For the last few years, the NBA has been increasingly trending towards an offense-centric approach. The previous campaign saw six players average 30 or more points for the first time in league history.
With a dynamic collection of talent entering the Association, we should be in store for another season of standout individual offensive performances.
With that in mind, let’s look at the NBA scoring leader odds for the 2023-2024 season.
NBA Scoring Leader Odds
NBA odds used for these scoring leader best bets are current as of Monday, Oct. 16, and courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook.
- Joel Embiid (+350)
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (+370)
- Luka Dončić (+400)
- Giannis Antetokounmpo (+460)
- Jayson Tatum (+750)
- Damian Lillard (+1700)
- Stephen Curry (+1700)
- Donovan Mitchell (+3000)
- Devin Booker (+4000)
- Zion Williamson (+5000)
- Anthony Edwards (+5000)
- Lauri Markkanen (+5500)
Who Will Be the NBA Scoring Leader in 2024?
Joel Embiid (+350)
It is hard to imagine any other candidates near the top of the oddsboard beating out back-to-back NBA scoring champion Joel Embiid. Embiid’s 33.1 points per game (PPG) last season was good for his second consecutive scoring title and his first league MVP.
While Embiid and the 76ers have not had lasting success in the postseason, Embiid’s dominance on a nightly basis in the regular season has been a constant as long as his health has allowed.
It is worth noting that the 29-year-old center will be playing under new leadership this season, with former Toronto Raptors head coach Nick Nurse taking over after a second-round exit in the 2022-23 postseason led to Doc Rivers’ firing. It remains to be seen how Nurse and the new coaching staff may impact Embiid’s role and usage, but it’s safe to assume he’ll remain the focal point of the offense the majority of nights.
After voicing his displeasure with the team’s front office, Embiid’s teammate and former NBA scoring champ James Harden remains a potential trade candidate. Naturally, a Harden trade would open up even more scoring opportunities for Embiid. However, the assets the 76ers would get in return could also have implications on Embiid possibly topping the scoring charts for the third consecutive year.
NBA Scoring Leader Favorites
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (+370)
Gilgeous-Alexander landing near Embiid on the scoring list makes plenty of sense.
The 25-year-old combo guard is coming off the best season of his career, averaging 31.4 PPG en route to his first All-Star nod and First Team All-NBA honors.
Like Embiid, SGA has the luxury of being his team’s uncontested No. 1 scoring option. While the Oklahoma City Thunder have a plethora of young talent, Alexander is easily atop the pecking order and should have no problem repeating his success from a season ago.
His ability to score at such a high volume with impressive efficiency (51% shooting in 2022-23) will make him a perennial contender for this award for the foreseeable future.
Luka Dončić (+400)
Dončić rounds out the top three on the oddsboard after averaging a career-high 32.4 PPG a year ago.
The obvious red flag when looking at Dončić’s chances of snagging this award is the presence of All-NBA point guard Kyrie Irving. Irving has consistently been one of the most dynamic scorers in the league, and he will now share the backcourt with Dončić on a nightly basis.
- See where Dončić ranks in our NBA MVP odds.
Dončić has shone alongside other stars before. However, much of Irving’s game is predicated on having the ball in his hands, and it is still unknown how these two will coexist for 82 games.
In the 16 games the duo played together last season, Dončić’s PPG fell slightly to 30.6. We’ll soon see how this changes over the course of an entire regular season.
NBA Scoring Leader Contenders
Giannis Antetokounmpo (+460)
It’s hard to believe that Giannis Antetokounmpo has yet to win a scoring title despite being arguably the most dominant player in the NBA over the last half-decade.
The Greek Freak has earned about every other accolade imaginable and could contend for his first scoring title this season.
However, the two-time league MVP will now share the court with one of the more prolific scorers of the last decade-plus, Damian Lillard. The Bucks’ acquisition of the All-NBA talent could certainly affect Antetokounmpo’s chances of winning the scoring title.
Antetokounmpo averaged 31.1 PPG last season, but playing alongside Lillard – who averaged 32.2 points per contest over 58 games in Portland last season – could lead to at least a slight reduction in usage for the big man.
The Bucks will also be playing under rookie head coach Adrian Griffin this season, so whether a new system affects Antetokounmpo’s numbers is another factor to consider.
Jayson Tatum (+750)
The Boston Celtics have retooled their roster following a Game 7 Eastern Conference Finals loss that kept the squad from its second consecutive NBA Finals appearance.
Jayson Tatum will undoubtedly still be the alpha on this team when it comes to scoring, but this offseason also saw the team add two other noteworthy offensive pieces to the starting five.
Tatum became the first player in Celtics history to average 30 PPG in a season last year when he finished with 30.1 PPG. He did so alongside All-Star teammate Jaylen Brown, but he’ll now share the floor with two other All-Stars in Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porziņģis.
While the uber-talented forward should almost certainly rank among the league leaders in scoring once again, the sheer number of options on any given night for Boston may hinder Tatum’s chances of winning the scoring title.
NBA Scoring Leader Sleepers
Damian Lillard (+1700)
We already touched on Lillard earlier when discussing his new teammate, Antetokounmpo.While it may seem odd to keep both on the list, either one can win the scoring title this season.
Lillard has never played on a team with the amount of talent that Milwaukee has. From dangerous three-point shooters to one of the most dominant paint players the league has seen in some time, the Bucks seemingly have a perfect complement for the former Blazers guard.
- Check out where the Bucks stand in our NBA Finals odds.
There are several questions surrounding this newly constructed roster, but at +1700 odds, throwing a few dollars at one of the most prolific scorers of the past decade may not be a bad idea.
Donovan Mitchell (+3000)
Mitchell has been one of the best shooting guards since entering the league in 2017. He averaged a career-high 28.3 PPG in his debut Cavaliers campaign last season, thanks to a career-best 48.4% field-goal percentage.
Mitchell’s dynamic scoring makes him a perfect candidate to contend and possibly win the scoring title this season.
The Cleveland Cavaliers have also built the perfect team around him with a floor-general point guard, spacing, and versatile big men.
If Mitchell takes another step forward this season, he could ascend to the top of the league in scoring.