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With the season winding down, the scoring race seems pretty much decided. Scorers win games, period. Kobe Bryant is the only one on the list whose team still hasn’t locked a playoff spot. Here’s a look at the top 10 scoring leaders in the NBA today-
1. Carmelo Anthony (Knicks) – 28.7 ppg
As the season progressed, people were already talking about Kevin Durant locking in his 4th scoring title. But Carmelo Anthony has picked up his game and has overtaken Durant while shooting 44.9% from the field.
2. Kevin Durant (Thunder) – 28.1 ppg
Kevin Durant gets his points with ridiculous efficiency. He is shooting 50.9% from the field while attempting 17.7 shots from the field, as opposed to 22.2 shots attempted by Carmelo. Another area where Durant outshines Carmelo is free throws. He makes 8.4 per game to Melo’s 6.3. Fun fact – Durant’s teammate Russell Westbrook (18.9) actually attempts more shots than Durant.
3. Kobe Bryant (Lakers) – 27.3 ppg
Kobe was having one of his best seasons ever this year before he went down with an Achilles’ tear. He was shooting 46.3% from the field and attempting 20.4 shots per game.
4. LeBron James (Heat) – 26.8 ppg
The soon to be crowned MVP (seriously, if not him then who?) is shooting 56.5% from the field. No other player among the top 25 in the scoring list is shooting a better percentage than James. And he’s only taking 3.3 three point shots per game while making 1.4. A testament to his increased post play.
5. James Harden (Rockets) – 26 ppg
Harden is a perfect case in point about a player who chose a larger role and money over a great chance to win a championship. Last season with the Thunder, he was averaging 16.8 points per game while playing 31.4 minutes. This season he is playing 38.2 minutes and shooting 44.2 % from the field.
6. Russell Westbrook (Thunder) – 23.5 ppg
Westbrook is averaging 18.9 shot attempts per game and he’s shooting 43.9% from the field. There’s a joke that he deserves the Defensive Player of the Year award, because who else can hold Kevin Durant to under 30 points per game?
7. Stephen Curry (Warriors) – 22.8 ppg
Steph Curry is shooting lights out this season. He shoots 45.1% from the field and 45.3% from three point range. Talk about an anomaly. And he’s attempting 7.6 3-pointers per game and making 3.4 of them. When we talk of the greatest shooters in basketball, Curry’s name is right up there for discussion. He shoots better from three point range than Harden and Westbrook do from the field.
8. Dwyane Wade (Heat) – 21.2 ppg
Wade and James make for an interesting contrast compared to Westbrook and Durant. Both Wade and Westbrook are the little men to the big shots but Wade defers to LeBron more. He takes 15.9 shots per game and is shooting 51.9% from the field. All three of the big three in Miami – Wade, James and Bosh – are shooting above 50% this season.
9. LaMarcus Aldridge (Trailblazers) – 21 ppg
Aldridge is shooting 48.3% from the field and taking 17.7 shots per game. He is the only power forward/center in the league to average more than 20 points per game this season.
10. Monta Ellis (Bucks) – 19.4 ppg
Ellis is shooting 41.6% this year while taking 17.7 shots per game. Back in 2009-10 season, he averaged 25.5 points per game. But this season, Ellis is averaging a career high 6.1 assists per game.
