Who leads the NBA in categories at season’s half?

The NBA All Star break is in the books and all thirty teams are now preparing to return back to the hard court to resume the season. But before the second half of this shortened season commences, who are the league leaders in certain categories? 

Bradley Beal of the Washington Wizards is NBA’s leading scorer after the first half of the season. The three-time All Star averaged 32.9 points per game, including a 60-point game against the Philadelphia 76ers earlier this season. Not far behind is the frontrunner for this year’s MVP race, Joel Embiid. The 76ers center averaged 30.2 points. Embiid was supposed to start as the center of Team Durant during the All Star game but was unable to play due to safety and health protocol. Finishing the list for the Top 5 scorers are Damian Lillard of the Portland Trail Blazers with 29.8 PPG, Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors with 29.7 PPG and the two time reigning league MVP, Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks with 29 points per outing. 

James Harden of the Brooklyn Nets is the NBA’s leader in assists. The Beard generates 11.1 dimes per game to help the Nets become one of the best offensive teams at the moment. His former teammate, Russell Westbrook of the Washington Wizards is second with 9.8 assists per game. Trae Young of the Atlanta Hawks (9.4), Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks (9.0) and Chris Paul of the Phoenix Suns (8.8) round off the Top 5. 

Utah Jazz big man Rudy Gobert and Atlanta Hawks big man Clint Capela are currently the league’s best rebounder. Gobert leads the league with 472 total rebounds but Capela leads the league with 14.2 rebounds per game while playing in inferior number of games due to injury. Gobert followed him with 13.1 rebounds per game. Indiana Pacers duo TJ McConnell and Myles Turner are the league’s best snatchers and shot blockers. 

McConnell averaged 2.0 steals per game, including the 10 steals he registered against the Cleveland Cavaliers just last week. Jrue Holiday of the Milwaukee Bucks (1.8) and Fred VanVleet of the Toronto Raptors (1.7) are not far behind in the list. 

Myles Turner is having a block party all season long with his 3.4 blocks per game. Following him are Rudy Gobert and Clint Capela with 2.7 and 2.2 blocks per game, respectively.