basketball's scoring leaderboard is often misleading, veering toward superficiality and failing to capture the deeper narratives of players’ effectiveness. This season's "NBA Average Points Scoring Tier List" stands as a stark reminder of just how misleading traditional stats can be. The chart lays bare who the true heavyweights are, who is merely padding their stats, and which players are vastly undervalued based on their contributions to the game. One glance at this table, and you can't help but wonder: why is a player scoring over 33 points ranked in a separate tier, while a team-leading center fighting for playoff positioning finds themselves mixed among guards in tier four or five? The rankings of Jokic and Wembanyama might just rattle some fans' sensibilities. Brace yourself; we'll dissect these rankings tier by tier.
NBA Season Average Scoring List
Tier 1
Doncic | Luka Doncic
Age: 27
Nationality: Slovenia
Team: Los Angeles Lakers
Average Points: 33.5
Tier 2
Gilgeous-Alexander | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Age: 27
Nationality: Canada
Team: Oklahoma City Thunder
Average Points: 31.4
Tier 3
Edwards | Anthony Edwards
Age: 24
Nationality: USA
Team: Minnesota Timberwolves
Average Points: 28.9
Brown | Jaylen Brown
Age: 29
Nationality: USA
Team: Boston Celtics
Average Points: 28.7
Maxey | Tyrese Maxey
Age: 25
Nationality: USA
Team: Philadelphia 76ers
Average Points: 28.6
Leonard | Kawhi Leonard
Age: 34
Nationality: USA
Team: Los Angeles Clippers
Average Points: 28.0
Tier 4
Jokic | Nikola Jokic
Age: 31
Nationality: Serbia
Team: Denver Nuggets
Average Points: 27.9
Mitchell | Donovan Mitchell
Age: 29
Nationality: USA
Team: Cleveland Cavaliers
Average Points: 27.8
Brunson | Jalen Brunson
Age: 29
Nationality: USA
Team: New York Knicks
Average Points: 26.0
Tier 5
Durant | Kevin Durant
Age: 37
Nationality: USA
Team: Houston Rockets
Average Points: 25.9
Booker | Devin Booker
Age: 29
Nationality: USA
Team: Phoenix Suns
Average Points: 25.8
Murray | Jamal Murray
Age: 29
Nationality: Canada
Team: Denver Nuggets
Average Points: 25.5
Wembanyama | Victor Wembanyama
Age: 22
Nationality: France
Team: San Antonio Spurs
Average Points: 24.9
Tier 6
Avdija | Deni Avdija
Age: 25
Nationality: Israel
Team: Portland Trail Blazers
Average Points: 23.9
Harden | James Harden
Age: 36
Nationality: USA
Team: Cleveland Cavaliers
Average Points: 23.7
Johnson | Jalen Johnson
Age: 24
Nationality: USA
Team: Atlanta Hawks
Average Points: 22.8
Analysis of Rankings
The intrigue of this season's "Average Points Scoring Tier List" doesn't hinge upon who occupies the top slot but rather the stark divisions within the scoring tiers. Doncic stands alone at the peak with an impressive average of 33.5 points, while Gilgeous-Alexander follows with 31.4 points, creating a visible drop to the third tier where scoring averages plummet to about 28 points. Players like Edwards, Brown, Maxey, and Leonard dominate this space, but there’s a noticeable gap that raises eyebrows.
The most controversial aspect lies within the third through fifth tiers. As we dig deeper, we see tight races and glaring disparities where one player's average can dramatically drag down the group. For instance, Leonard’s 28.0 points pulls the bottom of tier three down significantly compared to his contemporaries. Within tier four, Jokic and Mitchell display remarkable averages but are juxtaposed with Brunson, whose score falls sharply. Then tier five showcases an even more profound stratification, indicating how closely packed these scores are versus the between-group discrepancies.
The true injustice seems to be felt by players like Jokic and Wembanyama. While Jokic’s scoring sits at 27.9, his outstanding capabilities also include nearly 13 rebounds and over 10 assists per game, conferring him an elite playmaking status that transcends mere scoring. Wembanyama’s scoring mark of 24.9 feels overly conservative when one considers his profound impact on both ends of the floor, not to mention that his Spurs are vying for a playoff spot. These players have skill sets that far exceed the limitations of their scoring averages on this list, highlighting the need for a more nuanced evaluation of their influence and contributions to the game.