While betting on basketball wasn’t mainstream in the 1980s, it not only showcased some of the NBA’s greatest players but marked a tremendous growth in the league’s popularity.
While the rivalry between Magic Johnson’s Lakers and Larry Bird’s Celtics defined the decade, fans were treated to an overall exciting, physical brand of basketball.
Who Scored the Most Points in the NBA in the 1980s?
Alex English.
Players to 20,000+ points in a decade:
— Wilt Chamberlain
— Oscar Robertson
— Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
— Alex English
— Karl Malone
— Kobe Bryant pic.twitter.com/RuGVvSoIin— KobeFiles (@KobesFiles) August 26, 2022
English scored 21,018 points between the 1979-80 and 1988-89 seasons. After spending the first half of the 1979-80 campaign with the Indiana Pacers, the eventual Hall of Famer was shipped to the Denver Nuggets, where his career flourished, becoming an eight-time All-Star and the first player to score at least 2000 points eight consecutive years.
He currently sits 20th on the NBA’s all-time scoring list (25,613).
Live Betting On NBA Odds
At BetMGM, you have access to live betting odds for each NBA game.
While you’re watching Jayson Tatum and the Boston Celtics on TV, streaming a Phoenix Suns game from your phone, or checking scores of a Memphis Grizzlies-Los Angeles Lakers game from your computer, you can bet on NBA odds.
If you don’t have a sportsbook account, sign up for the BetMGM First Bet Offer, one of many sportsbook offers at BetMGM.