Since the 2014-15 season, the NBA players with the best average points per game (PPG), with a minimum of 41 games played per 82 team games, are:
- Luka Dončić: 28.6 PPG (450 games)
- Joel Embiid: 27.7 PPG (452 games)
- Kevin Durant: 27.1 PPG (581 games)
- James Harden: 26.9 PPG (780 games)
- Stephen Curry: 26.9 PPG (690 games)
- LeBron James: 26.4 PPG (720 games)
- Damian Lillard: 26.3 PPG (736 games)
If we include the playoffs (as we should) it looks like this:
Luka Dončić: 28.9 PPG (505 games) Kevin Durant: 27.4 PPG (678 games) Joel Embiid: 27.4 PPG (511
games) Stephen Curry: 27.0 PPG (826 games) LeBron James: 26.8 PPG (854 games) James Harden: 26.7 PPG (898 games) Damian Lillard: 26.2 PPG (793 games)
Cherry picking statistics to try and make Giannis look good is a full time thing for some people on social media. “Most 30pt games” means nothing when, like this season, Giannis didn’t win a single game that mattered against top teams in the East. He simply does stat padding against easier opponents.
A notable example is the 2023-24 season game against the Washington Wizards, where he scored 35 points and grabbed 15 rebounds but was accused of stat-padding in a blowout loss (117-94). Social media posts highlighted moments like Giannis taking unnecessary shots or pushing for rebounds late in decided games, suggesting he was chasing triple-doubles or scoring titles to bolster his MVP candidacy. This perception intensified after he reportedly lobbied to return to a game to secure a triple-double, as mentioned in a 2023 Athletic article.
- Disrupts Team Chemistry: Chasing stats can lead to forced plays, reducing ball movement and sidelining teammates like Damian Lillard or Khris Middleton, who are critical to Milwaukee’s offense.
- Undermines Strategy: In clutch moments, Giannis’ insistence on dominating the ball (e.g., taking contested shots or driving into crowded defenses) can override better play-calling, especially in playoffs where his 31.6% three-point shooting and 58.9% free-throw shooting (career playoff averages) are exploitable.
- Sets a Poor Example: As a leader, prioritising personal stats over winning could demotivate role players or signal a lack of trust in the system, particularly under coaches like Doc Rivers, who emphasise structured play.
Data from the 2024-25 season shows Giannis averaging 31.0 PPG, 12.1 RPG, and 5.9 APG on 60.7% FG, elite numbers that led to his ninth straight All-NBA nod. However, Milwaukee’s 48-34 record and first-round playoff exit against Indiana fueled criticism that his stat-heavy approach didn’t translate to postseason success. His usage rate (35.8%, second in the NBA) suggests he dominates possessions, potentially limiting Lillard’s playmaking (24.3 PPG, down from 32.2 the prior season).
Where things really count are the NBA playoffs. Since the 2014-15 season, the NBA players with the highest average points per game (PPG) in the playoffs, with a minimum of 41 games played per 82 team games, are:
Luka Dončić: 30.9 PPG (55 games)
Kevin Durant: 29.6 PPG (97 games)
LeBron James: 28.9 PPG (134 games)
Donovan Mitchell: 28.3 PPG (63 games)
Devin Booker: 28.0 PPG (47 games)
Nikola Jokić: 27.5 PPG (93 games)
Anthony Edwards: 27.4 PPG (37 games)
Kawhi Leonard: 27.3 PPG (88 games)
Stephen Curry: 27.2 PPG (136 games)
Sure, this is summer and the traditional “will Giannis be traded” BS wars have begun. But maybe let’s check our stats before floating them out there?
