The NBA regular season is nearing its end and the race for the scoring title has come down to two of the game’s brightest stars: Joel Embiid and Luka Doncic. In a season that has been marred by injuries, COVID-19 protocols, and condensed schedules, these two players have risen above the rest and put on a show for basketball fans across the world. With just one week left in the season, the battle for the scoring crown is heating up and it’s anyone’s game. Let’s take a closer look at these two players and how they’ve gotten to this point.
For the second time in NBA history, an international player will become the league’s scoring champion. Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers, who was born in Cameroon, is in the running to become a back-to-back scoring champion, along with Dallas Mavericks player Luka Doncic from Slovenia. Embiid has scored 2,110 points in 64 games, with an average of 32.97 points per game, while Doncic has scored 2,096 points in 64 games, with an average of 32.75 points per game. The scoring title race could come down to the wire, as Philadelphia has four games left, while Dallas has three. Damian Lillard of the Portland Trail Blazers is in third place, with an average of 32.2 points per game. However, the Trail Blazers have shut him down for the rest of the season because they are out of playoff contention.
This could be the closest scoring race in over a decade, with the last time the title was decided by less than half a point per game being in 2011-12 when Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma City Thunder won the title by edging out Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers by just 0.17 points per game. Last year, Embiid became the first official international scoring champion after beating Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo to lead the league in points per game. Dominique Wilkins, who was born in France but played for the United States, is also considered an American player who won a scoring title. It should be noted that LeBron James did not qualify for the leaderboard last year, despite his average of 30.3 points per game, because he did not play enough games.
As the NBA season comes down to its final week, fans are eagerly watching Joel Embiid and Luka Doncic battle it out for the coveted scoring title. Both players have had an incredible season so far, bringing their respective teams to new heights. It’s been a thrilling race to witness, with each game bringing new excitement and anticipation. While only one can ultimately come out on top, both Embiid and Doncic have proven themselves to be some of the most talented and electrifying players in the league today. As we look ahead to the playoffs, there’s no doubt that these two stars will continue to push themselves to new heights, delivering on the promise of a dynamic and unforgettable postseason.
