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The pace of the NBA has continued to increase over the past half-decade, and in addition to throwing up an avalanche of threes, teams are looking to push the pace to pick up easy buckets. The ability to transition from defense to offense is a key factor in any game, and teams can punish their opponents by responding quickly to a rebound or blocked shot by launching a swift attack that takes advantage of a defense that has not had the time to get back into position.
A successful fast break is often launched by a quick pass to a well-positioned attacker, although players are increasingly taking it upon themselves to gather a rebound and drive to the basket. So, with transitional scoring playing such a big role in the modern NBA, here we will take a look at the top 5 transition scorers in the league.
#5 Ben Simmons - Philadelphia 76ers
During the offseason, Ben Simmons worked on overhauling his broken jump-shot, and after knocking down a three-pointer in preseason, it was believed that the Australian would finally offer a threat from beyond the arc. However, Simmons has connected with just one three so far this season, forcing the third-year guard to rely on his excellent transition game.
Despite his 6'10 frame, Simmons is blessed with blistering pace, and the Philadelphia 76ers star could easily be mistaken for a young LeBron James as he attacks the basket on the break. Due to his reluctance to shoot the ball, Simmons doesn't get close to top players in terms of points scored in transition, although Josh Hart is the only player in the NBA to have attempted more of their attempts following fast breaks.
#4 Pascal Siakam - Toronto Raptors
Pascal Siakam has been a revelation for the Toronto Raptors over the past 18 months, and after being named Most Improved Player during the 2018-19 season, the 25-year-old is currently being mentioned as a potential MVP candidate. Siakam's offensive game has plenty of strengths - including his improved three-point shot - although the Cameroonian is at his best when driving towards the basket.
Despite his 6-foot-9 frame, Siakam is deceptively fast, and he is able to grab a defensive rebound before running the court to score an easy two inside the paint. The Toronto star has already scored 95 points in transition this season, and his numbers will likely increase following the return of Kyle Lowry.
#3 Devin Booker - Phoenix Suns
Devin Booker has been among the NBA's best transition scorers in each of the past three seasons, and the 23-year-old has once again been among the NBA's best players on the fast break during the current campaign. Booker has attempted almost 4 field goal attempts per game in transition, and the Phoenix Suns star has connected with 55% of his attempts.
Booker has already amassed 95 points in transition and the shooting guard could finish the season in the top three for total points scored on fast breaks. It is also worth noting that less than 20 percent of Booker's field goal attempts come in transition, so the young guard has the potential to further elevate his status as one of the NBA's best transition scorers.
#2 Russell Westbrook - Oklahoma City Thunder
While he is a divisive figure around the NBA, Russell Westbrook is undoubtedly among the most exciting players to watch. Despite turning 31 earlier this year, Westbrook's speed remains unrivaled, and the sight of the point guard driving to the basket is perhaps just as iconic as Steph Curry shooting a three from 40 feet away.
Between 2015 and 2017, Westbrook led the league in transition scoring, although he has since slowed down his game in order to accommodate Paul George in Oklahoma City and now James Harden with the Rockets. Nevertheless, only one player has bettered Westbrook's total of 121 transition points this season, and the 2017 MVP is also connecting with almost 50 percent of his fast break attempts.
#1 Giannis Antetokounmpo - Milwaukee Bucks
After being crowned Most Valuable Player for the first time back in June, Giannis Antetokounmpo is now arguably the best player in the NBA. The 24-year-old has demonstrated his improved rebounding and playmaking skills during the first six weeks of the season, although the most striking aspect of his game remains his ability to score in transition.
Antetokounmpo's strength and power make him a freight train in transition, and the length of his strides often leave opposing defenders in the dust. With this in mind, it is no surprise that the Milwaukee star currently leads the league with 9.8 transition points per contest, and at 24, Giannis could remain as the NBA's best transition scorer for the better part of the next decade.
