Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid is on course to win his second scoring title in the NBA after he emerged as the league’s leading scorer in the 2021-22 season.
The Cameroonian-born basketball star saw off stern competition from Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo and Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James last season and he also set a number of records with his maiden triumph last season, when he averaged 30.6 points per game (ppg) and became the first center since Shaquille O’Neal in the 1999–20 season to win a scoring title.
The six-time All-Star became the first center since Moses Malone in the 1981-82 season to finish the regular season with averages of over 30 points-per-game; the first international player to win an NBA scoring title; and the first Sixers’ player to lead the league in scoring since Allen Iverson won his fourth and final scoring title in the 2004-05 season.
Embiid is currently averaging 33.0 points-per-game this season, but he is closely followed by Slovenia and Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic, who is averaging 32.8 points-per-game. He leads the 24-year-old by 0.2 in what may be the closest race for the scoring title in a long time, and it also confirms that the scoring leader will be an international player for just the second time in history.
The 29-year-old, who scored 28 points in the Sixers’ loss to the Bucks on Sunday, now has 2,110 points in 64 games, with the Sixers still having four more games to end the regular season, against the Boston Celtics, Miami Heat, Atlanta Hawks, and Brooklyn Nets.
Doncic, on the other hand, has 2,096 points this season, and he has three more games against the Sacramento Kings, Chicago Bulls, and San Antonio Spurs as the Mavericks continue their push for a play-in spot.
Embiid, who is also in the race for the Kia MVP of the season, has scored 20 points or more in 60 games this season; 30 points or more in 43 games; 40 points or more 12 times; and 50 points or more twice this season.
The Sixers have booked a play-off berth and are presently third in the Eastern Conference with a 51-27 win-loss record, and barring any injuries, Embiid has greater chances to finish the season as the scoring leader for the second time in his career, seeing as he is the focal point of their attack.
The Yaounde-born star could become just the 13th player in NBA history to win consecutive scoring titles.
