If you are a fan of the NBA, you've surely noticed there's been a bit of a scoring boom going on. The game's stars are just on another level right now, reaching heights we've rarely seen before. More than ever, the best scorers in the game are finding ways to rack up huge scoring totals despite their foes' defensive efforts.

It's getting to the point where today's stars are coming dangerously close to besting Kobe Bryant's legendary 81-point game. The folks at Secret Base put together an informative graphic illustrating how rare these types of performances have historically been and how often today's stars are knocking on the door:

These massive performances are not just isolated outbursts. They're part of a larger trend in scoring. NBA teams have averaged more than 110 points per game in each of the last six seasons. This season, they're averaging a whopping 115.6 points per game -- the sixth-most in league history and the most in any single season since 1970.

Back in 2006, when Bryant's record-setting (Wilt Chamberlain excluded) performance led the Los Angeles Lakers to a comeback victory over the Toronto Raptors, NBA teams were averaging just 97 points per game. In fact, between the 1995-96 and 2012-13 seasons, there were just two instances where the league averaged more than 100 points per game -- let alone the 110-point averages we're seeing these days.

Things are changing in the NBA. And unless defenses figure out how to stop some of the league's premiere stars, Bryant's 81-point record will be under siege.

Will anyone top his record this season? To celebrate recent performances from Luka Doncic (73 points) and Joel Embiid (70 points), FanDuel Sportsbook is running a new NBA special -- you can now bet on Any Player to Score 82+ Points in the regular season at +3000 odds.

Can Anyone Break Kobe's Record?

It takes special circumstances for players to even approach Bryant's record. Anyone challenging Kobe's 81-point mark needs to catch fire in the game and have his team feed into his torrential scoring. Considering those factors, it should come as no surprise that both Doncic and Embiid top the 2023-24 leaderboards in usage rate on their respective teams.

True Contenders

This list is a veritable who's who of high-scoring stars. And based on usage rate -- plus a look at each player's highest scoring night of the season -- it looks like we might have at least three true contenders to topple Bryant's record -- Embiid, Doncic, and Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Each of Embiid, Doncic, and Antetokounmpo have the distinct advantage of being the focal point of the offense of their team. Their teams are already designed to get them the ball as often as possible, meaning it wouldn't take too much tipping of the scales in their favor for them to take a run at the record in any given game. Two of the three have already hit 70 this season, while Antetokounmpo's high score of 64 points this year doesn't lag far behind at all.

All three of these players play on competitive teams with an eye on the playoffs, meaning none of them can afford to take their foot off the gas down the stretch. Plus, each of them will have matchups against a set of the league's worst defenses at some point this season -- like the Washington Wizards (124 points per game allowed), the Detroit Pistons (122.1) and the San Antonio Spurs (121.4).

Antetokounmpo may even have an edge over Doncic and Embiid -- the Bucks' defense is allowing the seventh-most points per game (120) this year, forcing them into high-scoring games. Milwaukee has been playing at the third-fastest pace, as well, putting Giannis in a prime position to contest Bryant's record.

The Best of the Rest

While Embiid, Doncic, and Antetokounmpo seem like this season's best candidates to topple Bryant's long-standing record, there are a handful of other stars out there who could push for similar numbers in the right circumstances. Phoenix Suns star Devin Booker has a strong 30.9% usage rate despite the additions of Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal to the offense and has already produced a 62-point game this year. We've seen him rack up some seriously high single-game totals in the past, so it would be foolish to leave him off the list of contenders.

I have my eye on Atlanta Hawks star Trae Young, as well. The Hawks play at the fifth-fastest rate and are allowing the second-most points per game (123.3), setting up Young and his team for high-scoring affairs each and every game. His 31.1% usage rate already ranks 10th-best in the NBA this season and could spike down the stretch if Atlanta deals away one or both of Dejounte Murray and Bogdan Bogdanovic. Young could end up with the ball in his hands a lot in the final months of the season.

Young's Hawks are scheduled to take on Antetokounmpo's Bucks on Saturday, March 30th in a game that could pit two of the best scorers in the game against two of the worst defenses. I'll be saving the date in my calendar for that must-watch game.

While other players like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Anthony Edwards and Donovan Mitchell (who is no stranger to 70-point games) all have strong usage rates, they also have talented teammates to compete against for scoring opportunities. That could narrow their chances to push for Bryant's record, even if they are incredibly talented scorers in their own rights.

That's something Golden State Warriors future Hall of Famer Stephen Curry doesn't really need to worry about. The formerly unimpeachable Warriors have hit something of a wall this year, falling to a 20-24 record. But while they've floundered, Curry has kept up a strong scoring output. The team arguably has little left to play for this season beyond legacy, which makes them a potential candidate to manufacture some chances for Curry to take a shot at the record.

Bryant's 81-point record has stood for almost two decades. It's not exactly an easy record to break, and Kobe's big game is all the more impressive considering the context of the era during which he accomplished the feat. But something feels different in the NBA this season, and what once felt unattainable now feels within reach.

If you think the high-scoring trend continues the rest of this season, a bet on +3000 odds for someone to break Kobe's record might be worth a look.

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The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author’s advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.