Highest scoring NBA players born in New Jersey
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 New Jersey 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 New Jersey.
#20. Chris Gatling
- City: Elizabeth
- Years played: 1992-2002 (11 seasons in the NBA)
- Games played: 700 (13,760 total minutes played)
- Per game averages: 10.3 PTS, 5.3 REB, 0.7 AST
- Total career points: 7,232
#19. Chris Ford
- City: Atlantic City
- Years played: 1973-1982 (10 seasons in the NBA)
- Games played: 794 (22,043 total minutes played)
- Per game averages: 9.2 PTS, 3.0 REB, 3.4 AST
- Total career points: 7,314
#18. Jaren Jackson Jr.
- City: Plainfield
- Years played: 2019-2026 (8 seasons in the NBA)
- Games played: 411 (11,741 total minutes played)
- Per game averages: 18.5 PTS, 5.5 REB, 1.5 AST
- Total career points: 7,588
#17. Randy Foye
- City: Newark
- Years played: 2007-2017 (11 seasons in the NBA)
- Games played: 752 (19,279 total minutes played)
- Per game averages: 10.3 PTS, 2.2 REB, 2.8 AST
- Total career points: 7,729
#16. Troy Murphy
- City: Morristown
- Years played: 2002-2013 (12 seasons in the NBA)
- Games played: 729 (19,921 total minutes played)
- Per game averages: 10.8 PTS, 7.8 REB, 1.5 AST
- Total career points: 7,860
#15. Brian Taylor
- City: Perth Amboy
- Years played: 1973-1982 (10 seasons in the NBA)
- Games played: 601 (19,149 total minutes played)
- Per game averages: 13.1 PTS, 2.7 REB, 4.1 AST
- Total career points: 7,868
#14. Tony Campbell
- City: Teaneck
- Years played: 1985-1995 (11 seasons in the NBA)
- Games played: 690 (15,180 total minutes played)
- Per game averages: 11.6 PTS, 3.1 REB, 1.5 AST
- Total career points: 7,994
#13. Jalen Brunson
- City: New Brunswick
- Years played: 2019-2026 (8 seasons in the NBA)
- Games played: 491 (14,379 total minutes played)
- Per game averages: 18.2 PTS, 3.2 REB, 5.0 AST
- Total career points: 8,948
#12. Bam Adebayo
- City: Newark
- Years played: 2018-2026 (9 seasons in the NBA)
- Games played: 571 (17,485 total minutes played)
- Per game averages: 15.8 PTS, 8.9 REB, 3.6 AST
- Total career points: 9,007
#11. Tim Thomas
- City: Paterson
- Years played: 1998-2010 (13 seasons in the NBA)
- Games played: 824 (21,336 total minutes played)
- Per game averages: 11.5 PTS, 4.1 REB, 1.5 AST
- Total career points: 9,454
#10. Kelly Tripucka
- City: Glen Ridge
- Years played: 1982-1991 (10 seasons in the NBA)
- Games played: 707 (20,959 total minutes played)
- Per game averages: 17.2 PTS, 3.8 REB, 3.0 AST
- Total career points: 12,142
#9. J.R. Smith
- City: Freehold
- Years played: 2005-2020 (16 seasons in the NBA)
- Games played: 977 (26,275 total minutes played)
- Per game averages: 12.4 PTS, 3.1 REB, 2.1 AST
- Total career points: 12,148
#8. Tom Heinsohn
- City: Union City
- Years played: 1957-1965 (9 seasons in the NBA)
- Games played: 654 (19,254 total minutes played)
- Per game averages: 18.6 PTS, 8.8 REB, 2.0 AST
- Total career points: 12,194
#7. Billy Paultz
- City: River Edge
- Years played: 1971-1985 (15 seasons in the NBA)
- Games played: 1,124 (30,392 total minutes played)
- Per game averages: 11.7 PTS, 8.0 REB, 2.0 AST
- Total career points: 13,099
#6. Al Harrington
- City: Orange
- Years played: 1999-2014 (16 seasons in the NBA)
- Games played: 981 (28,009 total minutes played)
- Per game averages: 13.5 PTS, 5.6 REB, 1.7 AST
- Total career points: 13,237
#5. David West
- City: Teaneck
- Years played: 2004-2018 (15 seasons in the NBA)
- Games played: 1,034 (29,144 total minutes played)
- Per game averages: 13.6 PTS, 6.4 REB, 2.2 AST
- Total career points: 14,034
#4. Mike Bibby
- City: Cherry Hill
- Years played: 1999-2012 (14 seasons in the NBA)
- Games played: 1,001 (33,962 total minutes played)
- Per game averages: 14.7 PTS, 3.1 REB, 5.5 AST
- Total career points: 14,698
#3. Karl-Anthony Towns
- City: Edison
- Years played: 2016-2026 (11 seasons in the NBA)
- Games played: 649 (22,107 total minutes played)
- Per game averages: 23.0 PTS, 11.1 REB, 3.2 AST
- Total career points: 14,948
#2. Rick Barry
- City: Elizabeth
- Years played: 1966-1980 (14 seasons in the NBA)
- Games played: 1,020 (38,153 total minutes played)
- Per game averages: 24.8 PTS, 6.7 REB, 4.9 AST
- Total career points: 25,279
#1. Shaquille O'Neal
- City: Newark
- Years played: 1993-2011 (19 seasons in the NBA)
- Games played: 1,207 (41,918 total minutes played)
- Per game averages: 23.7 PTS, 10.9 REB, 2.5 AST
- Total career points: 28,596
This story features data reporting by Karim Noorani and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 41 states.
