Basketball is essentially a game of math masked by a lot of sweat and high-flying dunks. If you want to score the most points, you generally have to fire the most bullets. It’s a simple formula that becomes incredibly complex when you look at the names at the top of the mountain. Most people assume the person with the most points naturally took the most shots. That's a fair guess, but in the NBA, "fair" doesn't always account for free throws, three-point efficiency, or pure, unadulterated longevity.
When we talk about the most shots taken in NBA history, we’re looking at Field Goal Attempts (FGA). This doesn’t include free throws. It’s just every time a player let the ball fly toward the rim during live play.
The King of the Volume: LeBron James
As of early 2026, the man at the absolute summit is LeBron James. Honestly, it was inevitable. You don't play at an All-NBA level for over two decades without racking up some serious mileage on your shooting arm. LeBron officially passed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for this specific record back in late 2023, and he hasn't looked back since.
By the time the 2025-26 season hit its stride, LeBron’s career regular-season attempts soared past the 30,900 mark. Think about that number for a second. It's staggering. If you averaged 20 shots a game, every single night, without ever missing a game for injury or rest, it would take you nearly 19 seasons just to reach where he is now.
But LeBron isn't just a regular-season volume shooter. If you factor in the playoffs—where he has taken nearly 6,000 shots on his own—the gap between him and everyone else starts to look like a canyon. He’s the only player to ever cross the 30,000 mark in regular-season attempts, effectively ending the debate on who the ultimate "Iron Man" of the offensive end is.
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The Skyhook vs. The Mailman
For decades, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar held the crown. His total of 28,307 attempts was long considered a "safe" record. Kareem’s longevity was legendary, but his shot profile was very different from the modern era. He lived in the post. Almost every one of those 28k shots was a high-percentage look or a skyhook.
Then you have Karl Malone. The "Mailman" delivered 26,210 shots over his career. What’s wild about Malone is that he actually took fewer shots than Kobe Bryant for a long time, despite playing more games.
Why the Ranking Shifts
- Kobe Bryant: Finished with 26,200 attempts. He’s essentially tied with Malone, but he did it in about 130 fewer games. Kobe's "mamba mentality" basically meant if he saw a sliver of daylight, the ball was going up.
- Michael Jordan: He "only" took 24,537 shots. Why so low? Retiring twice in your prime will do that to your stats. If MJ hadn't gone to play baseball or retired after the second three-peat, he’d likely be sitting comfortably at number one or two.
- Wilt Chamberlain: The man who once took 63 shots in a single game (the 100-point night) finished with 23,497. His career was shorter than the modern legends, or he might have broken the rim.
The Burden of the Miss
You can’t talk about the most shots taken in NBA history without mentioning the most misses. It’s the "dark side" of being a superstar. To take the most, you have to miss the most.
LeBron James now holds the record for most missed field goals in history, having surpassed Kobe Bryant’s previous record of 14,481. It sounds like a "bad" stat, but it’s actually a badge of honor. Coaches don't let you miss 14,000 shots unless you're winning them a lot of games in the process.
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Kobe held that "most misses" title for years. People used to clown him for it, but the reality is that the list of top missers is basically just a list of the top 10 players to ever pick up a basketball. Elvin Hayes, John Havlicek, and Karl Malone are all right there. If you aren't a threat, you aren't shooting enough to miss that much.
The Active Leaders Chasing Shadows
Behind LeBron, the active leaderboard is a mix of "old guard" legends and high-volume guards.
- Russell Westbrook: He’s moved into the top 12 all-time with over 22,000 attempts. Say what you want about his efficiency, but Russ is going to get his looks.
- Kevin Durant: KD is creeping up toward that 22k mark as well. The difference? He makes a much higher percentage of them.
- James Harden and Stephen Curry: Both are hovering around the 19,000 range. Curry is a unique case because so many of his attempts are three-pointers. In the old days, a "shot" was a 15-footer. Now, it's a 30-foot bomb.
Does This Stat Actually Matter?
Sorta. It tells us about usage. It tells us who the "Alpha" was on their team for two decades. When you look at the history of the league, the "Most Shots Taken" list is the ultimate "Who's Who."
It’s not just about being a "ball hog." It’s about being the person your team trusts when the clock is winding down and the season is on the line. You don't get to take 30,000 shots by accident. You get there by being the best option for 1,500 straight games.
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Real Talk on Efficiency
If we look at LeBron vs. Kareem, LeBron actually took fewer games to reach the same scoring heights because he utilized the three-point line. Kareem took more shots inside, whereas LeBron's 30,900+ attempts include thousands of threes. This changed the math of the game. A shot is no longer just a shot; it’s a mathematical decision based on distance and probability.
How to Track This Yourself
If you’re a stat nerd and want to keep an eye on these numbers as the 2026 season progresses, there are a few places that are better than others.
- Basketball-Reference: This is the gold standard. They update daily. Look for the "Career Leaders and Records for Field Goal Attempts" page.
- NBA.com/Stats: A bit more "corporate" but they have the best tracking for active streaks.
- StatMuse: Great if you want to ask weirdly specific questions like "Who took the most shots on a Tuesday in March?"
Keep an eye on Kevin Durant. He’s the most likely candidate to make a massive jump in the all-time rankings over the next 18 months, provided his legs hold up.
Next Steps for the Fan
Go check the current box scores for the Lakers. Every night LeBron plays, he is literally extending a record that might not be broken for another fifty years. Look at the "FGA" column. If he takes 15 shots tonight, that's 15 more steps away from the rest of human history. Compare that to a young star like Luka Doncic, who is currently averaging over 22 attempts per game. At that pace, Luka would need to play about 1,400 games to catch LeBron. That’s roughly 17 more seasons of perfect health. Good luck with that.