In the modern NBA, scoring is king. The scoring leader is often – though not always – the eventual MVP Sportsbook. A scoring title means more in the NBA than it does in a lot of other major sports, and it also means a lot for NBA futures bettors.
See Our Best NBA Betting Sites
Right now, Sportsbook has the NBA scoring leader odds, with 76ers center Joel Embiid as the +200 favorite. Giannis Antetokounmpo isn’t far behind in second place at +275.
For more NBA odds, take a look at our dedicated NBA page, which also includes prop betting opportunities and other betting suggestions. There’s also our How To Bet on the NBA page, which can get you acclimated to basketball wagering, and our ever-popular NBA championship odds, a good place to start scoping out some NBA futures bets.
If you’d like to check out the betting markets for other categories (assists, rebounds, etc.), check out our full NBA stats leaders page.
Who Will Be the 2022-23 NBA Scoring Leader?
| Player | Odds |
|---|---|
| Joel Embiid | +200 |
| Giannis Antetokounmpo | +275 |
| Luka Doncic | +550 |
| Kevin Durant | +650 |
| Trae Young | +800 |
| LeBron James | +1200 |
| Jayson Tatum | +1200 |
| Ja Morant | +1400 |
| Bradley Beal | +1400 |
| Nikola Jokic | +2200 |
| Kyrie Irving | +2200 |
| Zion Williamson | +2200 |
| Steph Curry | +2800 |
| Damian Lillard | +2800 |
| DeMar DeRozan | +2800 |
| Devin Booker | +3300 |
Odds as of October 12 at Sportsbook
Why Is Embiid (+200) Favored In The Odds To Lead The NBA In Scoring?
The Sixers big man is the reigning NBA scoring leader, which sets a strong baseline for him to repeat in 2022-23. His 30.6 PPG a season ago represented a career-high mark, besting Giannis Antetokounmpo (29.9), Luka Doncic (28.4) and Trae Young (28.4) by a solid mark.
Embiid was by far the highest-scoring big man in basketball. As teams around the league fully embrace the benefits of a stretch-four and stretch-five offensive set, there’s room for a center or power forward to repeat as the scoring champion. The oddsboard thinks Embiid, a decent MVP candidate, can achieve it. At +200, that’s not terrible value, but we see more money to be made betting away from the chalk.
NBA Scoring Leader Odds: Best Value Bets
Here are some sneaky long shots.
Nikola Jokic (+2200)
Who says big guys can’t score? With Embiid, a center, as the chalk in the odds to lead the NBA in scoring, we’ll also recommend tossing some money on Jokic to win the scoring title.
Jokic came close a year ago, finishing sixth in PPG (27.1) and third among all big men (if you count Giannis as a power forward). “Joker” is the sweetest-passing center in all of basketball (7.9 assists per game in 2021-22) and very clearly a focal point in Denver’s offense. Now that’s set to change in 2022-23 when Jamaal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. return. That’s why the odds are as long as they are.
Jokic still averaged 26.4 points with healthy teammates in 2020-21. +2200 is accurate long-shot value, but worth a sprinkle if you can afford it.
DeMar DeRozan (+2800)
Let’s see if DeMar can prove last season’s explosion wasn’t a fluke. DeRozan’s first season in Chicago turned into a career year, as the 32-year-old turned back the clock and finished fifth in the NBA with 27.9 PPG. It won’t count in the NBA scoring leader odds, but he also finished second in total points with 2,118.
DeRozan’s strength is in his efficiency. He rarely chucks up three-pointers, instead settling for the mid-range game. Thanks to his knack for smart shot decision, “Deebo” led all shooting guards with a 50.4 field-goal percentage.
In 2022-23, he returns to a Bulls squad that will be fighting for a playoff spot and counting on DeRozan as their top scoring option. Father Time is working against him, but at +2800, he’s a quality value bet.
NBA Scoring Leader Odds: Best Bet
Drum roll, please...
Kevin Durant (+650)
I know what you’re thinking. Durant is 34 years old, his athleticism is waning and he just spent an entire offseason playing the diva card with the Nets front office. Sure, let’s acknowledge all that. But for what the “Slim Reaper” leaves to be desired off the court, he makes up for with cold, hard buckets.
Durant has won the NBA regular-season scoring title four times in his career. The last time he did it was 2013-14 – a very long time ago – but KD saw an uptick in scoring with Brooklyn in 2021-22. Durant played in just 55 games a year ago, but his 29.9 points per game would’ve ranked second, tied with Giannis. That’s a pretty darn good year.
KD’s 2022-23 season will look a lot like last year’s campaign. Ben Simmons will add to the mix, but he’s unlikely to take many scoring opportunities away from Durant. In fact, Simmons’ presence and passing ability might actually increase Durant’s scoring chances as the small forward logs tons of minutes.
Last 10 NBA Scoring Leaders
| Year | Players | Points Per Game |
|---|---|---|
| 2021-22 | C Joel Embiid (PHI) | 30.6 |
| 2020-21 | G Steph Curry (GSW) | 32.0 |
| 2019-20 | G James Harden (HOU) | 34.3 |
| 2018-19 | G James Harden (HOU) | 36.1 |
| 2017-18 | G James Harden (HOU) | 30.4 |
| 2016-17 | G Russell Westbrook (OKC) | 31.6 |
| 2015-16 | G Steph Curry (GSW) | 30.1 |
| 2014-15 | G Russell Westbrook (OKC) | 28.1 |
| 2013-14 | F Kevin Durant (OKC) | 32.0 |
| 2012-13 | F Carmelo Anthony (NYK) | 28.7 |
Picks by League
Who is favored to lead the NBA in scoring?
In 2022-23, Joel Embiid (+200) is favored to lead the NBA in points per game. Giannis Antetokounmpo is a close second ay +275 odds.
What is the NBA scoring title?
The NBA scoring leader is the player who leads the entire league in points per game. In 2021-22, Joel Embiid led all players with 30.6 points per game.
Who has the most NBA scoring titles?
Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan accumulated 10 scoring titles during his career, more than any other NBA player. Wilt Chamberlain is in second place with seven titles.
