Tracy McGrady was one of the finest isolation scorers of his generation, and there aren’t too many players more qualified to speak on the subject. So, McGrady was recently asked to name his five greatest iso scorers in NBA history on Makeshift Hoops, and he went with some big hitters.
“Alright, we’re gonna start with [Michael Jordan],” McGrady said. “We’re gonna work our way up to Kobe [Bryant]. We’re gonna go to [Carmelo Anthony]. We’re gonna go to [Kevin Durant]… I’mma go with James Harden. I’mma take myself out.”
We had ranked the greatest isolation scorers in NBA history, and all five men McGrady mentioned were in the top three tiers. He himself was in that third tier and would certainly not be out of place on this list.
Let’s take a deeper look at the stars that McGrady did mention, though.
Michael Jordan got the top spot, and he is generally regarded as the greatest iso scorer ever. Jordan averaged 30.1 points per game for his career and won 10 scoring titles along the way, both of which are NBA records. He also put up 33.4 points per game in the playoffs, the most in league history.
Kobe Bryant came in at second, and he averaged 25.0 points per game for his career. Bryant won two scoring titles, averaging 35.4 points per game in 2005-06 to clinch his first one. Only one player has put up more points per game in a single season in the 21st century, and we’ll get to him in a bit.
Carmelo Anthony took the third spot on McGrady’s list, and he averaged 22.5 points per game for his career. Anthony won just one scoring title, but was an exceptional iso scorer. He used the jab step to deadly effect to create separation time and time again and was a master of the craft.
Kevin Durant had to settle for the fourth spot, and he currently averages 27.2 points per game for his career. Durant has won four scoring titles and could well be the most complete scorer in league history. He can score from anywhere on the court, and that, combined with his being 6’11”, means there’s nothing defenders can do to stop him.
James Harden got the last spot, and he averages 24.1 points per game for his career. Harden won three straight scoring titles from 2018 to 2020 and famously put up 36.1 points per game in the 2018-19 season. His handles and that deadly step-back jump shot made him a near-unstoppable force in the NBA at his peak.
With the NBA having had so many great isolational scorers over the years, though, it is inevitable that some big names will get snubbed. Allen Iverson, who won four scoring titles, is certainly one who comes to mind. As stated earlier, McGrady, who won two scoring titles, would have a strong case to make it in as well.
While McGrady chose not to put himself in the top five here, that wasn’t the route he went when picking his all-time starting five. Bryant was the only one chosen in both the list and the lineup, with McGrady putting himself, LeBron James, Tim Duncan, and Shaquille O’Neal next to him in the starting five.
