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When you talk about the all-time best NBA scorers, there are only a few people that come to mind who stand head and shoulders above the rest. This isn't just a category of people who have the most points, but who you would want to have the ball in their hands at the end of the game. In other words, they are the "clutch" players or the person who would be mostly likely to manufacture offense when it was needed most. It is difficult to compare some of these great scorers, particularly because the styles of the basketball and the environments that they played in were so different. In addition, different positions sometimes yield various scoring opportunities throughout a player's career. Therefore, here are a few of the all-time best NBA scorers, both past and present.

MICHAEL JORDAN (32,292 career points, 30.1 ppg)

Any discussion of all-time scorers probably has to begin with "MJ" or "His Airness", Michael Jordan. Undoubtedly, Jordan was a pure scorer from the moment he came into the league, averaging 30.1 points per game over his career. Not only was he a scorer, he won six championships, was a ten-time all-star, and won five MVP awards. The league literally changed when he stepped away for two years to play baseball. It is always difficult to debate the "greatest" player of all-time due to difference in style and era, but Jordan is always part of the discussion. When the game was on the line, you wanted the ball in Jordan's hands. He was either going to make the winning shot, or he was going to command a double-team and then find an open teammate. Early in his career he was more of a "slasher" but as he got older he developed into more of a deadly jump shooter.

JERRY WEST (25,192 career points, 27.0 ppg)

Hall-of-Famer Jerry West did not have the highest scoring average in NBA history, nor the highest number of points. But, the man is the NBA logo for a reason and he was bestowed with the ultimate compliment of a nickname, "Mr. Clutch". Those two facts alone put him among the elite of NBA scorers all-time. West did not have a physically dominant frame, and reportedly broke his nose nine times, which in some ways makes his drive and his accomplishments all the more impressive. West is synonymous with perfection, drive, and commitment to winning. Those traits often say more about the person as a player than individual statistics, though West has those as well. He averaged 27.0 points per game during his career, was a fourteen-time all-star, and was voted one of

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