NBA Playoff Scoring Leaders

The 82-game NBA regular season amounts to little more than jockeying for position. It’s the playoffs that make or break franchises and reputations.

Small wonder, then, that the list of all-time playoff scorers is headed by arguably the game’s greatest winner — Michael Jordan, who won six championships with the Chicago Bulls. Plenty of other big names are sprinkled through this Top 10 list, plus a few that might surprise.

When winter gives way to spring and every game matters, here are some of the players who do (or did) the most to help their team get to the top. (Note: Averages through 2008 playoffs.)

1. Michael Jordan (Chicago) — 33.4 ppg. No one was tougher with the game on the line.

2. * Allen Iverson (Philadelphia, Denver) — 29.7. One of the fiercest little men ever to take the court.

3. Jerry West (Los Angeles Lakers) — 29.1. He isn’t featured on the NBA logo for nothing.

4. * Tracy McGrady (Orlando, Houston) — 28.5. Nice numbers, but has yet to show he can carry a team in the postseason.

5. * LeBron James (Cleveland) — 27.5. King James has only begun to rule.

6. Elgin Baylor (Los Angeles Lakers) — 27.0. One of the classiest small forwards of all time.

7. George Gervin (San Antonio Spurs, Chicago) — 27.0. The Iceman cameth.

8. Hakeem Olajuwon (Houston, Toronto) — 25.9. Led the Rockets to a pair of title in the mid-’90s.

9. * Vince Carter (Toronto, New Jersey) — 25.9. Impressive numbers, but no rings.

10. * Shaquille O’Neal (Orlando, Los Angeles Lakers, Miami) — 25.2. Won championships with both the Lakers and Heat, and led the Magic to The Finals.

* Still active

Source: NBA.com