Throughout the All-Star break, the title of the NBA’s best all-round scorer was banded around the coverage by many of the analysts. Most agreed that Nuggets (now Knicks) superstar Carmelo Anthony deserved the tag. Not since Michael Jordan has there been a clear choice for this title.
From the 1986-87 season, Jordan won 10 scoring titles in 12 seasons (the two he missed out on, was when he was in his retirement, recording strikeouts and pop flys) and was not only the yardstick for shooting guards but for all players around the league.
Michael Jordan rarely averaged below 30 points a game, shooting over 50% from the field and 84% from the foul line. He tortured all the unfortunate bastards – big shout-outs to Craig Ehlo, Cliff Robinson, Bryon Russell, that had the unrewarding assignment of trying to keep him quiet.
Looking ahead to the second-half of the NBA season, I have outlined what I believe is the NBA’s top seven all-round scorers with their stats for the first half of the 2010-2011 season:
7. Derrick Rose, Chicago Bulls
53 games, 2012 minutes, 1318 points
31.4 minutes per game
24.9 points per game (8th in the NBA)
31.4 points per 48 minutes (9th in the NBA)
481 field goals @ 45%
81 3-Pointers @ 35.5%
275 free throws @ 83.8%
A career year for Rose. Has become a legitimate scorer with a significant increase in his three point and free throw percentages. Dropped a career high 42 points against the league leading San Antonio Spurs last week.
He has shown considerable leadership this season with injuries to both big men, Joakim Noah and Carlos Boozer and shouldered much of the offensive workload.
He was a little taken back with all the offensive talent in the All-Star game, but he really came up big in the second half.
The Bulls are primed for a good shot at the playoffs this year which will only help establish Rose’s leadership qualities. I think his position on this list could change in the next few seasons.
6. Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat
52 games
37.1 minutes per game
25.4 points per game (4th in the NBA)
32.9 points per 48 minutes (6th in the NBA)
466 field goals @ 49.7%
44 3-Pointers @ 31.4%
344 free throws @ 73.7%
67 dunks
The fact that he enticed LeBron James down to South Beach effects both their value in this argument, he is one of the best guards at getting and finishing at the basket.
In 2008-09, D-Wade led the NBA in scoring with an average of just over 30 per game. It was the only season in his career where he shot the three ball over 30%.
In last year’s playoffs, he showed that he has the ability to put up crazy numbers, averaging 33.2 points per game on 56% shooting in a five-game series against the Boston Celtics including a franchise-record 46 point effort in Game 4 to keep the series alive.
If D-Wade can produce consistency and improve from the outside and the charity stripe, then he has the potential to test the top three on this list.
5. Amare Stoudemire, New York Knicks
53 games, 1949 minutes, 1,343 points
36.8 minutes per game
26.1 points per game (=2nd in the NBA)
34.1 points per 48 minutes (=4th in the NBA)
521 field goals @ 50.7%
9 3-Pointers @ 50%
333 free throws @ 78.9%
91 dunks
After leaving the Phoenix Suns this season, ‘Stat’ is thriving under his old coach, Mike D’Antoni’s high-octane offense.
Amare has a league-high 18, 30-point performances. His ranking as an all-round scorer is affected by his inability to shot the three pointer regularly.
Although he has only made nine treys this season, he has shot them at 50%. But his inside presence and ability to knock down the mid-range jumper with regularity means that Amare is rarely required to venture out 23 feet from the basket.
It will be interesting to see how his numbers/percentages will be affected by the acquisition of Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups.
4. Carmelo Anthony, Denver Nuggets/New York Knicks
50 games,
35.5 minutes per game
25.2 points per game (6th in the NBA)
34.1 points per 48 minutes (=4th in the NBA)
437 field goals @ 45.2%
42 3-Pointers @ 33.3%
343 free throws @ 82.3%
41 dunks
Anthony is now off to the Knicks and looking to provide a one-two scoring punch with Amare Stoudemire to challenge James and Wade in Miami. Melo had expressed this off-season that he would liked to be traded from the Nuggets, so it is no surprise that his numbers would be down. Now after five months of uncertainty, he now gets a chance with a fresh start in the Big Apple.
The 26-year-old is on target for his eighth straight 20 points per game season since being drafted into the NBA. His quickness and explosiveness around the rim is rare for someone of his size (6’8, 200lbs). Melo and Spurs great George Gervin share the single-game NBA record for the most points in a quarter with 33 points.
3. Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers
57 games, 1432 points
33.9 minutes per game
25.1 points per game (7th in the NBA)
35.6 points per 48 minutes (1st in the NBA)
511 field goals @ 46%
74 3-Pointers @ 31.5
336 free throws @ 82.6%
Interesting to note that Kobe is playing just under 34 minutes a game, his lowest in 13 seasons, but has still managed to put up 25 points per game and holds the best points per 48 minute average with 35.6 points.
To put it in perspective, that is only 0.2 points higher than his monster 2005-06 season where he averaged 35.4 points per game, including the 81 point effort against the Toronto Raptors. Bryant led the NBA in scoring during that 2005–06 and the following 2006–07 season.
If this were five years ago, there would be no argument. He still demands his spot in this argument even if the Black Mamba is on a slow decline.
If Kobe continues on at the same or better scoring pace this season, it will be his seventh consecutive season with an average of 25 points or higher.
2. LeBron James, Miami Heat
54 games, 1408 points
38.3 minutes per game
26.1 points per game (=2nd in the NBA)
32.6 points per 48 minutes (7th in the NBA)
489 field goals @ 48.5%
68 3-Pointers @ 34.5%
362 free throws @ 76%
55 dunks
After an amazing seven-year career with the Cleveland Cavaliers, LeBron James decided to head down south to the Miami Heat to join his pals Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh in his quest for his maiden NBA Championship.
By doing this, the theoretically becomes second fiddle to D-Wade and subsequently reduces his numbers.
His minutes, field goal and free throw attempts are down, but last years league MVP has still managed to be equal second in scoring average.
The King has shown in recent performances that he can dominate on offense but his 26.1 points per game is his lowest points average since his rookie season (20.9) in 2003-04. It will be interesting to see if the 2008 NBA Scoring Champion can win another in Florida.
1. Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder
50 games, 1978 minutes
39.6 minutes per game
28.9 points per game (1st in the NBA)
35.0 points per 48 minutes (3rd in the NBA)
478 field goals @ 47%
91 3-Pointers @ 33.8%
397 free throws @ 88% (11th in the NBA)
88 dunks
At only 22 years old, Kevin Durant is yet to achieve his full potential. He became the youngest player in NBA history to lead the league in scoring and is currently on pace to make it back-to-back scoring titles.
After spending the summer with Team USA at the World Championships, where he broke Team USA scoring records including most points in a tournament (205) and most points in a single game (38) on his way to winning the 2010 World Championships MVP award.
This season he is on pace to record back-to-back scoring titles and has scored 30 points or more 16 times and has scored 40 or more points five times.
The Durantula’s height and reach makes him active on the offensive boards and a threat even without the ball. With a grounded point guard in Russell Westbrook, who isn’t to shabby himself when it comes to scoring, his numbers are only going to increase.
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