NBA / May 14, 2009 / 11:54 am

Who is the NBA’s best pure scorer?

Carmelo Anthony (photo. Mannion)

Carmelo Anthony (photo. Mannion)

Front-running or not, Charles Barkley‘s assertion last night that Carmelo Anthony is the best “pure scorer” in the NBA undoubtedly started a few water-cooler arguments this morning.

Although everybody has their own definition of the exact term, there’s really only a dozen or so guys who even deserve consideration: Pierce, LeBron, Dirk, Carmelo, Granger, Kobe, D-Wade, Durant, Joe Johnson, T-Mac, B-Roy, Kevin Martin, Tony Parker and Arenas. Assuming everyone’s healthy, of course.

Is ‘Melo on top of that list? If not, where does he rank in the Top 10? Discuss …

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  • Matt

    ben wallace. hands down.

  • peterjeter

    So if we are saying best pure scorer means best FG%, then SHAQ or Dwight who lead the league in FG cuz they dunk or take shots from within 3 feet of the basket all the time.

    Pure shooter would mean best jumpshot (from about 10 feet out).

    Ray Allen would come to mind.

    But Kobe is a better shooter from ANYWHERE on the court. He works harder because he is the most dangerous offensive weapon in the game and is always the other team’s defense sole focus (he has been the sole focus of the opposing team ever since shaq left for sure)

  • gardner

    num 65 is right. Think about it. Kobe has the whole team guarding him all the time. period.

  • gardner

    I mean, the whole team. ANY BODY WHO SEES KOBE COMING WILL ATTEMPT TO GUARD HIM. SO…PURE SHOOTER has to be said giving consideration to the amount of points and obviously they are difficult shots because he doesnt get easy ones, not because he loves to take hard shots. He misses alot but how can he not, hell still score on you probably all the time if you sleep.

  • Harlem_World

    Pure scorer and best offensive player is not necessarily the same thing. Kobe is the best offensive player in the league, but don’t get it twisted, he has to work for his and shoots shots of a high level of difficulty and doesn’t make it look it easy. Melo scores so easily because of his combination of size, strength, quickness and shooting touch that he makes it look too easy at times. Because of his advantage at taking it inside when needed, I gotta go with Melo on this one. This doesn’t mean he’s better than Kobe, but just more of a pure scorer. Some have to work to get theirs, that doesn’t make them lesser players – it just means some players have more natural ability in some areas.

  • Jon

    kobewankenobe is overrated.

    The best scorers in the league are Lebron, Melo, Kevin Martin, Roy and Wade.

  • http://www.nba.com BMONEY

    Melois THE MAN.. hands down.. 14 from 20 v’s 13 from 28.. Kobe only get’s a mention because he is a hog! Watch game 1 DEN v LA!!! The Lakers made their comeback with Kobe and Pau on the BENCH!

  • Niggin

    J-Smoove niggaz…. he can shoot 3s now…. JOSH SMITH 4 MVP!

  • Mr.Lee

    kobe, move on please

  • joe2johnson4mvp

    joe johnson is the smoothest….

  • gardner

    ANYMORE COMMENTS?
    KOBE

  • rayates

    Kobe no question!

  • LADaBest

    Look, I’m a huge laker fan. I absolutely love the lakes. But, in all honesty, Melo is the best pure scorer. Kobe is a better player, and ball handler for that matter. However, Melo is the best pure scorer. I hate to say it but it’s true.

    O well, I’ll take a fourth ring over being a great scorer!!!!

  • http://youtubefoebiddenrecords mallaki

    it seems as though people who claim to be nba fans aren’t really nba fans at all.there is no contest what so ever between kobe melo or lebron.kobe easily surpass these guys. he barely even shoot in the first and second quarter yet he still can get 25 to 40 points. not counting all the energy he spends playing defence also which neither lebron or carmelo do they are way more stronger than him yet some how in games he ends up guarding them also not to mention when he was playing with shaq he was the SECOND OPTION yet he still average 28 points a game then they claim he’s a ball hog but how can that be when he don’t even lead the league in shoot attemps per game not to mention he also lead his team in assists per game how can you do both and what about all the times he was taking out ofv games because of BLOWOUTS not playing 3rd and 4th quarters can you even count those who hold the recordsc for most 3 pointers in a single game KOBE WHAT ABOUT THE 56 POINTS IN 2 QUARTERS HE HAD THEN HE HAD AND DID’NT PLAY AGAIN WHAT ABOUT THE 61 IN THE 3RD HE DIDN’T GET TO PLAY THE 4TH AND THE 9 STRAIGHT 40 PLUS GAMES AND THE 81 AND THE 5 50 POINT PLUS GAMES IN A ROW all played at DIFFERNT TIMES. PEOPLE ARE JUST HATING ON THIS GUY BUT THE PROOF IS CLEARLY SEEN HE SO GOOD HE THE ONLY ONE IN THE NBA THAT CAN SCORE 20 TO 25 POINTS IN A GAME AND IT’S CALLED A LET DOWN BUT FOR ANYBODY ELSE IT’S CONSIDERD DAMN GOOD THESE CONVERSATIONS ARE REALLY DULL AND FAKE AND SHOW THE TRUE HEART OF PEOPLE EVEN WITH THE LEBRON CASE HE NOT BETTER THAN KOBE HE EVEN ADMIT IT OUT HIS OWN MOUTH WHEN HE WENT TO CLEAVELAND HE WENT TO LOOSING TEAM THAT HAD NOBODY SO OF COURSE HE WAS TO LEAD IN SCORING REBOUNDING ASSISTS KOBE WOULD HAVE DONE THE SAME THING BUT EVEN BETTER KOBE WAS TRADED TO THE LAKERS WHO ALREADY WAS LOADED WITH TALENT AND SUPERSTARS SO THAT LIMITED HIM OF HIS ABILITY TO FULLY SHINE BECAUSE HE WAS YOUNG A ROOKIE WHO HAD TO COME OFF THE BENCH.BECAUSE THE LAKERS HAD TO CATER TO THEY OTHER STARS WEL PAID AND EVERYBODY KNOW YOU HAVE TO PLAY PLAYERS WHO EARN ALOT OF MONEY.KOBE IS UNLIKE ANY OF THESE GUYS THAT’S WHY HE IS COMPARED TO JORDAN SOMBODY WHOS NOT EVEN IN THE LEAGUE ANYMORE BECAUSE THE GUYS THAT ARE DON’T COME CLOSE.HE DO IT ALL WHEN YOU NEED THAT SHOT RATHER IT’S A 3 OR A 2 HE GONE MAKE IT HAPPEN WHEN YOU NEED THAT STOP HE GONE GET THAT TURN OVER ANYWAY IT’S NEEDED HE GON COME THROUGH.SO STOP HATING REAL NBA FANS LOVE THE GAME NOT THE PEOPLE CAUSE YOU DON’T KNOW THEM BUT YOU CAN KNOW THE GAME IF LOOK AT IT FROM AN HONEST HEART UNTIL NEXT TIME THIS IS MALLAKI SIGNING OFF YOU CAN SEE ME AT YOUTUBE BROADCAST YOURSELF THEN TYPE IN FOEBIDDEN RECORDS LEAVE A COMMENT IF YOU WANNA HOLLAR AT SOMEBODY REAl and make dollars…….

  • skyer93

    kobe is compared to jordan???
    his airness kill him in all parts of the game!!!!
    kobe is the best now,but stop the comparisons with AIR!!!

  • ay yo.

    I think the other night showed that it is MELO!

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