Top 15 Pure Scorers in the NBA Today

Scoring is an important part of the NBA. Some of the most successful teams have a player that can simply take over a game, scoring at will to ensure a win. 

Pure scorers are a rare commodity. Players must have a variety of skills such as quickness, shooting touch and go-to moves. 

But it is also important to note that each player has a specific strength. No two players score bunches in the same way. 

The top 15 scorers in the NBA have all found ways to differentiate themselves from the pack.  

Monta Ellis

Monta Ellis is widely known as a basketball player who can score at will, but who doesn’t do much else. It is true that his defense is questionable, and he could have better rebounding or assist numbers, but boy can he score. 

Ellis averaged just less than 25 points per game last season and he is always a threat to go off for 40-plus points. 

Ellis’ shooting further improves his scoring ability. He is a career 47 percent shooter and shot 36 percent from three-point range last season.

Ellis is confident in his shot and does not hesitate. On a team like the Golden State Warriors that plays at a fast pace and takes every open shot, Ellis’ talents are always on display.

Kobe Bryant

Kobe Bryant has added a new dimension to his game every year he has been in the league.

Straight out of high school, Bryant was primarily a slasher who finished above the rim and drove the lane with abandon. 

Since then, however, Bryant has become a smarter player. He developed post moves, a fade away jumper and a great mid-range game.

Bryant has improved his shooting percentage dramatically and finds new ways to score points seemingly each game. 

In the 2005-06 season, Bryant averaged over 35 points per game. When Bryant needs to, he can take over a game. He is the clear option for a game-winning shot because of his ability to score in almost any situation. 

Kobe Bryant is the definition of a pure scorer and has only gotten better with time.

LeBron James

LeBron James is a freakish athlete. He is more football tight end than basketball guard, but it is his combination of quickness and strength allows him to get to the rim at will.

James can simply barrel through defenders, but he also has the agility and skill to finish around the basket. 

While playing with the Cleveland Cavaliers, James was often the team’s only offense. He had to split double teams and score when every defender on the court was concentrating on stopping him.

If James could develop some post moves or a more reliable jump-shot, he would be unstoppable. As he stands now, though, James is still pretty good.

Dwyane Wade

Dwyane Wade is simply a competitor. He is a scorer who can always find the basket when his team needs a boost. 

In the NBA playoffs last season, Wade was a beast. He was all over the floor grabbing rebounds and getting steals, but most importantly, he led his team with his scoring. 

He averaged over 30 points per game in the Miami Heat’s series against the Boston Celtics. Then, in the finals against the Dallas Mavericks, Wade scored 26.5 points per game and was an emotional leader.

Wade scores by attacking the basket. He makes tough shots look easy and is a master of drawing fouls while scoring.

Wade can drive around defenders and is not scared to take on an opposing center at the rim. Whenever his team needs a big basket, Wade delivers.

Kevin Martin

Kevin Martin is simply a scorer. In his seven years in the league, Martin has learned to refine his skill to make him a very successful player.

Martin’s development as a scorer can be directly related to his improvement in getting to the free throw line and his three-point shooting.

Martin has shot 38 percent from three for his career and has not averaged fewer than seven free-throw attempts per game since his second season in the NBA.

His scoring has also benefited from a more aggressive attitude. Martin can score in a variety of ways and has only improved as his knowledge of the game increases.

Kevin Durant

Kevin Durant won his first scoring title scoring title in 2010 at just 21 years old. He followed that up with another scoring title while leading his team deeper into the playoffs. 

Durant’s slight frame should not fool anyone. When he has the basketball, chances are it will end up in the basket.

Durant’s shooting ability sets him apart from the rest. If he gets just the slightest bit of separation, he can drain a shot from almost anywhere on the court.

The scary thing about Durant is that he is just 23. He is still developing his game and adding strength. His height should lead to more post-up opportunities in future years.

Watch out, NBA! Kevin Durant has a ways to go.

Carmelo Anthony

Off court drama and trade demands might have stolen Carmelo Anthony’s headlines last season, but make no mistake, he can still play. 

Anthony has averaged more than 20 points per game in each of his eight seasons in the NBA. He is a strong player who has learned to do more than just rely on his shot. 

Anthony gets to the line almost eight times a game. As he is converting those shots at a rate of about 80 percent, shooting free throws is almost a surefire way for him to score points.

Making outside shots has been Anthony’s forte for many years, but he has begun to learn how to use his strength to get into the lane and either convert shots or get to the line.

Danny Granger

Danny Granger did not enter the NBA with the same fan fare of many of his peers. However, Granger has proved to be just as good a player, if not better.

Granger had a breakout season in his third year, averaging almost 20 points per game, and has not dipped below that point since.

A career 39 percent three point shooter, Granger uses his size and height to stretch defenses. He is a strong player who can shoot from anywhere on the floor. 

The Indiana Pacers are quietly becoming a solid team, and they are led by Granger.

Dirk Nowitzki

When Dirk Nowitzki led the Dallas Mavericks to the NBA Finals last season, he cemented his place as one of the greatest power forwards in the history of the league. 

Nowitzki is undoubtedly the best shooter at his position in history. He is a member of the 50-40-90 club that consists of players who have shot 50 percent at two-point field goals, 40 percent from three, and 90 percent from the foul line.

He has an unrivaled ability to get off his shots at almost any time. Nowitzki’s turnaround jumper and bank shots are the keys to his game.

Every time Nowitzki releases the ball, fans expect it to go in. His shots rarely even hit the rim, showing just how much he has mastered his shot. 

Derrick Rose

Without surrounding Derrick Rose with much help, the Chicago Bulls fully expected their point guard to score in bunches. Rose delivered, averaging 25.5 points per game last season and winning an MVP award in the process. 

Rose drives to the basket hard and can make difficult shots in traffic. 

One of the things that makes Rose such a great player is that, despite being asked to score so much, he still has a point guard’s mentality.

When he drives into the lane, he is just as much of a threat to dart a quick pass to Joakim Noah or Luol Deng for easy dunks. Last season, Rose averaged 7.7 assists per game.

Rose is a successful scorer because he does not forget about his teammates. Defenses cannot concentrate solely on Rose because he will make them pay. 

Blake Griffin

Blake Griffin may not have refined his game to be at the level of many other players on this list, but remember, he only has one year of experience.

Griffin is a machine. In his first year in the league, he was able to average 22.5 points per game and 12 rebounds per game. He also had at least five earth-shaking alley-oops that don’t show up on the stat sheet.

The control Griffin has of his body is amazing for a man with his size. He can adjust in the air and finish with ease.

Griffin will put in the time to develop a post game and improve his shooting. Until then, he has done a pretty good job of posterizing defenders instead.

Dwight Howard

Dwight Howard is nothing if not consistent. In the past four seasons, Howard’s statistics have been eerily similar—20 points and 13 or 14 rebounds per game. 

Night in and night out, Howard crashes the board, slams home dunks and generally dominates opposing centers.

He is a physical specimen, so chiseled that he could find plenty of work as a body builder if this whole basketball thing doesn’t work out. 

In a league that is facing a shortage of true centers, Howard is the best of the best. His strength allows him to get position in the post and his sure hands and footwork help him finish plays above the rim. 

Howard can score on anyone in the league. It is still up in the air which team he will be scoring points for this season, but no matter where he plays, expect a solid 20-13 from Howard.

Russell Westbrook

It can be both a blessing and a curse to have Kevin Durant as a teammate. Just ask Russell Westbrook.

Last season, Westbrook had the best statistical season of his three-year career, averaging almost 22 points and more than eight assists while improving his shooting percentages across the board.

Westbrook can score in a variety of ways. He is a very good three-point shooter, has really improved his midrange game and can drive to the basket against almost any defender. 

However, with the reigning NBA scoring champion on his team, Westbrook was criticized for being too selfish and not feeding Durant enough. The problem is that Westbrook’s game is as a scoring point guard. 

He has proven season after season that he can score a lot of points with relative ease. He and Durant should be able to work out their issues fairly easily. Westbrook is a great player and will continue to excel. 

Zach Randolph

When Zach Randolph sets his mind to it, he can be an incredible scorer. In the playoffs last year, he dominated both the Oklahoma City Thunder and the San Antonio Spurs.

Randolph had seven games with 25 points or more in his two playoff series. Randolph can be an offensive force when motivated, but motivation is always the question.

His strength and shooting touch make Z-Bo a tough matchup for most defenders. If he can only learn to take out his frustration on the opposition instead of sulking, Randolph could dominate the paint.

Paul Pierce

Paul Pierce is the type of player who does whatever it takes for his team to win. He is a perfect compliment for teammates Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett because he has such a varied skill set. 

If Allen is knocking down threes, Pierce can drive to the rim and finish. If Garnett is dominating in the paint, Pierce can take his game outside and hit shots over tight defense.

Any team would love a player like Pierce because he can adapt to different defenses. His post moves are good if a smaller player is on him. He is quick enough to get to the basket against bigger defenders. 

Simply put, Pierce is a winner who has the skills to score whenever his team needs him to.