Over the last decade, the NBA has seen a steep increase in offense and scoring. It seems that every other night, a different player sets their new career-high for points scored in a game or every season, their new career-high for PPG. Obviously, the increase in three-point shooting and the spacing on the court is a big reason for the increase in scoring, as are the lackadaisical rules that favor offense in this day and age.
Today, we will discuss the players over the last 10 seasons who have scored the most in the NBA. These are the superstars who are all-around three-level threats, three-point marksmen, and players who will likely usher fans into a new era of the NBA. There are many faces and names fans are familiar with, as well as a few players that may surprise you with their presence and placement on the list. Regardless, no players have been better scorers over the last 10 seasons.
These are the NBA players with the most points scored over the last 10 seasons.
10. Bradley Beal – 15,391 Points
Credit: Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports
Games Played: 695
Career Stats: 22.1 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 4.3 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.4 BPG
It has been exactly 10 seasons since Bradley Beal made his NBA debut with the Washington Wizards in 2012-13. Beal began his year as the starting shooting guard, with the Wizards sharing touches with his backcourt teammate John Wall for most of that time. During his first four seasons in the NBA, Beal averaged 16.0 PPG on 42.6% shooting overall and 39.7% shooting from three on 4.5 attempts.
The 2016-17 season is when Beal began to pick things up. He averaged 23.1 PPG that season and, by 2018, was an All-Star averaging 22.6 PPG. He earned another All-Star selection and his only career 2,000-point season in 2019. In 2020 and 2021, Beal would have back-to-back 30.0 PPG seasons, with the Wizards playing 57 and 60 games, respectively. In total, he has earned three All-Star appearances, one All-NBA Team selection, and averaged 22.1 PPG over the last 10 years.
9. Anthony Davis – 15,841 Points
Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Games Played: 659
Career Stats: 24.0 PPG, 10.4 RPG, 2.4 APG, 1.3 SPG, 2.3 BPG
Anthony Davis is another member of this list to make his NBA debut during the 2012-13 season. Davis was the first overall pick to the New Orleans Hornets, who would become the Pelicans the following season. In their first season as the Pelicans, Davis transformed into a 20.0 PPG scorer and the league leader in blocks. Over the following two seasons, Davis would average just over 24.0 PPG on 51.5% shooting from the field.
In 2017 and 2018, Davis would record his first two career 2,000-point seasons averaging 28.1 PPG on 51.9% shooting. Overall, in seven seasons with New Orleans, Davis averaged 23.7 PPG on 51.7% shooting from the field in 466 games played. In 2020, Davis joined the Lakers and, in his first season with the team, enjoyed the ultimate success. He and his teammate LeBron James led the Lakers to an NBA championship, with Davis averaging 26.1 PPG in the regular season and 27.7 PPG in the playoffs. Since the title, Davis has struggled to remain healthy but has still averaged 24.0 PPG on 53.5% shooting and 23.8% shooting from three.
8. Giannis Antetokounmpo – 16,280 Points
Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Games Played: 719
Career Stats: 22.6 PPG, 9.6 RPG, 4.7 APG, 1.1 SPG, 1.3 BPG
Giannis Antetokounmpo did not make his NBA debut until the 2013-14 season with the Milwaukee Bucks after they selected him 15th overall in 2013. Over his first three seasons with Milwaukee, Giannis was not even half the player he is considered to be today, as he averaged just 12.2 PPG on 48.3% shooting from the field. Then, in 2017, Giannis grew bigger, got stronger, and ran faster as he became the NBA’s Most Improved Player averaging 22.9 PPG on 52.1% shooting.
In 2018, Giannis would have his first season with over 25.0 PPG when he averaged 26.9 PPG and shot 52.9% from the field, recording his first 2,000-point season. In 2019 and 2020, Giannis would go back-to-back as the MVP averaging 29.5 PPG in 2020. In 2021, he would lead the Bucks to their first NBA title since 1971, averaging over 28.1 PPG in the regular season and 30.2 PPG in the playoffs. In 2022, he would record the second 2,000-point season of his career, and in 2023, he would add 1,959 points to his total.
7. Kevin Durant – 16,914 Points
Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
Games Played: 606
Career Stats: 27.3 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 4.3 APG, 1.1 SPG, 1.1 BPG
As one of the greatest scorers in NBA history, the only surprise about Kevin Durant being on this list is that he isn’t higher up on it. Given the number of injuries suffered and time missed over the last 10 years by Durant, the fact he is even up here at all is a testament to his abilities as an offensive basketball player. Durant spent four of his last 10 seasons with the Thunder, where he won an MVP in 2014 as well as a scoring title with 32.0 PPG. In his final four years with the Thunder, he averaged 29.1 PPG on 50.6% shooting overall and 39.7% from three.
He would then shock the NBA world by moving on to Golden State, where he would lead them to two NBA championships amid two Finals MVP performances in 2017 and 2018. In three seasons with the Warriors, he averaged 25.8 PPG on 52.4% shooting from the floor. After missing the entire 2020 season with an Achilles injury, most players would see a dip in production. Being the demi-God he is, Durant averaged 29.0 PPG over the course of two and a half seasons in Brooklyn and shot the ball with 50/40/90 splits.
6. Russell Westbrook – 18,508 Points
Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Games Played: 780
Career Stats: 22.4 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 8.4 APG, 1.6 SPG, 0.3 BPG
By the time the 2012-13 season rolled around, Russell Westbrook was already an All-Star point guard averaging around 23.0 PPG. He was playing some of the best basketball of his career and was considered to be one of the game’s top players at point guard, but it was nothing compared to what was in store down the road. After a season in 2014 of under 22.0 PPG, Westbrook would go on a streak of six straight All-Star selections and numerous other historical feats.
In 2015, Westbrook would win his first scoring title with 28.1 PPG and averaged 23.5 PPG again in 2016. In 2017, Westbrook would have his greatest individual season. He would be named the MVP after averaging a triple-double on the season, becoming the first to do so since Oscar Robertson. He also won the scoring title averaging 31.6 PPG. Since his MVP season in 2017, Westbrook has averaged 21.8 PPG overall but under 20.0 PPG in each of his last two seasons with the Clippers and Lakers.
5. Stephen Curry – 18,557 Points
Credit: David Butler II/USA Today Sports
Games Played: 701
Career Stats: 24.6 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 6.5 APG, 1.6 SPG, 0.2 BPG
Sitting right in the middle of our top 10 scorers of the last 10 seasons is the player who changed the game the most over that time as well. Stephen Curry made three-point shooting the ultimate weapon during the 2010s and 2020s. He led the Golden State Warriors to four NBA championships over the last nine seasons while winning two scoring titles, two MVP awards, and one Finals MVP award. Oh, and he became the NBA’s all-time leader in three-pointers made.
The 2012-13 season would be one year before Curry started to become a household name, yet he still averaged 22.9 PPG on over 45.0% shooting from three. Curry would win his first MVP and championship in 2015, averaging 23.8 PPG. In 2016, he would become the NBA’s first unanimous MVP averaging 30.1 PPG on 50/40/90 splits. He would capture his second scoring title in 2021, averaging 32.0 PPG. Curry’s game being mainly from the perimeter, has certainly helped his standing on this list, as does how efficiently he shoots the ball. When you see that he has played 107 games less than the play sitting directly in front of him, those numbers become remarkable.
4. DeMar DeRozan – 18,559 Points
Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
Games Played: 808
Career Stats: 21.0 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 4.0 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.3 BPG
I do not think anyone will argue that DeMar DeRozan is one of the most talented scorers of the last decade in the NBA. DeRozan wasn’t quite an All-Star for the first time as the 2012-13 season commenced and had not yet averaged 20.0 PPG with the Raptors. Both of those things would change in 2014 as DeRozan averaged 22.7 PPG and became an All-Star for the first time. He averaged at least 20.0 PPG every year since 2014 now and has gotten even better as time has gone on.
In 2017, DeRozan would have his first season with over 25.0 PPG as he averaged 27.3 PPG on 46.7% shooting. Since that season, he has averaged 23.5 PPG on 49.4% shooting overall without much help from the three-point line. DeRozan would have a career season with the Bulls in 2021-22 as he averaged a career-high 27.9 PPG on 50.3% shooting. He averaged over 24.0 PPG in 2022-23 as well as shooting over 50.0% for back-to-back seasons for the first time in his career.
3. Damian Lillard – 19,376 Points
Credit: Jaime Valdez-USA TODAY Sports
Games Played: 769
Career Stats: 25.2 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 6.7 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.3 BPG
Another player who has helped roll out the welcome mat for the three-point revolution is Damian Lillard of the Portland Trail Blazers. Making his debut in the 2012-13 season, Damian Lillard became Rookie of the Year averaging 19.0 PPG, and, from there, has only become one of the best players in the game. Over the next three seasons, Lillard would average 22.2 PPG shooting 37.0% from the three-point line. One 2017 rolled around, Lillard brought his game to another level.
In 2018, Lillard would average 27.0 PPG on 44.4% shooting overall and 37.0% from three. He would average at least 25.0 PPG over the next three seasons with Portland while he became one of the best shooters and point guards in the NBA. In 2020, Lillard averaged a then career-high 30.0 PPG, which was his best season until 2022-23. This year, Lillard averaged 32.2 PPG for Portland and shot a career-high 46.3% from the field and 37.1% from three.
2. LeBron James – 19,607 Points
Credit: Daniel Dunn-USA TODAY Sports
Games Played: 731
Career Stats: 27.2 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 7.3 APG, 1.5 SPG, 0.8 BPG
As the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, LeBron James being toward the top of this list should surprise nobody. If it does, and you still think of him as strictly a pass-first player, maybe his standing here will change that. Over the last 10 years, James has led his teams to three NBA championships with three Finals MVP awards which includes time with the Heat, Cavaliers, and Lakers from 2013 thru the present. Despite dealing with injuries as his age catches up to him, James has remained consistent and one of the best scorers in basketball.
Since 2012-13, LeBron has averaged at least 25.0 PPG every season and 26.8 PPG overall. In two seasons with Miami, James and the Heat made two Finals appearances, with him averaging 27.0 PPG in the regular season on 56.6% shooting. He would then spend four seasons with the Cavaliers when he led them to four Finals appearances and one NBA championship. He averaged 26.1 PPG over this time and shot 52.6% from the field. With the Lakers, James has led them to one championship in 2020 but has dealt with many issues preventing him from getting back there ever since. Still, he averaged 27.4 PPG in five seasons with the Lakers and 28.8 PPG in 54 games in 2022-23.
1. James Harden – 21,898 Points
Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Games Played: 780
Career Stats: 24.7 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 7.0 APG, 1.5 SPG, 0.5 BPG
Any basketball fan that watched the mid and late 2010s understands fully why James Harden sits atop this list. During his nine seasons with the Houston Rockets, we watched as Harden became one of the best offensive players in basketball while having an all-time great offensive peak. Harden would win an MVP award in 2018 as well as three straight scoring titles from 2018 thru 2020, with Houston averaging over 36.0 PPG in 2019.
Harden’s entire Houston career falls under the umbrella of the last ten years in NBA history, and over this time, nobody put the ball in the basket like James Harden. He knew how to manipulate defenses to the fullest, often working his way to the foul line and hitting stepback three-pointers like they were layups. In his time with Houston, Harden averaged 29.6 PPG while shooting 44.3% from the field and 36.2% from three. Harden has averaged 22.3 PPG since leaving Brooklyn after becoming much more of an effective playmaker in his older years.
Source: fadeawayworld
