Ranking the 10 NBA top scorers of 2023: Embiid and Doncic dominate, GSW absent from the rankings

During the 2022/23 NBA Regular Season, the Milwaukee Bucks were the best-performing team with 58 wins and 24 losses, ahead of the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference and the top-ranked Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference. However, the most outstanding scorer of the Regular Season did not come from those teams, but from Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers. Who were the NBA top scorers of 2023?

NBA top scorers of 2023 list:

10. Trae Young (Atlanta Hawks, 73 matches, 26.2 points)

Trae Young continued his impressive scoring form for the Atlanta Hawks with an average of 26.2 points, along with 10.2 assists per game. Although his three-point shooting percentage slightly decreased compared to the previous season (38.2% in the 2021/22 season), he remained the heart of the Hawks' offensive system. His best performance came in a win against the Washington Wizards, where he recorded 40 points and 13 assists. He also became one of the players with the most games achieving the "40 PTS - 10 AST" milestone, ranking 8th all time.

9. Jaylen Brown (Boston Celtics, 67 matches, 26.6 points)

In the 2022/23 Regular Season, Jaylen Brown displayed explosive form, strength, and high shooting efficiency. He also recorded strong statistics such as a 49% field goal percentage and 6.9 rebounds per game. These performances earned him a selection to the NBA All-Star team. Thanks to these achievements, he later qualified for a five-year Supermax contract extension worth $304 million in the summer of 2023, which at the time became the most valuable contract in NBA history, surpassing Nikola Jokic's record.

8. Kyrie Irving (Brooklyn Nets / Dallas Mavericks, 60 matches, 27.1 points)

It was a turbulent season for Kyrie Irving as he moved from the Brooklyn Nets to the Dallas Mavericks. Despite the change of teams, he maintained an outstanding performance, averaging 27.1 points with nearly a 50% field goal percentage. Kyrie also nearly achieved another season with 50% field goals, 40% three-point shooting, and 90% free throws. In addition, he led the NBA in fourth-quarter scoring, showing his composure in crucial moments.

7. Donovan Mitchell (Cleveland Cavaliers, 68 matches, 28.3 points)

In his first season with the Cavaliers, Donovan Mitchell delivered an extremely impressive performance. His scoring output, field goal percentage, three-point shooting, and free throw accuracy were consistently among the best in the league. His most memorable game came on January 2, 2023, against the Chicago Bulls, where he scored 71 points. This made him the seventh player in NBA history to reach the 70-point mark. After that game, he also became the first player in league history to record at least 70 points and 10 assists in a single game, breaking the Cavaliers’ franchise scoring record.

6. Jayson Tatum (Boston Celtics, 74 matches, 30.1 points)

In the 2022/23 season, Jayson Tatum delivered impressive performances and became the first player in Boston Celtics history to average more than 30 points per game in a season. That year, Tatum significantly improved his driving ability and scoring efficiency, helping him average 8.4 free throws per game, a career high. At the end of the regular season, he helped the Celtics finish second in the Eastern Conference standings.

5. Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks, 63 matches, 31.1 points)

Giannis Antetokounmpo also set a new personal scoring record this season with an average of 31.1 points per game. He was the only player selected to the All-Star starting lineup with 100% of the votes, reinforcing his status as one of the most dominant players in the league. In addition, he led the NBA in points in the paint, averaging more than 20 points per game from close-range scoring alone. Unfortunately, his playoff campaign ended early due to injury.

4. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City Thunder, 68 matches, 31.4 points)

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander truly emerged as a superstar for the Thunder during the 2022/23 season, averaging more than 30 points per game. He surpassed many strong competitors to earn a place on the NBA All-Star team. During the Regular Season, he recorded 45 games with at least 30 points, matching a record previously set by Kevin Durant during his time with the Thunder. He was also one of the league’s most efficient scorers during clutch moments.

3. Damian Lillard (Portland Trail Blazers, 58 matches, 32.2 points)

Along with Mitchell, the 2022/23 season also saw Damian Lillard record a 70-point game. In that performance, he made 13 three-pointers and posted a true shooting percentage of 80.4%, the most efficient performance ever in a 70-point game. He also had two games with more than 60 points that season, joining a rare group of players who achieved this multiple times in a single season, alongside Wilt Chamberlain, Kobe Bryant, and James Harden.

2. Luka Dončić (Dallas Mavericks, 66 matches, 32.4 points)

Luka Dončić continued to maintain his remarkable form with the Dallas Mavericks. Besides averaging 32.4 points per game, he also recorded 8.6 rebounds and 8.0 assists on average. One of his most incredible performances came against the New York Knicks, when he posted 60 points, 21 rebounds, and 10 assists. This outstanding season helped Dončić earn an All-Star selection for the fourth consecutive year. However, in the second half of the season, the Mavericks struggled to balance their offense after Kyrie Irving joined the team, and their defensive issues ultimately prevented them from reaching the playoffs.

1. Joel Embiid (Philadelphia 76ers, 66 matches, 33.1 points)

The top scorer of the Regular Season was Joel Embiid with an average of 33.1 points per game. With this achievement, Embiid won the NBA scoring title for the second consecutive year. Throughout the season, he delivered several spectacular performances, including three games with more than 50 points and thirteen games with at least 40 points. Embiid proved himself to be one of the most dominant and complete players in the NBA during the 2022/23 season, helping the 76ers finish third in the overall standings.

BasketScores has reviewed the Top 10 NBA scorers of 2023. To stay updated with more exciting NBA schedules in the future, click the link.