It feels as though two-time MVP Stephen Curry has locked up his second scoring title, and to be fair, it’s almost guaranteed that he has. However, it’s not quite a lock as the last slate of regular-season games approach.
Curry and Bradley Beal are the two that could potentially win the award. The conversation has sparked some heated tweets by Beal after a comment made by Warriors veteran guard Kent Bazemore.
The Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry will more than likely be the NBA’s scoring leader, but don’t count Bradley Beal out quite yet.
Let’s take a look at what we do know. Stephen Curry has played in 62 games. In those games, he’s scored 1,969 points. His current per-game average is 31.758. As it stands, that would be the highest of his legendary career.
Curry’s total was propelled by an absolutely dominant April in which he set the record for most threes in a month. The 33-year-old averaged over 37 points per game in the month. His eruption was really what helped bring the Warriors back into a top-eight seed.
The Warriors take on the Memphis Grizzlies in their season finale.
Curry has missed both the Dubs games against Memphis this season. If he notches his average, he’ll break the 2,000-point mark. However, for the sake of the conversation, let’s assume he’s held to five or ten points, a mark the star has typically exceeded.
As for Beal, he’s scored 1,853 points in 59 games. That comes to an average of 31.407. Let’s assume Beal goes off for 60, matching his season-high. Beal has missed the last three games, but he could return in the Wizards’ season finale according to CBS Sports.
He would then end with 1,913 points in 60 games. If that happens, Beal’s averaging would go up to 31.88.
That would easily top Curry’s unless the Chef goes off in the Dubs season finale. While Beal may not even suit up given the Wizards locking in their position in the play-in tournament, there’s potential for him to return from his hamstring injury.
If Curry scored just 15 points, his average would plummet to 31.49. He would still be over Beal, so clearly Beal needs some help even if Curry doesn’t do that well. That said, it’s not a guarantee, but it might as well be at this point.