The Most Prolific NBA Scorers of the 1980s
The 1980s were an exciting decade for the National Basketball Association (NBA). From the Showtime Lakers to the battles between Larry Bird and Magic Johnson, the decade saw some of the greatest players in NBA history. However, one of the most remarkable achievements of the decade was the sheer number of points scored by NBA players.
In this article, we’ll take a look at who scored the most points in the NBA during the 1980s. We’ll examine the stats, the players, and the teams that dominated the decade.
The 1980s: A Decade of High-Scoring Games
The 1980s saw a surge in scoring across the league. Thanks to rule changes, the game was faster and more wide-open. The result was a series of high-scoring games, many of which remain among the highest-scoring games in NBA history.
In the 1980-81 season, for instance, the Denver Nuggets and Detroit Pistons played a game that ended with a score of 186-184. That game remains the highest-scoring game ever in the NBA. During the decade, the average points per game increased from a low of 115.2 to a high of 118.8 in the 1989-90 season.
The Players Who Scored the Most Points in the 1980s
The 1980s were marked by a number of players who put up huge scoring numbers. Here are the top five scorers of the decade:
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar – 25,279 points
- Alex English – 24,067 points
- Moses Malone – 22,054 points
- Dominique Wilkins – 21,711 points
- Adrian Dantley – 21,201 points
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was the leader of the pack, scoring an incredible 25,279 points during the decade. He was followed closely by Alex English, who scored 24,067 points during the same period.
Moses Malone was third on the list, with 22,054 points. He was followed by Dominique Wilkins, who scored 21,711 points, and Adrian Dantley, who scored 21,201 points.
The Teams That Dominated in the 1980s
Not surprisingly, the teams with the most prolific scorers also tended to be the ones that dominated during the 1980s. The Los Angeles Lakers, led by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Magic Johnson, won five championships during the decade. The Boston Celtics, led by Larry Bird, won three championships.
The Philadelphia 76ers, led by Moses Malone, won one championship. The Detroit Pistons, led by Isiah Thomas, also won one championship. And the Houston Rockets, led by Hakeem Olajuwon, won one championship.
The Best Scoring Seasons of the 1980s
The 1980s also saw some of the greatest single-season scoring performances of all time. The following players posted the highest-scoring seasons of the decade:
- Michael Jordan – 2,629 points in the 1986-87 season
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar – 2,563 points in the 1981-82 season
- Dominique Wilkins – 2,550 points in the 1986-87 season
- Alex English – 2,539 points in the 1983-84 season
- Adrian Dantley – 2,531 points in the 1985-86 season
Michael Jordan’s 1986-87 season stands out as one of the greatest scoring performances in NBA history. He scored an incredible 2,629 points, a record that still stands today.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s 1981-82 season was also impressive, as he scored 2,563 points that year. Dominique Wilkins scored 2,550 points in the 1986-87 season, while Alex English scored 2,539 points in the 1983-84 season. Finally, Adrian Dantley scored 2,531 points in the 1985-86 season.
The Highest-Scoring Games of the 1980s
The 1980s saw some of the highest-scoring games in NBA history. Here are the five highest-scoring games of the decade:
- Denver Nuggets vs. Detroit Pistons – 186-184 (1980-81)
- Los Angeles Lakers vs. San Antonio Spurs – 163-162 (1984-85)
- Atlanta Hawks vs. Milwaukee Bucks – 161-160 (1985-86)
- New York Knicks vs. San Antonio Spurs – 161-160 (1982-83)
- Boston Celtics vs. Denver Nuggets – 161-159 (1987-88)
The highest-scoring game of the decade was the Denver Nuggets vs. Detroit Pistons game in the 1980-81 season, which ended with a score of 186-184. The second highest-scoring game was the Los Angeles Lakers vs. San Antonio Spurs game in the 1984-85 season, which ended with a score of 163-162.
The third highest-scoring game was the Atlanta Hawks vs. Milwaukee Bucks game in the 1985-86 season, which ended with a score of 161-160. The fourth highest-scoring game was the New York Knicks vs. San Antonio Spurs game in the 1982-83 season, which ended with a score of 161-160. Finally, the fifth highest-scoring game was the Boston Celtics vs. Denver Nuggets game in the 1987-88 season, which ended with a score of 161-159.
The Highest-Scoring Teams of the 1980s
The teams with the most prolific scorers also tended to be the ones that dominated the decade in terms of scoring. The Los Angeles Lakers, led by Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, scored the most points in the 1980s, with an average of 118.3 points per game.
The Boston Celtics were second, with an average of 112.1 points per game. The Denver Nuggets were third, with an average of 110.7 points per game. The Milwaukee Bucks were fourth, with an average of 109.2 points per game. And the Detroit Pistons were fifth, with an average of 108.5 points per game.
The Most Prolific Scorers of the 1980s
The 1980s saw some of the greatest scorers in NBA history. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was the decade’s leading scorer, with 25,279 points. He was followed by Alex English, who scored 24,067 points. Moses Malone was third, with 22,054 points.
Dominique Wilkins was fourth, with 21,711 points. And Adrian Dantley was fifth, with 21,201 points. All five of these players had remarkable careers and are remembered as some of the greatest scorers in NBA history.
The Impact of the 1980s on Scoring in the NBA
The 1980s were a crucial decade for the NBA. It was a time of transition, as the league shifted toward a more up-tempo, high-scoring style of play. The rule changes of the decade made it easier for players to score, and the result was a series of record-setting performances.
The players of the 1980s set the standard for scoring in the NBA. They laid the foundation for the high-scoring teams and players of the present day. And their achievements still stand as some of the greatest in NBA history.
Conclusion
The 1980s were a remarkable decade for the NBA. The decade saw some of the greatest players in NBA history, and some of the most prolific scorers. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was the decade’s leading scorer, with 25,279 points.
Alex English, Moses Malone, Dominique Wilkins, and Adrian Dantley rounded out the top five scorers of the decade. The Los Angeles Lakers were the highest-scoring team of the decade, with an average of 118.3 points per game.
The 1980s set the standard for scoring in the NBA. The rule changes of the decade made it easier for players to score, and the result was a series of record-setting performances. The players of the 1980s laid the foundation for the high-scoring teams and players of the present day.