Paul Pierce is about to pass Kevin Garnett on the NBA all-time scoring list


Kevin Garnett will take the floor at the TD Garden this evening, probably for the last time.  When he does, the 20-year veteran will try to hang on to the No. 15 spot on the league's all-time scoring list for just a little longer.

Earlier this month, Garnett became only the 15th player in NBA history to amass 26,000 career points:



Last week, KG's friend and former teammate Paul Pierce became No. 16:


Garnett (26,023) is currently 13 points ahead of Pierce (26,010).  Here's the complete list of the all-time top 25 (active players capitalized):

1 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 38,387
2 Karl Malone 36,928
3 KOBE BRYANT 32,866
4 Michael Jordan 32,292
5 Wilt Chamberlain 31,419
6 Shaquille O'Neal 28,596
7 DIRK NOWITZKI 28,567
8 Moses Malone 27,409
9 Elvin Hayes 27,313
10 Hakeem Olajuwon 26,946
11 Oscar Robertson 26,710
12 Dominique Wilkins 26,668
13 John Havlicek 26,395
14 TIM DUNCAN 26,204
15 KEVIN GARNETT 26,023
16 PAUL PIERCE 26,010
17 Alex English 25,613
18 LeBRON JAMES 25,548
19 Reggie Miller 25,279
20 Jerry West 25,192
21 Patrick Ewing 24,815
22 Ray Allen 24,505
23 Allen Iverson 24,368
24 Charles Barkley 23,757
25 VINCE CARTER 23,627

There's a slight chance Pierce could overtake Garnett late tonight when his Clippers host the Thunder, although it's fairly unlikely.  KG went scoreless in a win in Brooklyn yesterday, but he should be pumped for his return to Boston.  And since Pierce's season high is only 12, he probably won't leapfrog his buddy today.  However, for the year Garnett is averaging 3.1 points per game compared to Pierce's 4.1, so the switch is almost certainly coming.

A bit of mildly annoying news for C's fans: Pierce won't be able to hold on to the No. 15 position for very long--No. 18 LeBron James is lurking in the rear-view mirror at 25,548.  With fewer than 500 points to make up, if James stays healthy he's a lock to jump ahead of both Pierce and Garnett this season.


Throwback to 1/9/13: Paul Pierce is about to pass Ray Allen on the all-time scoring list


Follow Mark Vandeusen on Twitter @LucidSportsFan

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