NBA Ball: Who will challenge Kevin Durant for the Scoring Tilte for the next decade?
Kevin Love should at least be mentioned.. I know his game has been atrocious this year, he's coming off of a broken hand that will heal and his shooting will improve. His name should at least be mentioned. Averaged 26.0 last year and the guy is only 24. If his shooting improves, and he bring his numbers up to 47% fg and 40% 3p he had two years ago I could see him putting close to 30 a game... We have yet to see his best... It's not pretty but his putback layups are the same amount of points as Durants iso jumpers..
Out of the people you listed though, James Harden I really think could become one of the elite scorers to challenge for the scoring title.. He's so talented and isn't sharing the space on the floor with KD and Westbrook in Houston...
If Marshon Brooks plays on a bad team with a lot of playing time he will be up there in scoring... Just like his days in Providence..
I agree with you now, but if Cleveland gets decent players around him I think we will see him pull a Chris Paul on us and looking to score in the fourth quarter and getting the others players involved the first three quarters. Just my opinion though.
I'm going out on a limb and say Ben McLemore since I'm pretty high on him even though some posters here aren't because of his age. If he can tighten his handles in order to create some space I can definattely see him becoming an elite scorer even though he's rather streaky.
Sorry, but Brooks isn't going to average more than 22 ppg at the very most, Mayo is pretty much at his ceiling unless he learns to drive the ball more, even then I don't see him topping 24 ppg, Paul George is very intersting because even he's improved drastically and rapidly over the last couple years but I doubt he does anything more than 25 at any point in his career, I don't think Eric Gordon can top 24 either, Harden has a chance although I doubt he gets more than 25 for more than just one season, Rose averaged 25 his MVP season but that was Because Noah and Booz were injured a lot that season. Westbrook definitely can, he'd probably need to be on a different team, but I believe it's very likely that Westbrook can get more than Durant, if he can improve his efficiency and become knock down from midrange, I see no reason why Westbrook can't average 26 a game and Durant also average 26, although for this to happen Westbrook would need to play the two, like he did at times last year when Harden was handling the ball a lot.
Irving has the best chance because he's already at around 23 ppg and he's on a team without any other legit scoring options, and most likely won't be until another high draft pick develops, so I assume that he could get to ppg, but Kobe for the next 2 years, and Lebron has the best chance.
Out of that list I would have to say James Harden has the most potential.
Westbrook still has Durant to take up shots, even though thats never stopped him from shooting.
I dont think Rose will be in a role where he needs to score that much, but who knows.
next would be Eric Gordon, Mayo, Bazz is still too much of an unknown
Don't sleep on Damian Lilliard.He has potental to score about 24.0 ppg.8.0apg,6.4rbg.He can another Deron Williams a scoring point guard that could just flat out ball.Kyrie Irving can put up great numbers if he wasn't injury prone.Marshon Brooks if traded to th right team could be a potental scoring threat so can aTyreke Evans if traded to a contender Like Chicago or New York.
Next 10 years ?
in order of years: Harden, Irving, LBJ (when he'll be outta Miami, i clearly believe it will happen a day), Parker, Wiggins
i don't see anyone on your list who could achieve that except Harden and maybe Shabazz if he falls to a team without a great scorer
I don't see someone challanging KD on consistent basis. But like the last 2 years I see Westbrook beeing a top 5 player in scoring. I think Melo and LBJ have a shot for let's say the next 3 to four years to be somewhere around 25 ppg.
I definetly think Uncle Drew has a chance to compete for the scoring crow in the next few years depending on the talent on the team around him same about James Harden. I'm have a feeling that Kyrie could end up on a bigger franchise like the Lakers or the Knicks, don't know why.
The only big men I see competing for the scoring crown are Love with biggest chance to be top but I see him more as a Dirk 23 to 26 ppg player wich is fantasic considering his rebounding numbers well above 11 rpg. Best outcome for Blake is 24 ppg imo, but I don't see that happen on a consistent basis IF the Clippers can manage to build a deep team around him...
The biggest ouside shot goes to Cousins imo. If and that is a big if I see him as the only (close to) 7 footer going into the top 5. Even if he stays on this horrible Kings team he could very well end up going fornthe same kind of numbers as Love minus 1 or 2 rebounds.
I'm still not sold on one of the youngsters like Muhammad or Wiggins going off for the scoring crown.
For the next 5 years in order
KD
Melo
LBJ
Westbrook
Harden
Kyrie
Love
Rose
Gordon
Next 10 years in order
KD
Harden
Westbrook
Kyrie
Cousins
Love
Rose
LBJ
Griffin
Paul George
I'm sure I forgot about some players but I really have a feeling that Kyrie and Cousins will be ahead of most of other ones mentioned.
You are basically looking for someone to hit at least 26 to 27ppg to get anywhere near the scoring title although it could fall a little as the top players watch their minutes or the star players get a little older. But realistically you either have to look for guys who will hit that level or get near it each year or those who could have one big season but are maybe 21-22ppg career guys.
All the names listed would be the guys I would have had on my probable list so I cannot add anyone further who I'd feel might have a realistic shot of getting to the required scoring level.
these last 5-10 years the best scorers in the league have been kobe, wade, lebron, carmelo, who are the next generation top scores for the next 5-10 years. who are some young nba players who could lead the league in scoring or atleast challenge durant there
besides kobe, wade, lebron, and melo.
Eric Gordon
James Harden
Derrick Rose
Russel Westbrook
Paul George
Marshon Brooks
OJ Mayo
Shabazz Muhammad