With the NBA season about to begin, we decided to take a look at the top active NBA players with the highest average points per game (RPG) and see who could make the top 10.
The NBA is a great place to see big men go to work, but scoring is a job best suited for the athletic bigs. The guards and wings tend to take more shots and score more points, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have a significant impact on the game. Here are the top 10 players who lead their respective teams in scoring, which also happens to be the highest average amongst active players.
In this article, we break down the top 10 active NBA players with the highest average points-per-game. In order to compile this list, we analyzed the highest average points-per-game of each NBA team from the past 10 years. We found that six players from five teams were included in the Top 10. All of them have a great combination of athleticism, shooting ability, and scoring instincts, and this list proves that a high-scoring average is a great indication of a player’s ability to get buckets.
More than ever, the NBA is a scoring league. The rules encourage scoring to the point that the top players in the league are struggling to adjust to FIBA referees since they don’t receive as many calls as they do in other leagues.
Defense seems to be a lost skill these days, which has turned some long-time fans away from the game. Even among the NBA’s best scorers, though, some of them are so outstanding that they help the league develop year after year.
Today, we’ll recognize a select few players that stand out from the crowd and consistently top the scorers’ table, even among pure scorers. Take a look at the top 10 active players with the highest average points per game.
Anthony Davis – 23.9 points per game
Anthony Davis is a more developed offensive version of Kevin Garnett. He can score from all three levels and bring his unparalleled defensive intensity all the way down the court.
Davis possesses the handling and movements like a guard and can pull up, catch, and shoot. He has good footwork and a round-up post game, and now that he’s bulked up, he’s just as dangerous above as below the rim.
Trae Young (9th) – 24.1 PPG
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Trae Young has drawn comparisons to Stephen Curry since he was in high school, and the parallels are undeniable. He has unlimited range and is already one of the league’s top shooters.
Young had perfected the delicate skill of drawing touch and effortlessly moving to the line. Even when his shooting isn’t falling, he finds ways to score points while still being one of the best passers in the game.
8. Stephen Curry (24.2 points per game)
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No one can get into human-torch mode as quickly as Stephen Curry. Every time he’s out there, he’s must-see television because you know he can create history night after night.
Curry was the first player to consistently pull up from over 30 feet. He’s one of the most efficient scorers in the league, which is surprising considering how many threes he takes. He’s also the best shooter in history.
7. Damian Lillard (24.7 points per game)
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Damian Lillard has quickly established himself as the league’s greatest ‘logo shooter.’ He’s been focusing on improving his range, and now he’s hitting 30-footers like free throws.
When he’s in the zone, Lillard is one of the league’s most unstoppable scorers, and you know he’ll be at his best in crunch time. Once he calls an iso, there’s not much you can do to stop him.
Joel Embiid (6th) – 24.8 PPG
Due to his injury history and late start to the season, several questioned if Joel Embiid would be a successful player. And, although the Sixers had to wait a few of years to watch him play, it’s fair to say he silenced his detractors.
Currently, Embiid possesses the most fluid footwork among the league’s big players. Like a shooting guard, he can pump-fake you into oblivion, put the ball on the floor, and attract contact. He’s just too talented.
5. James Harden – 25.1 points per game
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We used to think it was normal when James Harden would put up 40+ points a game every single night. He was extremely difficult to defend due to his never-ending arsenal of tricks and nefarious maneuvers.
The new regulations, as well as sharing the floor with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, may reduce his scoring averages in the short term, but once he gets going, there’s no stopping him.
4. Zion Williamson (25.7 points per game)
Since LeBron James, Zion Williamson has been the most hyped and anticipated prospect in NBA history, and he didn’t disappoint. As though they were adolescents, he pushed his way to the rim against adult men.
While not a great shooter, Zion possesses the power of Shaquille O’Neal while driving through the lane. He can leap off the floor and is a walking highlight reel, and it seems that his physique defies the rules of physics.
3. Luka Doncic – 25.7 points per game
Luka Doncic has surpassed all expectations during his short career in the league, despite the fact that he had previously been very successful abroad with Real Madrid.
For good cause, Doncic is a generational talent and one of the NBA’s new faces. He’s neither quick or athletic, but he’s too bright, clever, and diverse to be overlooked. On the offensive end of the court, he’s a modern-day Larry Bird.
2. LeBron James – 27.0 points per game
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People have never thought of LeBron James as a scorer, despite the fact that he has averaged 27.0 points per game during his 18-year career. I mean, if that’s not scoring, then I’m not sure what is.
When James is driving, his power and athleticism make him impossible to stop. He hasn’t lost his first step over the years and has grown as a shooter, and his passing abilities always provide him with plenty of room to maneuver.
1. Kevin Durant (27.0 points per game)
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At the age of 21, Kevin Durant became the NBA’s youngest scoring champion. He was that talented, that quick, and he’s only grown better over the years, winning the award four times.
Durant had been out of the game for almost two years, yet he returned as sharp as ever. He’s a guard imprisoned within a seven-body, footer’s and he may be the greatest pure scorer in basketball history.
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It seems that NBA players can’t catch a break: just as they’re wrapping up a dream season, they’re hit by injury. With that in mind, we’re going to take a look at the 10 active players with the highest current points per game average. With the NBA season now full-swing, it’s time to reflect on the past and start preparing for the future.. Read more about nba scoring leaders all-time and let us know what you think.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which NBA player averaged the most points per game?
Michael Jordan
Who has averaged 30 ppg?
LeBron James
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- nba points leaders
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- points per game nba all time
