Ranking the Best NBA Scorers in the Game

One of the greatest isolation scorers in NBA history, James Harden comes second to none when debating who is the best scorer in the game today. He is on track to getting his third consecutive scoring title and has been amongst the top-five in regular-season scoring for the past SEVEN straight seasons.

Harden has a unique isolation game where he exposes the defense by either getting to the hole or by breaking his opponent’s ankles with his patented step-back move. If the defense fouls him, he’s a threat from the line as well, hitting roughly 85% of his free throws and shooting them at a higher rate than any other player in the league, BY FAR.

Although he gets criticized for exploiting how the game is officiated in today’s era, there’s no denying that James Harden will go down as one of the most unguardable offensive forces the NBA has ever witnessed.

If Giannis Antetokounmpo had a more consistent and reliable jump shot, there would be constant discussions and debates in the media about Giannis having a legitimate case as being one of the greatest basketball players of all-time. He already averages close to 30 PPG, and that’s WITHOUT a consistent jumper.

Not only does Giannis score at a high clip, he is highly efficient as well. He’s shooting close to 55% from the field this season and shot nearly 58% last season. At 25 years old, the reigning MVP isn’t even in his prime yet and is already having historic seasons. Imagine the damage the Greek Freak could do in the near future if his jump shot improves to even just be average.

If LeBron’s scoring versatility was anywhere near Harden or KD, he would be the clear-cut favorite for the best scorer in basketball ever. King James has scored the third-most points in NBA history (only behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar & Karl Malone), but LBJ’s greatest skill isn’t even scoring.

The combination of LeBron’s size, strength, and speed gives him the ability to drive through multiple defenders, absorb the contact, and still hit the shot. He has averaged 27 PPG for his career and the fact he’s averaging nearly 26 PPG as a 35-year-old in his 17th season is absurdly impressive and speaks volumes about his unrivaled consistency as a scorer.

Damian Lillard may be an underrated Point Guard, but he is more underrated as a scorer. He is averaging a career-high 29 PPG this season on an efficient 46 FG% and 39 3P%. Earlier this year, Lillard averaged an absurd 48.8 PPG over a six-game stretch, the third-most points scored throughout any six-game span in recent NBA history.

Logo Lillard, as he is known due to his ability to torch defenses from long range, has been in the top-10 in scoring for five consecutive seasons now. There are no weakness in his offensive game, as he can score from anywhere on the court, which includes pulling up from deep or driving to the basket and finishing with both hands. Lillard’s impressive handles and 6’2, 194-pound frame allows him to penetrate past defenders and finish through contact.

Trae Young is one of the few players in the league who can shred any team on any given night with his shooting prowess. It is an extremely daunting task to guard Young because if defenders don’t pick him up from half-court, he’ll just pull up on them from the logo. But if they try to strap him up, Young will simply blow by them and hit the floater. It’s a tough game of ‘pick your poison’ defenses must play.

If it wasn’t for the other players’ elite body of work and consistency, Trae Young would have probably ranked higher on this list, even with his Sophomore status. His ability to average nearly 30 PPG as a mere 6’1 guard in only his second year in the league is nothing short of sensational and could be a sign of big things to come.

Not only is Trae undersized, but he is also inexperienced. Yet he has still managed to navigate his way through NBA defenses to already emerge as one of the game’s elite scorers.

One of the greatest isolation scorers in NBA history, James Harden comes second to none when debating who is the best scorer in the game today. He is on track to getting his third consecutive scoring title and has been amongst the top-five in regular-season scoring for the past SEVEN straight seasons.

Harden has a unique isolation game where he exposes the defense by either getting to the hole or by breaking his opponent’s ankles with his patented step-back move. If the defense fouls him, he’s a threat from the line as well, hitting roughly 85% of his free throws and shooting them at a higher rate than any other player in the league, BY FAR.

Although he gets criticized for exploiting how the game is officiated in today’s era, there’s no denying that James Harden will go down as one of the most unguardable offensive forces the NBA has ever witnessed.

If Giannis Antetokounmpo had a more consistent and reliable jump shot, there would be constant discussions and debates in the media about Giannis having a legitimate case as being one of the greatest basketball players of all-time. He already averages close to 30 PPG, and that’s WITHOUT a consistent jumper.

Not only does Giannis score at a high clip, he is highly efficient as well. He’s shooting close to 55% from the field this season and shot nearly 58% last season. At 25 years old, the reigning MVP isn’t even in his prime yet and is already having historic seasons. Imagine the damage the Greek Freak could do in the near future if his jump shot improves to even just be average.

If LeBron’s scoring versatility was anywhere near Harden or KD, he would be the clear-cut favorite for the best scorer in basketball ever. King James has scored the third-most points in NBA history (only behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar & Karl Malone), but LBJ’s greatest skill isn’t even scoring.

The combination of LeBron’s size, strength, and speed gives him the ability to drive through multiple defenders, absorb the contact, and still hit the shot. He has averaged 27 PPG for his career and the fact he’s averaging nearly 26 PPG as a 35-year-old in his 17th season is absurdly impressive and speaks volumes about his unrivaled consistency as a scorer.

Damian Lillard may be an underrated Point Guard, but he is more underrated as a scorer. He is averaging a career-high 29 PPG this season on an efficient 46 FG% and 39 3P%. Earlier this year, Lillard averaged an absurd 48.8 PPG over a six-game stretch, the third-most points scored throughout any six-game span in recent NBA history.

Logo Lillard, as he is known due to his ability to torch defenses from long range, has been in the top-10 in scoring for five consecutive seasons now. There are no weakness in his offensive game, as he can score from anywhere on the court, which includes pulling up from deep or driving to the basket and finishing with both hands. Lillard’s impressive handles and 6’2, 194-pound frame allows him to penetrate past defenders and finish through contact.

Trae Young is one of the few players in the league who can shred any team on any given night with his shooting prowess. It is an extremely daunting task to guard Young because if defenders don’t pick him up from half-court, he’ll just pull up on them from the logo. But if they try to strap him up, Young will simply blow by them and hit the floater. It’s a tough game of ‘pick your poison’ defenses must play.

If it wasn’t for the other players’ elite body of work and consistency, Trae Young would have probably ranked higher on this list, even with his Sophomore status. His ability to average nearly 30 PPG as a mere 6’1 guard in only his second year in the league is nothing short of sensational and could be a sign of big things to come.

Not only is Trae undersized, but he is also inexperienced. Yet he has still managed to navigate his way through NBA defenses to already emerge as one of the game’s elite scorers.