So let’s just get past the controversy of Bam’s game and look forward to who can be the next to score 80. For the purpose of this article, the players that I list have a chance to break the record within this current season and next year’s season.

So, there are a couple key factors that I think have to be in place

1. The team surrounding the star is bad enough or injury prone enough that the star player can go to work.

2. The player has to be good enough on defense to stay in the game. This makes sense because most likely, the it will be a close game, since the rest of the team is bad or hurt.

3. If the player happens to not be great on defense (cough cough Luka), they have to be a top 2 scorer in the league.

So now that the criteria has been stated, here are some of the league’s top players that I don’t think could score 80.

Nikola Jokic

• Conditioning isn’t great to be the alpha scorer for 40+ minutes

• Surrounding team is probably too good.

Cade Cunningham

• Most definitely could score 80, but his team is way too good to make him have to

Jalen Brunson

• A lot of factors for him:

• Not good enough on D

• Too small

• Team probably too good

Jalen Brown

• With Tatum back, I don’t see this happening

Steph Curry and Kevin Durant

• Father Time 🕰️

All in all, a large majority of top players in the league probably could score 80 if they took 80 shots (not hating on Bam), but here are the top five I think have the best chance.

1) Giannis Antetokounmpo

Team is absolutely trash, has the tools to score, great on defense, gets to the free throw line. If he makes his foul shots, Giannis can do it no question.

2) Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

His team is great, but if Chet misses a game, and JDub continues to slump, Shai is the only true scorer (besides Jared McCain probably) on the team. Plus free throws, don’t need to say anymore.

3) Luka Doncic

So he’s obviously not great on defense, but we’ve already seen 73 from him, and next year if LeBron retires or gets traded or whatever, and Ayton Reaves is hurt, and Rob Pelinka continues to Rob Pelinka, Luka’s got it.

4) Tyrese Maxey

This may be biased, but I think Tyrese has as good a chance as any. He is the fastest player in the league, which could be very beneficial if the Sixers play an older team like the Warriors. Plus the Sixers as a whole are less healthy than the average nursing home.

5) Victor Wembanyama

The 5 spot was very close between Wemby and Donovan Mitchell, but I’ve gotta give it to Vic. I won’t list Victor’s abilities, but he is a demigod. Saying De’Aaron and Castle don’t play, and the Spurs are matched up against a team like tonight’s 76ers (check the box score 😭), we will be seeing an 80 point game.