2021-2022 NBA Scoring Champion Odds

Points scored in the NBA might be the most rudimentary statistic to grasp for a casual NBA bettor or follower and it also has the most hype when trying to determine a player’s impact on a given game. Well, one shooting guard from the Washington Wizards nearly was the points-per-game leader during the 2020-21 season and is favored for NBA scoring champion odds.

Bradley Beal with the Wizards is a +275 favorite at BetMGM for odds to lead the NBA in points per game and has finished second in scoring for the last two seasons behind Stephen Curry and James Harden, respectively. Beal is the only player to have averaged 30 or more points per game over the last two seasons and was barely edged out by Curry last season when he finished with 31.3.

(Join FTNBets with our Early Bird NFL package!)

After Beal is Dallas Mavericks wunderkind Luka Doncic, who is entering his fourth season in the NBA. He finished sixth in scoring last year with 27.7 points per game. Not only is Doncic one of the top betting options for NBA scoring champion odds, but he’s also the betting favorite for NBA MVP odds.

The reigning scoring champion, Golden State Warriors Stephen Curry, was a monster in 2020-2021, averaging 32 points per game on 21.7 shots per game. Curry led the NBA in three-point shooting percentage at 42.7% while also leading the league in three-point shots per game with 12.7. If Curry continues to take and make as many threes as he’s known to do, he’ll be in the mix for odds to lead the NBA in scoring when it’s all said and done.

Let’s breakdown why Beal is the betting favorite and if there’s a dark horse bet we should be considering for NBA scoring champion odds:

Who will lead the NBA in scoring?

Here are the odds for 2021-2022 NBA scoring leader, per BetMGM.

Why is Bradley Beal favored for NBA scoring champion odds?

Literally the only reason to watch Washington Wizards games over the last few seasons, Beal has finally come into his own as an elite scorer in the NBA. The shooting guard is entering his 10th season in the league and is in the prime of his “get buckets” career at 28 years old. After finishing the 2019-20 season in second place in points per game and then second again in 2020-2021, Beal deserves to be the favorite for NBA scoring champion odds mainly because of this: Who else is gonna score points on the Wizards?

The Wiz did another facelift to their roster when they dealt Russell Westbrook to the Lakers for spare parts and a draft pick in hopes they can add more depth and compliment Beal’s scoring prowess. The move may not translate to wins, but it will certainly increase Beal’s usage rate, which is essential when betting on odds to lead the NBA in scoring. Beal already led the league in shots per game last year with 23 attempts per game and I could see that increasing to 25 for the upcoming season.

The reason why Beal could easily lead the league in scoring is his ability to hit mid-range shots and the damage he does inside the three-point line. Even though he averaged 31.3 points per game last season, he was only 49th in three-point shot attempts (6.2) and sixth in free-throw attempts. I see both of those increasing substantially for the 2021-2022 campaign.

The main knock on taking Beal for NBA scoring champion odds are his three-point attempts and whether he’ll still be on the Wizards by the conclusion of the season. Curry led the NBA in points per game last season by taking nearly double the number of three-point attempts. Over the last four seasons, the leader in points per game has averaged at least 10 three-point shot attempts per game while also averaging at least seven free throws per game. 

There’s also rumors increasing as we get closer to the season whether the Wiz will deal their All-Star for a king’s ransom and blow it up to start fresh. It’s purely speculation at this point, but if you bet on Beal for odds to lead the NBA in points per game, these are things you need to consider because if he goes to a new team, his usage and shot attempts will change drastically.

(Get an All Access pass to FTN NFL coverage across all sites for $349.99.)

Long shot pick for NBA points per game leader odds

Zion Williamson at +1000 for NBA scoring leader odds

(BetMGM)

The only player last season to shoot over 60% from the field while also taking at least 10 shots per game, New Orleans Pelicans superstar Zion Williamson looks poised for another breakout campaign. The third-year bulldozer averaged 27 points per game last year while still seemingly trying to get comfortable with the speed of the NBA game and learning what his jaw-dropping athleticism will allow him to do. 

Zion’s ability to handle in the open court, on the block in the post or in the pick-and-roll give him such an edge to his points-per-game leader counterparts. He was third in the NBA in free-throws per game last year at 8.7 while hitting a decent 70% from the charity stripe. As long as he stays healthy, you know Williamson is good for at least 27 PPG but how he can improve individually, and for the Pelicans, is taking and making more three-point shots. 

The 21-year-old took less than one three-pointer per game last year and didn’t look comfortable jacking shots on the perimeter when the Pelicans had so many other better shooters on the floor. If he picks up to four three-point shots per game and starts to make around 35-40% of them, not only will he likely lead the NBA for scoring leader odds, but he may win league MVP too. 

We know what Stephen Curry, Bradley Beal, Joel Embiid and all the other great scorers can do. Unlike those three, Zion’s ceiling is unmatched to any other player in the NBA with his talent and ability to shake off defenders to the hoop. If he increases his shot attempts and starts taking more threes, it would not shock me to see Williamson average over 30 points per game and win the NBA scoring title.