Young players are beginning to establish themselves as top scoring leaders in the NBA. 

The 10 players on this list hold spots in the top 30 of all scoring leaders in the entire NBA. Ja Morant and Brandon Ingram hold spots within the top 10 for points per game. 

*Note that this is not an opinionated list. The list goes by who is scoring the most points under the age of 25. 

1. Ja Morant (PG) - MEM - 22 y/o

27.0 PPG (T-Fourth in NBA)

Early into this season, Ja Morant has exploded for the Memphis Grizzlies. Morant top performances so far this season are 40 points against the Los Angeles Lakers, 37 points against the Cleveland Cavaliers and 30 points against the Golden State Warriors. 

Morant’s top performances:

40 PTS vs LAL

37 PTS vs CLE

30 PTS vs GSW

2. Brandon Ingram (SF) - NO - 24 y/o 

25.0 PPG (T-10th in NBA)

Brandon Ingram isn’t a stranger to scoring; just last season he averaged 23.8 points per game. The absence of Zion Williamson could be a contributing factor to his rise in points. Ingram is attempting 22.2 field goals per game, which is 4.2 more than 2020-21. Interestingly enough, Ingram is averaging more points while making less trips to the free throw line; he is down from 5.2 free throw attempts to 2.7 this season. 

Ingram’s top performances:

30 PTS vs MIN

27 PTS vs MIN

26 PTS vs CHI

3. Jayson Tatum (SF) - BOS - 23 y/o

24.3 PPG (15th in NBA)

Jayson Tatum ranks 15th in the entire league. Despite the poor shooting splits to start the season (38.3 FG% and 26.2 3P%), Tatum’s top performances consist of 41 points against the Charlotte Hornets, 31 points against the Houston Rockets and 27 points against the Washington Wizards. 

Tatum’s top performances:

41 PTS vs CHA

31 PTS vs HOU

27 PTS vs WSH

4. Miles Bridges (SF) - CHA - 23 y/o

24.1 PPG (16th in NBA)

Miles Bridges cracking the top 5 may be a bit of a surprise, considering the developmental focus of LaMelo Ball. Nonetheless, Bridges is here and he is shooting the ball a lot. So far, Bridges is attempting 7.8 3-pointers a game, which is an uptick from his previous 4.4 attempts last season. What is even more drastic is his 18.2 field goal attempts to start the year, almost doubling the 9.4 field goal attempts he took last season. Bridges has not been afraid to shoot this season and it seems to be paying off. 

Bridges’ top performances:

32 PTS vs BKN

32 PTS vs GSW

31 PTS vs ORL

5. Luka Doncic (PG) - DAL - 22 y/o

23.9 PPG (T-18th in NBA)

Luka Doncic has struggled shooting early into this season, however, still finds himself as a 23.9 point per game scorer. Despite making just 2.0 of his 7.9 3-pointer attempts, Doncic is still finding ways to score and is tied as the 18th leading scorer in the NBA.  

Doncic’s top performances:

33 PTS vs MIA

27 PTS vs TOR

26 PTS vs HOU

6. Anthony Edwards (SG) - MIN - 20 y/o

23.9 PPG (T-18th in NBA)

The youngest of the bunch, Anthony Edwards, is currently tied as the 18th leading scorer in the NBA. The 20-year-old is averaging 23.9 points per game for the Minnesota Timberwolves. With highlight posterizing dunks, Edwards is showing no sign of slowing down. 

Edwards’ top performances: 

29 PTS vs HOU

28 PTS vs NO

28 PTS vs LAC

7. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (PG) - OKC - 23 y/o

22.9 PPG (22nd in NBA)

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is not topping his points per game from last season just yet, but it is still fairly early. Gilgeous-Alexander is shooting more 3-pointers (6.7) as is establishing himself as a certified scorer in this league.

Gilgeous-Alexander’s top performances: 

30 PTS vs GSW

29 PTS vs PHI

28 PTS vs LAC

8. Trae Young (PG) - ATL - 23 y/o

22.6 PPG (23rd in NBA)

Trae Young was not afraid of the moment in the playoffs last season and he is bringing those performances into this season. While he is struggling to shoot the ball from the three to start the year (27.9 3P%), he is still maintaining efficiency from the field (40.8 FG%) and the free throw line (91.1 FT%). 

Young’s top performances:

32 PTS vs DET

31 PTS vs NO

26 PTS vs WSH

9. Tyler Herro (SG) - MIA - 22 y/o

22.4 PPG (24th in NBA)

Tyler Herro had a quiet 2020-21 after a phenomenal playoff run in the previous season. Opening up this season, Herro has silenced his haters with his 22.4 points per game. Herro is attempting more field goals, 12.9 in ‘20-’21 to 18.1 in ‘21-’22, on better efficiency, 43.9 FG% to 47.2 FG%.

Herro’s top performances:

30 PTS vs IND

27 PTS vs MIL

26 PTS vs CHA

10. Bam Adebayo (C) - MIA - 24 y/o

20.8 PPG (26th in NBA)

Much like his teammate, Bam Adebayo has started the season on fire for the Miami Heat. Adebayo has jumped from 18.7 points per game to 20.8, which sits at 26th for leading scorers in the NBA. 

Adebayo’s top performances:

26 PTS vs CHA

24 PTS vs BKN

20 PTS vs MIL

The season is still young and so are these players; it would be a tragedy not to highlight them.

With many of the league’s prolific scoring leaders entering their 30s to mid-30s, Kevin Durant (33), James Harden (32), Steph Curry (33), fans of the NBA look towards the future of the league. This is the future of the league, young stars are blossoming before our eyes. The future is here, now.