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#3 James Harden
James Harden has led the NBA in scoring for three consecutive seasons, from 2018-2020. He has shown how effective he can be during the regular season, something that could continue in 2021-22 as well.
However, Harden has woefully failed in his attempts to clinch a playoff title. He has come under heavy fire for his inefficiencies in the playoffs, as he seems to lose his shooting range every time.
Luckily, he has partnered with two exceptional offensive players who can carry the scoring load in an attempt to clinch an NBA title. He joined the Brooklyn Nets midway through the 2020-21 season to form a Big 3 with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving.
The Nets were the favorites to win the 2021 NBA Finals, but injuries to key players put paid to their title hopes. In their semi-finals bout, they lost Irving and Harden, leaving all the scoring to Durant. While the Bucks are to be credited for their defensive superiority and effectiveness, one can't help wonder what might have been if the Nets had a healthy roster.
The Brooklyn Nets are one of the contenders for the 2022 title, as they continue to restructure in a bid to address their biggest weakness - defense. The NBA community is expecting a Nets-LA Lakers showdown in the finals. It remains to be seen if that happens.
#2 Stephen Curry
Stephen Curry is the current NBA scoring champion after overtaking Bradley Beal with an unreal shooting exhibition in April 2021. He ended the season averaging 32 points to secure his second career scoring championship.
Meanwhile, the basketball gods have been unkind to Curry and the Golden State Warriors, as injuries have plagued the team since 2019. Both Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson got injured in the 2019 NBA Finals against the Toronto Raptors. Since then, the Warriors have not made the playoffs.
The Golden State Warriors have made some significant under-the-radar signings in the 2021 offseason to bolster their roster. Thompson's hopeful return by December, at the latest, after two seasons on the sidelines, could also be a major boost to their championship hopes in the 2021-22 NBA season.
#1 Kevin Durant
Kevin Durant won it all in the early stages of his career, and his comeback after an Achilles injury in the 2019 NBA Finals has been impressive. Although he missed the entire 2019-20 season and over half of the 2020-21 campaign, he looked up to speed, dropping a record-breaking performance in the playoffs.
Despite playing only 35 games last season, he was the Nets' leading scorer with 26.9 points per game. With Durant healthy, the Nets have a great chance of going all the way in the 2022 NBA playoffs.
Durant has led the league in scoring four times, and has won two championships. With so many scoring options in the Nets team, he will have fewer bodies on him, and could take advantage of isolation plays.
Given how explosive he was in the playoffs and the Tokyo Olympics 2020, he stands a good chance of being the scoring leader for the first time since 2014. Durant staying healthy could be key for the Nets winning the 2021-22 NBA championship.
