The arena lights glowed like captured stars above the court, and I found myself leaning forward in my seat, the familiar scent of polished hardwood and anticipation filling the air. It was a late-season game, one of those nights where every possession felt like a playoff battle. I watched a young player, just a rookie, drive to the basket with a fearless intensity that made the veteran next to me nod in quiet approval. "He's raw," my companion, a retired scout, murmured, "but he is such a learning player na makaka-adopt naman siya as the conference goes along." That phrase, borrowed from coach Uichico’s wisdom, stuck with me. It’s that capacity to adapt, to learn and evolve, that often separates the good scorers from the truly legendary ones. It got me thinking about the relentless pursuit of points, the art of putting the ball through the hoop, and it led me directly to the question that dominated sports headlines and barstool debates all year long: who led the NBA in scoring in 2023?
The answer, as any fan with a passing interest knows, was Joel Embiid. The Philadelphia 76ers' center wasn't just leading; he was dominating. He finished the regular season with a staggering 33.1 points per game, a number that feels almost video-game-like in its absurdity. I remember watching one of his performances in January, a 47-point masterpiece against the Lakers. He wasn't just scoring; he was imposing his will. There's a certain brutality to Embiid's game, a blend of finesse and power that is simply mesmerizing. He’d get the ball in the post, and the entire defense would warp around him, yet he’d still find a way to drop in a feathery jumper or power through for a foul. It was a nightly exhibition of scoring prowess that felt both inevitable and spectacular. For me, as someone who grew up watching the shimmying dominance of Hakeem Olajuwon, seeing a big man command the scoring title with such versatility was a beautiful thing. It challenged the old notions of what a center could be.
But the race for the scoring crown was far from a one-man show. Luka Dončić of the Dallas Mavericks was a constant, brilliant threat, finishing a close second with 32.4 points per game. Watching Luka is a different kind of experience. It’s less about raw power and more about a cerebral, almost lazy-looking genius. He lulls you to sleep with his methodical dribbling, and then—bang—a step-back three from the logo. I have a personal soft spot for players who make the game look easy, and Luka is the modern master of that art. Then there was Giannis Antetokounmpo, the "Greek Freak," barreling his way to 31.1 points per game. His scoring is a force of nature, a relentless assault on the rim that is as effective as it is straightforward. You know what he's going to do, but stopping it is a completely different problem. This trio—Embiid, Dončić, and Giannis—formed the pinnacle of scoring in 2023, each representing a distinct philosophy on how to put the ball in the basket.
This is where that idea of being a "learning player" truly resonates. Look at Embiid. He didn't start playing basketball until his teens. His entire career has been a testament to that phrase—a continuous process of learning and adapting. He came into the league as a physical specimen, but he has meticulously added layers to his game: a reliable three-point shot, an unstoppable fadeaway, elite footwork. He didn't just rely on his god-given size; he learned how to weaponize it in increasingly sophisticated ways. It’s the same with Dončić. He entered the league with an old-man’s game, but he’s constantly adapting, learning when to pick his spots, how to manipulate defenses with his eyes and his pace. The greats never stay static. They are, as Uichico put it, always learning, always adopting new tricks as the season, the conference, the game itself goes along.
Of course, we can't talk about the top scorers and stats revealed in 2023 without mentioning the king who relinquished his throne. LeBron James, in his 20th season, was still putting up an incredible 28.9 points per game. It’s frankly ridiculous. I’ve been watching him since his first game in Sacramento, and two decades later, he's still there, still dominating. It puts the scoring feats of a single season into a broader, almost humbling perspective. The young guns are setting the league on fire, but the old lion can still roar. And what about Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s breakout year, averaging 31.4 points and announcing himself as a superstar? Or Damian Lillard’s timeless 32.2 points per game, a reminder that loyalty and explosive scoring can sometimes coexist? The landscape was rich with talent.
Sitting in that arena, watching the next generation learn and adapt in real-time, I felt a deep appreciation for this era of scorers. The game has evolved, but the fundamental challenge remains the same: to outthink and outscore your opponent. The 2023 season gave us a glorious snapshot of that eternal battle, with Joel Embiid standing tallest at the summit, a "learning player" who had fully adopted every tool at his disposal to claim the crown. It makes you wonder, with all this young, adaptable talent rising, just what the numbers will look like next year. One thing's for sure—I'll be watching, notebook in hand, ready to be amazed all over again.
