Betting Odds and Prediction to Win the NBA Scoring Champion Title

The NBA Scoring Champion is the player who leads the NBA in scoring during a particular season. The title is awarded to the player who has the highest scoring average in the regular season. To qualify for the title, a player must play at least 70 games during the regular season or score at least 1,400 points.

Michael Jordan owns the record for the most scoring titles in NBA history with 10. Jordan and Wilt Chamberlain are the only players to win seven consecutive scoring titles. Kevin Durant, Allen Iverson and George Gervin each have four scoring titles. The reigning NBA scoring champion is James Harden of the Houston Rockets and he is also the NBA betting favorite to win again this year.

Here are the odds to lead the NBA in scoring this coming season. These odds were taken from Sportsbetting.ag as of 10/21/19:

Who Are the Favorites?

James Harden has evolved as one of the most unguardable players in the history of the NBA. If you leave him open, he is going to hit the three-pointer. If you challenge him, he is going to take it to the basket and still score. If he doesn’t score, most likely he is getting fouled. If you send him to the foul line, he is going to sink both free throws. That is the narrative for James Harden. And that doesn’t include his step back three pointer or that new one-legged three point move he has. The bottom line is that Harden is unstoppable. You can only hope to contain him. This guy has been in the Top 5 in the NBA in scoring since the 2012-13 season and is the NBA’s scoring leader the last two seasons. Harden is the only player to average over 30 points per game in each of the last two seasons. Last season, he set an NBA record by scoring at least 30 points in 32 straight games. Harden was the NBA’s 2018 MVP.

Stephen Curry is the Golden State Warriors’ main man. Curry led the Warriors to the 2015 NBA title and was the NBA MVP in 2015 and 2016. Curry was the NBA’s scoring champion in 2016 when he averaged a career-high 30.1 points per game. But with Kevin Durant joining the Warriors during the 2016-17 season, he took a step back and allowed Durant to be the Dubs’ top scorer. But after Durant decided to sign with the Brooklyn Nets during the offseason, Curry is expected to reprise his role as the Warriors’ top scorer this coming season. The Warriors will also be playing without Klay Thompson this season and we know that Steph’s Splash Brother also scores in the 20s. Although D’Angelo Russell has joined the Warriors, the absence of both Durant and Thompson will most likely force Curry to score in the 30s. Given his leadership and shooting skills, there is no question that Curry will rise to the adversity that the Dubs are currently facing.

Giannis Antetokounmpo continues his freakish rise to the top of the NBA. Last season, the Greek Freak was named as the NBA’s 2019 MVP after leading the Milwaukee Bucks to the best record during the regular season. Antetokounmpo led the Bucks in points, rebounds, and assists last season and at age 24, he continues to develop as a player. His scoring has increased in every season in the league and last year, he averaged a career-best 27.7 points per game. He finished behind Harden and Paul George in scoring last season and he was the only power forward in the Top 10 in the NBA in scoring. Antetokounmpo is seen as a favorite here because he has continued to improve year after year. With Milwaukee losing a scorer like Malcolm Brogdon during the summer, Giannis’ scoring could even increase this season. If he shoots better from the outside this season, there’s no question that he can easily score in the 30s.

Anthony Davis’ transfer to the Los Angeles Lakers was one of the biggest news during the offseason. The Brow is expected to make the Purple and Gold as favorites to win the NBA title this season along with their cross town rivals Clippers. Davis’ scoring has improved through the years and the #1 overall pick in 2012 by the New Orleans Pelicans now has a consistent outside shot and a decent three-point range. Davis ranked 2nd to Harden in scoring during the 2018 season at 28.1 points per game, which is his career-high. Davis averaged only 25.9 points per game last season as he was hounded with injuries and after he made a trade demand. With LeBron James and Rajon Rondo making plays for him, Davis’ scoring numbers should surge this year. James has acknowledged to taking a backseat to Davis when it comes to producing numbers during the regular season. The King is playing in his 17th season and hopes to keep his body fresh for the playoffs. That said, this is Davis’ season to rule in Los Angeles and he is eager to prove his worth after the injuries and drama of last season.

Devin Booker was the Suns’ 13th overall pick in 2015. After averaging 13.8 points per game as a rookie, Booker has averaged in the 20s in the last three seasons. Last season, Booker averaged a career-best 26.6 points per game and given his ability to shoot and create openings, he is a cinch to score 30-points per game in any season, if he chooses to. Booker has played both scorer and playmaker since he came to Phoenix but with the Suns adding a true point guard in Ricky Rubio this past summer, Booker is expected to focus on scoring which is his expertise. Aside from Dario Saric and Kelly Oubre Jr, the Suns don’t have plenty of scoring threats hence Booker should have plenty of shots on his plate. Making shots isn’t a problem and with Rubio feeding him the ball, expect a big scoring season from Booker.

Who Will Be the Scoring Champion?

There’s no question that James Harden is the best scorer in this group. And he is the back to back scoring champion in the NBA. However, the Rockets acquired Russell Westbrook during the summer and while I expect Westbrook to take the backseat, I have no doubt that Russ is going to take some of Harden’s numbers. Westbrook is a better scorer than Chris Paul, the man he is bodily replacing in Houston. Because of that, I’m thinking twice about Harden winning the scoring title this season.

I also like Anthony Davis, given his opportunity in Los Angeles and his improved scoring ability. However, I’m not sure if he will be healthy enough to play a full season. Davis has plenty of injury history in his NBA career and while I like his chances, I’m not really sure if he can play a full season this year. Devin Booker is my darkhorse pick because as I said earlier, he now has a true point guard to play with.

But my bet to win the 2019-20 NBA scoring champion is Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors. The Dubs lost to the Raptors in the 2019 NBA Finals and they are without Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson. As early as now, many people are already writing them off. Knowing how competitive Stephen Curry is, he will be out there to prove the doubters wrong. Remember that Curry was a 30-point scorer when he won the scoring title. He only took a backseat with Durant arriving in the Bay Area. Now that Durant is gone, we’re going to see the scorer in Curry again.

I expect Trae Young and LeBron James to provide Westbrook with the biggest challenge but with Young to have more scoring load and LeBron more concerned with a title run, Westbrook will have the advantage. Ben Simmons should be more concerned with his jump shot while Chris Paul doesn’t have too many passing options in OKC right now. I’m picking Russell Westbrook to lead the NBA in assists this season.

Prediction: Stephen Curry

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