Joel Embiid
Joel Embiid finished as the leading scorer last season, averaging 30.6 points per game. Embiid is a dominant force inside with his ability to power through opposing defenders and use his footwork and craftiness to score like a guard. He can also shoot the three. Check the nba scoring leaders 2022 below.
Embiid will have a full season of James Harden this upcoming season, so it’s worth wondering if he’ll see his scoring dip a tad.
If Harden continues to embrace being a playmaker, however, then we can potentially see Embiid’s scoring numbers rise up.
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Giannis Antetokounmpo finished second to him, as Antetokounmpo tends to do most of his damage inside the paint as well, especially when he drives down the lane with a head full of steam.
Antetokounmpo has shown he can hit a 3-pointer when he’s wide open, but pretty much all of his offense comes at the rim. He is so physically gifted that it makes it impossible for anyone in this league to contain him.
The OGs
Those two guys figure to be at the forefront of the NBA scoring leaders 2022 race once again, but two guys who could’ve also taken home the honors last season are LeBron James and Kevin Durant, as both players dealt with NBA injuries that kept them out of over 25 games each.
LeBron and KD have literally spanned generations of basketball players with their dominance, as they are still featured in the best player in the league conversation. It speaks volumes about their greatness.
LeBron will be tasked with bringing the Los Angeles Lakers back to the playoffs after a disappointing season, but new coach Darvin Ham has indicated that he’s going to look to run the offense through Anthony Davis more, so LeBron’s scoring could dip as a result.
NBA Scoring Leader in 2022
Durant will likely continue to be the go-to scorer for the Brooklyn Nets. Durant is automatic as a pull-up mid-range shooter, but he can also shoot the three, get to the rim, and hit some of the most ridiculous shots you’ll ever see.
LeBron isn’t likely to be the NBA scoring leader in 2022, as NBA odds suggest he may deal with an injury or a lesser scoring load, but Durant can realistically win it next season if he can finally put together a fully healthy season.
Young Bucks
The younger generation of players may look to pad their NBA stats a bit, but some of them have legitimate cases to be the NBA scoring leaders in 2022.
Luka Doncic finished in the thick of that race last season, as he is continuing to develop his ability to shoot the ball and finish at the rim.
Top Scoring
Doncic also remains the top scoring option for the Dallas Mavericks with no clear-cut second option, so look for him to continue to get his opportunities to put up big scoring numbers on a nightly basis.
Trae Young also finished in the mix last season, as he has become an absolutely dangerous 3-point shooter and has also developed a knack for hitting his floaters. Young will continue to be a dangerous scorer.
Reigning MVP
Nikola Jokic prides himself on being an all-around player, but when he is deep inside the paint and is posted up nicely on his defender, he isn’t afraid to barrel them down and put it in. Jokic is also automatic from the mid-range.
Rising Stars
Jayson Tatum has developed an all-around ability to shoot the ball with his ability to create his own shot in the mid-range, behind the 3-point line, and on drives to the rim.
He’ll be sharing the scoring load with Jaylen Brown, which may prevent him from winning the scoring title. The Boston Celtics’ primary focus will be on getting back to the Finals.
Devin Booker offers a lot of the same skillset as Tatum, as the Phoenix Suns will need him to continue to embrace his role, especially with Chris Paul getting older.
The Suns could also look for Deandre Ayton to take some of the pressure off of Booker by running plays through him inside the paint.
Prove It Year
If Kyrie Irving can put together a full season and take some of the scoring load off of Durant, he could end up being in the mix. Irving is one of the most dominant and creative scorers in this league, so if he embraces a higher volume of shots, he can easily win a scoring title. However, Durant’s presence as his teammate makes it unlikely Irving would win.
Karl-Anthony Towns could contend as well next season if he looks to be a bit more aggressive next season. With Anthony Edwards further developing and Rudy Gobert brought into the mix, Towns may see less defensive pressure, which could open him up to seeing more open 3-point attempts and open lanes on drives to the rim.
DeMar DeRozan was in the mix last season, but he mostly gets his looks in the mid-range or the rim. He’s a dangerous scorer in his own right, but last season may have been more of a breakout for him than anything else.
DeRozan will still at least be on the outside looking in for this race this upcoming season, though.
Ja Morant’s Injury
Ja Morant didn’t end up qualifying last season due to the games missed due to injury, but he averaged 27.4 points per game last season.
If he can stay healthy, he can be in the mix, but a lack of a 3-point shot will likely hurt his ability to win the scoring title even if he stays healthy. Still, Morant remains one of the most dangerous players when attacking the rim.
Former Scoring Champ
Stephen Curry is always lurking when it comes to the scoring title, but health is a question mark for him as well, and he may continue to look for his teammates such as Andrew Wiggins, Klay Thompson, and Jordan Poole to pick up some of the scoring slack, so he’s well rested for the playoffs.
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