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Despite the blaring role of forwards in the NBA in scoring and their importance to team success, the significance of accurate passing in creating such scoring opportunities cannot be denied. To say that playmakers are the springboard for a successful team would be an understatement. Talented scorers such as Steph Curry can probably attest to the importance of playmaking ammunition provided by players like Draymond Green and their part in also achieving success.
Below are the top five players who excel in scoring, but continue to be average passers.
Five outstanding NBA point scorers with average passing skills
#5 Nikola Vucevic
Nikola Vucevic ranks fifth on our list of NBA high volume scorers with average passing ability. Having consistently maintained his high-level shooting prowess throughout his Orlando Magic career, Montenegrin moved to Chicago Bulls, where he has continued to enhance his reputation as an elite player.
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The Chicago Bulls center is known for his offensive skills, whilst also maintaining a good defensive record, as he finished the 2020-21 NBA season ranked third in total rebounds in the league, scoring 1,639 points with 23.4 points per game.
Mostly applauded for finishing chances, rather than creating them, his career tally of 2.1 assists per game is nowhere close to what we see from elite offensive playmakers in the league.
#4 Jaylen Brown
Since signing for the Boston Celtics, Jaylen Brown has gone on to cement his place as one of the division’s top scorers, standing out as part of the offensive pillars of the Celtics. He has amassed more points for the franchise in the past five seasons than any other player except Jayson Tatum, scoring a total of 5,085 points with an averaging of 27.7 points per game. Brown has gone on to position himself as one of the elite shooters in the NBA, ranking 17th in points per game and top 20 for total points in the previous season.
Brown took his offensive game to another level, maintaining good consistency over the past two seasons. However, he has failed to replicate such scoring brilliance in his assist stats, as he averaged 3.4 assists per game in the 2020-21 NBA season, which ironically is a career-high. It's a testament to his average assist skill set, especially when put in comparison to his brilliant points record.
Overall last season, he placed sixth in players with the least assists, with over 1000 points to their name, providing a meager 1.8 assists per game in his five-year long career as a professional NBA player.
#3 Zion Williamson
New Orleans Pelicans power forward Zion Williamson is one of the most popular Pelicans players in the NBA in recent times, winning the hearts of the fans with his magnificent performances and dominance. Although a newcomer to the NBA, his performances since being drafted in 2019 solidify him as a high-volume scorer. He has gone on to make a name for himself as an incredible shooter, steadily building his game to become a potential face of the NBA. However, he continues to post average numbers in the assists department.
In the 2020-21 season with the Pelicans, he scored 1,647 points, spearheading the Pelicans offense as he ranked 8th in the 2020-21 NBA season in points per game and 10th in total points, having recorded an average of 27.0 points. While Williamson's shooting skillset cannot be contested, his passing ability comes into question as he has a career average of 3.2 assists per game in his two seasons in the NBA.
Considering that his record was an improvement on his first season, there is hope that this aspect of his game can be sharpened in order for him to attain the all-around player status that some people perceive him to be.
#2 Jerami Grant
Detroit Pistons power forward Jerami Grant scored 1,205 points in the NBA last season with a career-high average of 22.3 points, ranking 23rd in the league. Grant led the Pistons in points, field goals, attempts and free throws. While his scoring ability is highly commendable, one box he hasn't quite ticked is his passing ability.
Hardly the strongest point in his game, as he averaged a career-high 2.8 assists per game, which saw him rank 81st in the league. Despite impacting the game greatly with his scoring ability, Grant could be a lot more explosive if he can gracefully develop his passing as he ranked 113 in the 2020-21 NBA season in total assists completed.
#1 Joel Embiid
Joel Embiid is the most important player in the Philadephia 76ers roster, representing a major part of their strong offensive unit, as he has led the team in points and rebounds since his debut in the 2016-17 NBA season. The four-time All-Star player was drafted in 2014 as the third overall pick by the 76ers and was off the court for the first two seasons, owing to a foot injury. Embiid has since shown the whole world his shooting ability, as he would make a capable weapon for any team in the NBA.
The Cameroonian continues to maintain his near-perfect shooting ability, averaging a total of 24.8 points per game throughout his NBA career. He played and started 51 games last season, posting a career-high average of 28.5 points per game. However, his assists tally pales when compared to his excellent scoring tally. Jojo averaged 2.8 assists per game in the 2020-21 NBA season, with a career average of 3.1 assists.
