four years ago. Davis spent the first seven years of his career with New Orleans from 2013 through 2019, where he averaged 23.7 points per game over the course of 466 games. Davis would earn six All-Star selections in New Orleans, but more importantly, became the best player in franchise history almost overnight.

Davis would have his best years with the Pelicans during the 2017 and 2018 seasons. He went back-to-back with 2,000-point seasons those years, with one other season over 1,500 points in 2015. Davis can feel confident in his standing as the Pelicans’ leading scorer since 2000, considering only one active player has over 5,000 career points with the team, and that is Brandon Ingram. The Pelicans are another team in which it will take a long time in order for this record to fall.

New York Knicks – Carmelo Anthony (10,186 Points)

As a New Yorker living there when Carmelo Anthony was finally traded there in 2010-11, I will vouch for the hype and excitement being extremely genuine at the time. That excitement reached an all-time high as Anthony reached deep into his bag and lit up Madison Square Garden on a regular basis. In seven seasons with the Knicks from 2011 through 2017, Anthony averaged 24.7 points per game with seven All-Star selections and a scoring title in 2013 to his name.

Of his seven seasons with the Knicks, Carmelo would record just one 2,000-point season and three other 1,500-point seasons. He was a true three-level threat that really hit his stride as a three-point shooter for some memorable performances. Anthony is in danger of losing this record in the next few seasons if all goes according to plan for New York. Julius Randle is already sitting on 6,343 points with the Knicks since 2020. For the Knicks, they definitely hope Randle continues on that path with championship aspirations after not making a single NBA Finals since 1999.

Oklahoma City Thunder – Russell Westbrook (18,889 Points)

The Oklahoma City Thunder have only existed as a team since the 2008-09 season, which just so happens to be Russell Westbrook’s rookie season. Westbrook would be with the Thunder for the next 11 seasons on his way to securing his spot as one of the best performers in team history. Westbrook would win an MVP in 2017 and two career scoring titles during that time while averaging 23.0 points per game overall.

In 2017 and 2018, Wesbrook would record his only 2,000-point seasons with the Thunder in back-to-back seasons in which he also recorded a triple-double. In total, he would have seven other seasons with at least 1,500 points to go with those historical seasons. The only current player even remotely close to Westbrook’s total with Oklahoma City is budding superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander with 5,667 total points since 2020. With a career-high 31.4 points per game and 2,135 points in 2023, It could come a lot sooner than we think.

Orlando Magic – Dwight Howard (11,435 Points)

During the early stages of his career with the Orlando Magic, there weren’t many, if any, big men in the game better than Dwight Howard on both sides of the ball. Howard would lead the Magic to an NBA Finals appearance in 2009 as well as winning three Defensive Player of the Year awards, five rebounding titles, and two blocks titles.

Howard would be with Orlando for eight seasons from 2005 through 2012. During that time, he would average 18.4 points per game while shooting 57.7% from the field. Howard would not record a single 2,000-point season with the team, but he would record four straight 1,500-point seasons from 2008 through 2011 for the Magic as they tried to build a championship roster around him.

The Magic do not have a long history of great scorers other than Howard, Shaquille O’Neal, and Tracy McGrady. When looking into the future, it seems as if only 2023 rookie Paolo Banchero and teammate Franz Wagner will have the best shot to overthrow Howard in the future, but that is a long time away.

Philadelphia 76ers – Allen Iverson (15,102 Points)

Even when we cut out the first three seasons of Allen Iverson’s career, he is still the best scorer for the 76ers this century by a wide margin. Of all the great scorers in 76ers history, Iverson stands out above the rest. Standing just six-feet tall, Iverson would deliver four scoring titles and an MVP with the Sixers during the 2000s as he became one of the best shooting guards in the history of the game.

With the Sixers this century, Iverson would have four different 2,000-point seasons in 2001, 2003, 2005, and 2006. Iverson was among the best scorers in the NBA during his prime in the 2000s, and it didn’t matter whether the shots were tough or going up against much bigger defenders. As it stands, Joel Embiid has a slim chance to catch Iverson’s record from this century with 10,718 points. The two-time defending scoring champion could possibly pass him within three seasons if he remains in Philadelphia for that long.

Phoenix Suns – Devin Booker (12,688 Points)

With all of the talent that the Phoenix Suns have had over the years in terms of scoring, it is Devin Booker who leads all of them since the 2000 season. It is safe to say that this record is Booker’s for as long as he wishes to hold it. The eight-year guard is just entering his prime at 26 years old, and has shown his offensive abilities are ready to go to the next level.

Booker has been with the Suns for all eight seasons of his career so far and has averaged 23.9 points per game in 530 appearances overall. Booker has yet to have his breakout 2,000-point season as a scorer but has been one of the most consistent shot-makers in all of basketball during his career. Since 2017, Booker has recorded at least 1,500 points in five of seven seasons played, with the other two having injuries to blame as to why he fell short. As his career continues, I expect Booker to be knocking off Walter Davis as the franchise’s all-time leading scorer in no time.

Portland Trail Blazers – Damian Lillard (19,376 Points)

Well, this part of our list is as easy as it gets when talking about a team’s best scorer this century. Damian Lillard debuted in 2012-13 and has risen to the top of the Trail Blazers franchise every season over the last 11 years. He passed Clyde Drexler for the most points in franchise history, meaning his spot at number one was guaranteed before the article even began.

As one of the greatest three-point shooters ever, especially at point guard, Lillard helped usher in the three-point era with his ability to light up the scoreboard. Lillard has two 2,000-point seasons while with Portland and has only fallen below the 1,500-point mark once in 11 seasons. That one season was marred by injuries to his oblique. Lillard should hold onto his scoring record well into the future, with Portland aiming to build through the draft and trade for younger talent along the way. We may have seen the last of Lillard in Portland, but he will leave behind a gap that may never be filled again.

Sacramento Kings – DeMarcus Cousins (9,894 Points)

For the better part of this century, the Sacramento Kings have been a laughingstock of the NBA. After success in the early 2000s, the Kings would not make a single playoff appearance from 2006 through 2022, marking one of the longest droughts in American sports at the time. Also, during this time, the Kings did have their fair share of talent, including a center named DeMarcus Cousins, who was headed for all-time great status.

Cousins played for the Kings from 2011 through 2017, when he was traded to New Orleans. During that time, Cousins had averaged 21.1 points per game over the course of 470 games played. Cousins was never a 2,000-point scorer type of player, but he would eclipse 1,500 points five times.

Unlike many other franchises on this list, Cousins’ record is no longer safe in Sacramento for scorers this century. Current Kings superstar guard De’Aaron Fox is rapidly approaching Cousins’ total with 7,974 points total in his young career thus far. Given the state of the Kings today, and their return to the playoffs, Fox should be able to break this record within the next three years.

San Antonio Spurs – Tim Duncan (23,681 Points)

Even though he is the greatest power forward in NBA history, Tim Duncan is rarely celebrated for his abilities on the offensive side of the ball. When you’re as good of a defender as Duncan, and have a somewhat boring offensive game, that tends to be the case. Regardless, even without his first two seasons, Duncan takes the title for greatest scorer this century for the Spurs while leading them to four NBA championships during that time as well.

Even at his absolute best, Duncan would have just one 2,000-point season in his career in 2002. The reason for his leading scoring this century can only be attributed to his 17 seasons in black and silver from 2000 through 2017. It is going to take a once-in-a-lifetime play to dethrone Duncan for his franchise lead in scoring this century but luckily for San Antonio, they just may have one in Victor Wembanyama set to make his debut in 2023-24.

Toronto Raptors – DeMar DeRozan (13,296 Points)

The Raptors are another team who has struggled to find a franchise scorer over the last 23 seasons. For now, DeMar DeRozan remains their leading scorer since 2000, with over 13,000 points scored between 2010 and 2018. DeRozan averaged 19.7 points per game during those nine seasons while making four All-Star teams as well.

The 2016-17 season would be a special one for DeRozan as he poured in over 2,000 points for the first and only time in a Raptors uniform. He had three other seasons with over 1,500 points as well, which helped him become the greatest scorer this century for Toronto. Current Raptors star Pascal Siakam is slowly making his way to the top of this list. Siakam has accumulated 8,010 points in seven seasons with the Raptors, meaning he could get there in no time if he stays with the team for a few more seasons.

Utah Jazz – Andrei Kirilenko (8,411 Points)

For a franchise that the third all-time leading scorer in NBA history calls home, it feels wrong that only three players have reached 8,000 points with the team since 2000. One of those players, the Jazz’s best scorer this century Andrei Kirilenko, was much more well-known for his defensive ability than his scoring s𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁s, making this much worse in a way for Utah fans.

Kirilenko spent 10 seasons with the Jazz from 2002 through 2011, where he averaged only 12.4 points per game over that time. Forget 2,000-point seasons, Kirilenko would only register two seasons in which he even passed 1,000 points over a 10-year span. Despite that fact, Kirilenko is crucial to Utah’s legacy as a franchise and helped usher in new eras once the Stockton/Malone era was officially over.

Washington Wizards – Bradley Beal (15,391)

Bradley Beal is no longer a member of the Washington Wizards in 2023, but he leaves behind a legacy that few have matched in that uniform. Beal poured in over 15,000 points in 11 seasons with the team from 2013 through 2023. He also holds the record for most 40-point games in team history with 30 and averaged 22.1 points per game in his time with the team.

The most points Beal ever scored in a season for Washington came in 2019 when he scored 2,099 points. He followed that up with back-to-back 30.0 points per game seasons in 2020 and 2021. Only John Wall reached the 10,000-point mark as a scorer for Washington since 2000, and no current players have even reached the 3,000-point mark at this time. For anyone to catch Beal, they will have to display the loyalty and s𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁 it took Beal to last over a decade in the DMV.