Highest scoring NBA players born in California

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Basketball has grown into a truly global game, with players from every corner of the world now filling NBA rosters. But the league’s American roots still run deep — and many of its top scorers got their start in hometown gyms and high school courts across the United States.

Stacker compiled a ranking of the highest scoring NBA players born in California using data from Basketball-Reference.com. Players were ranked according to their total NBA career points. Only players who scored at least 500 total career points in the NBA were considered. Games played, minutes played, and career averages were provided as supplementary insights. Data is as of October 29, 2025.

Read on to see which stars and hometown legends top the list for California.

#20. Richard Jefferson
– City: Los Angeles
– Years played: 2002-2018 (17 seasons in the NBA)
– Games played: 1,181 (34,293 total minutes played)
– Per game averages: 12.6 PTS, 4.0 REB, 2.0 AST
– Total career points: 14,904

#19. Kevin Love
– City: Santa Monica
– Years played: 2009-2025 (17 seasons in the NBA)
– Games played: 952 (27,505 total minutes played)
– Per game averages: 16.2 PTS, 10.0 REB, 2.3 AST
– Total career points: 15,421

#18. Dennis Johnson
– City: San Pedro
– Years played: 1977-1990 (14 seasons in the NBA)
– Games played: 1,100 (35,954 total minutes played)
– Per game averages: 14.1 PTS, 3.9 REB, 5.0 AST
– Total career points: 15,535

#17. Andre Miller
– City: Los Angeles
– Years played: 2000-2016 (17 seasons in the NBA)
– Games played: 1,304 (40,268 total minutes played)
– Per game averages: 12.5 PTS, 3.7 REB, 6.5 AST
– Total career points: 16,278

#16. Jrue Holiday
– City: Chatsworth
– Years played: 2010-2026 (17 seasons in the NBA)
– Games played: 1,041 (34,285 total minutes played)
– Per game averages: 15.8 PTS, 4.2 REB, 6.2 AST
– Total career points: 16,493

#15. Klay Thompson
– City: Los Angeles
– Years played: 2012-2026 (13 seasons in the NBA)
– Games played: 869 (27,891 total minutes played)
– Per game averages: 19.1 PTS, 3.5 REB, 2.3 AST
– Total career points: 16,572

#14. Kevin Willis
– City: Los Angeles
– Years played: 1985-2007 (21 seasons in the NBA)
– Games played: 1,424 (38,362 total minutes played)
– Per game averages: 12.1 PTS, 8.4 REB, 0.9 AST
– Total career points: 17,253

#13. Jason Kidd
– City: San Francisco
– Years played: 1995-2013 (19 seasons in the NBA)
– Games played: 1,391 (50,111 total minutes played)
– Per game averages: 12.6 PTS, 6.3 REB, 8.7 AST
– Total career points: 17,529

#12. Brook Lopez
– City: North Hollywood
– Years played: 2009-2026 (18 seasons in the NBA)
– Games played: 1,109 (33,589 total minutes played)
– Per game averages: 15.8 PTS, 6.1 REB, 1.5 AST
– Total career points: 17,546

#11. Paul George
– City: Palmdale
– Years played: 2011-2025 (15 seasons in the NBA)
– Games played: 908 (30,516 total minutes played)
– Per game averages: 20.6 PTS, 6.3 REB, 3.7 AST
– Total career points: 18,697

#10. Reggie Theus
– City: Inglewood
– Years played: 1979-1991 (13 seasons in the NBA)
– Games played: 1,026 (34,603 total minutes played)
– Per game averages: 18.5 PTS, 3.3 REB, 6.3 AST
– Total career points: 19,015

#9. Gail Goodrich
– City: Los Angeles
– Years played: 1966-1979 (14 seasons in the NBA)
– Games played: 1,031 (33,527 total minutes played)
– Per game averages: 18.6 PTS, 3.2 REB, 4.7 AST
– Total career points: 19,181

#8. Gary Payton
– City: Oakland
– Years played: 1991-2007 (17 seasons in the NBA)
– Games played: 1,335 (47,117 total minutes played)
– Per game averages: 16.3 PTS, 3.9 REB, 6.7 AST
– Total career points: 21,813

#7. Damian Lillard
– City: Oakland
– Years played: 2013-2025 (13 seasons in the NBA)
– Games played: 900 (32,614 total minutes played)
– Per game averages: 25.1 PTS, 4.3 REB, 6.7 AST
– Total career points: 22,598

#6. Ray Allen
– City: Merced
– Years played: 1997-2014 (18 seasons in the NBA)
– Games played: 1,300 (46,344 total minutes played)
– Per game averages: 18.9 PTS, 4.1 REB, 3.4 AST
– Total career points: 24,505

#5. Reggie Miller
– City: Riverside
– Years played: 1988-2005 (18 seasons in the NBA)
– Games played: 1,389 (47,619 total minutes played)
– Per game averages: 18.2 PTS, 3.0 REB, 3.0 AST
– Total career points: 25,279

#4. DeMar DeRozan
– City: Compton
– Years played: 2010-2026 (17 seasons in the NBA)
– Games played: 1,191 (41,375 total minutes played)
– Per game averages: 21.3 PTS, 4.4 REB, 4.1 AST
– Total career points: 25,368

#3. Russell Westbrook
– City: Long Beach
– Years played: 2009-2026 (18 seasons in the NBA)
– Games played: 1,241 (41,267 total minutes played)
– Per game averages: 21.2 PTS, 7.0 REB, 8.0 AST
– Total career points: 26,252

#2. Paul Pierce
– City: Oakland
– Years played: 1999-2017 (19 seasons in the NBA)
– Games played: 1,343 (45,880 total minutes played)
– Per game averages: 19.7 PTS, 5.6 REB, 3.5 AST
– Total career points: 26,397

#1. James Harden
– City: Los Angeles
– Years played: 2010-2026 (17 seasons in the NBA)
– Games played: 1,155 (40,138 total minutes played)
– Per game averages: 24.0 PTS, 5.6 REB, 7.2 AST
– Total career points: 27,772

This story features data reporting by Karim Noorani and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 41 states.