The NBA is a scorers’ league now more than ever. The rules favor scoring, up to the point where you see the best players in the league struggle to adapt to FIBA referees because they don’t get as many calls as they usually do.
- 10. Anthony Davis – 23.9 PPG
- 9. Trae Young – 24.1 PPG
- 8. Stephen Curry – 24.2 PPG
- 7. Damian Lillard – 24.7 PPG
- 6. Joel Embiid – 24.8 PPG
- 5. James Harden – 25.1 PPG
- 4. Zion Williamson – 25.7 PPG
- 3. Luka Doncic – 25.7 PPG
- 2. LeBron James – 27.0 PPG
- 1. Kevin Durant – 27.0 PPG
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Defense seems like a lost art nowadays, and that’s something that’s driven some old fans away from the game. But even among the league’s top-notch scorers, some of them are so impressive that they make the NBA a growing product year after year.
Today, we’re going to honor those few players who stand out from the rest of the pack and that, even among pure scorers; lead the scorers’ table every season. Check out the top 10 active players with the highest points-per-game average.
10. Anthony Davis – 23.9 PPG
Anthony Davis is Kevin Garnett with a more developed offensive game. He can score from all three levels and take that unmatched energy in the defensive end all the way through the floor.
Davis can pull up, catch and shoot, and has the handles and moves of a guard. He’s got solid footwork and a round-up post game, and now that he’s bulked up, he’s just as unstoppable above the rim as he is below it.
9. Trae Young – 24.1 PPG
Ever since he was in high school, Trae Young was drawing comparisons to Stephen Curry, and it’s safe to say the similarities are there. He’s got limitless range and is already one of the best shooters in the league.
Young mastered the fine art of drawing contact and going to the line at will. Even when his shot isn’t falling, he finds ways to put up points on the scoreboard while also being one of the league’s finest passers.
8. Stephen Curry – 24.2 PPG
No player can go human-torch mode as fast as Stephen Curry can. He’s must-watch television every single time he’s out there because you know he can make history night in and night out.
Curry was the first player to pull up from beyond 30-feet on a consistent basis. He’s one of the most efficient scorers in the league – which is odd for a guy who shoots that many threes. He’s also the greatest shooter of all time.
7. Damian Lillard – 24.7 PPG
Damian Lillard has rapidly entered the conversation as the best ‘logo shooter’ in the league. He’s been working on expanding his range and is now shooting 30-footers as if they were free throws.
Lillard is one of the most unstoppable scorers in the league when he’s in the zone, and you know he’s going to be at his best in clutch time. There’s not much you can do against him once he calls an iso.
6. Joel Embiid – 24.8 PPG
Some people doubted that Joel Embiid was going to be a good player due to his injury-proneness and late start to the game. And, while the Sixers had to wait a couple of years to finally see him on the court, it’s safe to say that he silenced his doubters.
Embiid has the smoothest footwork among the league’s big men right now. He can pump-fake you to oblivion, put the ball on the floor, and draw contact like a shooting guard. He’s just too gifted.
5. James Harden – 25.1 PPG
Not so long ago, James Harden was putting up 40+ points per game every single night and we thought it was normal. His never-ending bag of tricks and pesky moves made him virtually impossible to guard.
The new rules and sharing the court with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving could take a toll on his scoring averages going forward, but once he gets going, there’s just no way to contain him.
4. Zion Williamson – 25.7 PPG
Zion Williamson was the most hyped and expected prospect in NBA history since LeBron James and it didn’t take him long to show why. He bullied his way to the rim against grown men as if they were teenagers.
While not a good shooter – yet, Zion has Shaquille O’Neal’s kind of strength when he drives through the lane. He’s a walking highlight reel and can jump off the floor, and it just seems like his body doesn’t abide by the laws of physics.
3. Luka Doncic – 25.7 PPG
Even though he had already been quite successful overseas with Real Madrid, it’s pretty safe to say that Luka Doncic has exceeded all expectations throughout his young career in the league.
Doncic is a generational talent and one of the new faces of the NBA and for very good reasons. While not fast or athletic, he’s just too talented, too smart, and too versatile. He’s a modern-day Larry Bird on the offensive end of the floor.
2. LeBron James – 27.0 PPG
It’s just funny and crazy to think that people have never thought of LeBron James as a scorer, yet he averages 27.0 points per game per his 18-year career. I mean, if that’s not being a scorer, then I don’t know what it is.
James’ strength and athleticism have made him just too tough to stop when he drives. He hasn’t lost his first step with the years and has improved as a shooter as well, and his passing skills always open up plenty of space for him to operate.
1. Kevin Durant – 27.0 PPG
Kevin Durant became the youngest scoring champion in NBA history at just 21 years old. He was that good, that fast, and has only gotten better even winning the award 4 times throughout his career.
Durant missed nearly two years of game action and he came back as sharp as ever. He’s a guard trapped in a seven-footer’s body and might as well be the greatest pure scorer in the history of basketball.
Credit: CrossNPoster
