NBA: Who Are the Deadliest Scorers in the League?

Feb 14, 2013; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Miami Heat forward LeBron James (6) handles the ball against Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (35) during the first half at the Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports

In the NBA, there are many scorers who have been able to lead their teams to winning records. While some are more explosive than others, each one of these guys can put the ball in the basket, one way or another.

Again, don’t be disappointed if your favorite player isn’t on this list. Really think about if they deserve it. This list will include the NBA’s finest, but there’ll be some twists and turns that will take some time to get used to.

Who are they in order?

Kevin Durant:

Oh Durant, one of the best scorers the league has ever seen. At 28.2 PPG, Durant is looking to three peat for the scoring title, all while leading his Oklahoma City Thunder to one of the best records in the NBA. Durant is an amazing player who can get to the basket in a split second, and pull up for the game winning three.

The reason he is so deadly is because at 6’11, he is the tallest small forward in the league. He is faster than your average center, and bigger than your average small forward. In other words, he just cannot be stopped. Even when he’s having an off night, he scores 23 points. He’s just that good.

Kobe Bryant:

Recently going down with an ankle injury, the Mamba is looking for revenge against the Hawks, who may have kissed the Lakers’ playoff hopes good bye. While everyone is worried about Kobe, he was having an incredible stint of games, averaging insane numbers. In back-to-back games, Kobe had 40+ and 10+ assists. This is something only achieved by Jordan back in the 80’s.

With the way that Kobe scores in bundles, he is certainly going to pass Michael Jordan’s scoring record, but maybe not get as many rings. Watching Kobe Bryant is hard to do, because you cannot believe how he strikes, as he is really old. Think he’s done scoring a lot? You’re wrong.

Carmelo Anthony:

Anthony, as of late, hasn’t been doing well. Ever since his knee injury, he has been slumping. He still, however, is second in scoring in the NBA, and therefore we must recognize him as one of the most dynamic scorers. At 27.9 PPG, Anthony is right up Durant for that scoring title. Like Durant, Anthony can drive, post up, and make a living at the free throw line. His quick release allows him to shoot from deep and he’s almost unstoppable when he gets it going. That’s what scorers do.

LeBron James:

There is no question that LeBron James would be higher on this list if he was a better scorer. Unfortunately for him, he isn’t a pure scorer. James is a facilitator, defender, rebounder, and a scorer all in one. Naturally, his scoring numbers are going to be down. He’s getting his teammates involved, and grabbing boards on the defensive end.

This, however, isn’t an MVP list. LeBron James could be averaging 32 points per game if he wanted, but right now he’s just focused on winning basketball games.

Deron Williams:

Not even an All-Star this year, Deron Williams still deserves to be on this list. Williams is averaging a career low 18 PPG, but still shows some flashes of brilliance. If anybody could hit threes like Deron Williams, oh wait, they would be on this list as well. When he gets it going, this guy is absolutely unstoppable. He will pull up from anywhere on the court and make you look silly, but hey, it’s what he does. He’s a scorer.

Stephen Curry:

Earlier this season in Madison Square Garden, as I’m sure most of you already know, Stephen Curry poured in an NBA season high 54 points on 11/13 shooting from the 3-point line. Curry is an incredible shooter, and better yet, he can create his shots. Lately, he hasn’t been missing, and he’s taking low percentage shots. That shows you that he is one of the best shooters in the NBA, and he has handles to create. These are two of the deadliest combinations to have in basketball.

James Harden:

This season, no one expected Harden to be the stud that he is. Right now with the Rockets, Harden is averaging closer to 27 PPG and has been on the MVP ladder the whole season. The only reason the Rockets are in a playoff spot is because Harden has really outshined almost every shooting guard and declared his dominance at the spot.