LeBron, Embiid and Antetokounmpo: three NBA kings and a 'sprint'

The days are getting longer, spring is coming and the NBA is approaching the decisive phase of the season.

There are only two weeks left in the regular season in the best league in the world.

Or what is the same, eight games.

A tight final stretch with much to decide.

Collectively, several franchises play their presence in the

.

Only two teams have their ticket secured so far: Phoenix Suns and Memphis Grizzlies, both in the Western Conference.

The rest, to war: 23 of the 30 franchises maintain mathematical options for everything.

Individually, less involved, but greater equality if possible.

After several seasons, the fight for the title of top scorer monopolizes the media spotlights due to the magnitude of the protagonists: Lebron James, Joel Embiid and Giannis Antetokounmpo reach the final stretch separated by just four tenths in the average points per game, a scale that determines the

(top scorer) of the regular phase.

The three belong to the absolute elite of the league, but their realities throughout the course have been very different.

Who heads the table, for now, is LeBron James (30.1 points per game).

Days after surpassing Karl Malone, becoming the second highest scorer in the history of the NBA in the regular phase (37,024 points, only behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, whom he surpasses if the points are also counted in the final phases ), James never tires of making history at 37 years old.

Accustomed to winning it all —and repeatedly—, the Lakers star has only been the season's leading scorer once.

It was in the 2007-08 academic year, when he was still a young beardless man who, with 23 on his back, had already led the Cleveland Cavaliers to the first finals in their history.

He was 23 years old.

Three decades later, James leads a Lakers who, after the 2020 title, wander aimlessly in positions unrelated to what their history demands.

Despite their numbers, the Los Angeles franchise is tenth in the Western Conference (31-43), with serious options to fall out of the positions that give access to the

(tournament prior to the

).

A season to forget collectively, but with historical overtones as far as his star is concerned.

To earn the distinction of leading scorer, James will need to maintain a stellar scoring pace against serious opponents.

The Lakers have the second most difficult schedule in the NBA, according to the North American portal

: Mavericks, Jazz, Pelicans, Nuggets, Suns, Warriors, Thunder and Nuggets again.

A difficult challenge, but not impossible.

And less for

.

Second on the scoring chart is Joel Embiid (29.9 points per game).

The center of Philadelphia is also one of the clear candidates to win the MVP (

, for its acronym in English) of the season: the bookmakers in Las Vegas consider him the top favorite, ahead of Nikola Jokic (Denver Nuggets).

Unlike James, the Cameroonian is accompanied by the team.

In the midst of the battle for the top spots in the Eastern Conference, the Sixers (46-28) aspire to one more year.

After getting rid of Ben Simmons and incorporating James Harden on February 10, the franchise wants to return to the NBA finals, uncharted territory since 2001.

To that end, Embiid is having the best scoring season of his career.

The center has registered 30 points or more in 35 games this season, more than any other player in the championship.

Of course, he has received criticism for the amounts he accumulates from the free throw.

In February, the Cameroonian had 23 points from the 4.60 line in a game against the Knicks, his personal career high.

In any case, the Sixers rely heavily on points from Embiid, who has never earned the leading scorer distinction.

Champion of

(

, for its acronym in English), the Philadelphia center faces one of the easiest schedules in the championship in the remainder of the regular season: Bucks, Pistons, Hornets, Cavaliers, Pacers , Raptors, Pacers and again the Pistons.

The third in contention is Giannis Antetokounmpo (29.7 points per game), the absolute leader of Milwaukee, current NBA champion.

After years of hammering in the regular season, the Bucks have learned to regulate efforts in the regular season and press the accelerator in the

.

Not so Antetokounmpo, who despite appearing duller than other courses, continues to reap legendary numbers.

In addition to thirty points, the Greek has averaged 11.6 rebounds and 5.6 assists this season, numbers that have helped him to be, once again, among the three favorites for MVP.

Antetokounmpo is also a candidate for best defender in the championship, a title he already won two seasons ago.

The Greek is the reigning NBA champion, MVP and Finals MVP.

That is, the true monarch of world basketball.

This was made known during a clash against Lebron James in 2019, a premonition of what was to come.

The Bucks, third in the East (46-28), although separated by just one game with the conference leaders, the Miami Heat (48-28), aspire to retain the title this season.

Before, Anteto will look for his first top scorer distinction.

For this, the Greek must be measured before April 10 against the Sixers, Nets, Clippers, Mavericks, Bulls, Celtics, Pistons and Cavaliers.

Trae Young (28 points per game), Luka Doncic (27.9), Ja Morant (27.6) and many other league stars accompany, although from a distance, the three scoring kings this season.

James, Embiid and Antetokounmpo will fight during the last days for an award received by Michael Jordan (ten times), Wilt Chamberlain (seven), Allen Iverson (four), Shaquille O'Neal or Kobe Bryant (both twice).

Actively, only Kevin Durant, James Harden, Russell Westbrook, Stephen Curry, Carmelo Anthony and LeBron James himself have managed to break the scoring ceiling in the best league in the world.

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