For an NBA team to really thrive all season, it needs to be able to score from all over the court.
But it’s vital that any successful NBA squad creates points in the paint, down low right under the basket.
If a player is able to duck, weave, and make his way to the basket in this manner, it can make a huge difference for his team.
But this is obviously easier said than done with the world-class defense that populates the league.
Currently, the points in the paint leaders in the NBA are Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder, Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks, Anthony Davis of the Los Angeles Lakers, and Ja Morant of the Memphis Grizzlies.
You’re reading that right: three of the four players on this list are guards.
Yet, these guys are still able to make their way past suffocating defensive players and score in the paint.
This shows just how much the league has changed and how the roles of players have altered with it.
Playing In The Paint
Guards in the NBA aren’t typically known for being able to score down low in the post and paint.
That is usually an area reserved for bigger guys, like Davis.
But over the last few years, the current class of NBA talent has changed, and now it’s not uncommon to see guards fight their way into the paint and score like they haven’t in the past.
This just shows how talented these guys are.
It’s no surprise that Gilgeous-Alexander, Doncic, and Morant are three of the best guards in the league.
That’s because they aren’t satisfied with only scoring from the perimeter and assisting others down low.
They are willing to battle their way to the bucket, no matter who they are fighting against.
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