NBA: Top 10 Transition Scorers RIGHT NOW

The opposition made a turnover, who do you give the ball to, to just go and make a play?

Which player can translate defense to offense in a matter of seconds?

That is the basic essence of transition offense.Often mentioned as fast break, it measures a player's ability to switch from defense to offense. In this space and pace era, transition offense is paramount. Rather than letting the defense of the opposition settle down, it is important to quickly score on the other side.

With that being said, let's count down the top 10 players in the NBA right now who are the best in turning defense into offense.

Notable Exclusions:

1. Elfrid Payton- Just missed the cut
2. John Wall- Has dropped off this year, struggling cause of injuries
3. Kawhi Leonard- Still have to see how good he will be after coming back
4. Bradley Beal- A great transition scorer, just not among the elites
5. Jonathan Simmons- Efficient, and maybe will make the list next year if he keeps his efficiency along with increasing his ppg.

#10 Trevor Ariza - Houston Rockets

#1 Trevor Ariza

Transition Scoring Stats:

2017/18- 3.9 ppg on 57.8% shooting, 1.40 points per possession!

2016/17- 3.7 ppg on 46.1% shooting, 1.14 points per possession

We start our list with Trevor Ariza of the Houston Rockets. He is an athletic small forward who thrives in the open floor and has a more than decent 3-point shooting range which helps him keep his defender guessing.

He is basically a 3-and-D player kind of guy for the Rockets and he does his job pretty efficiently. His transition stats have improved significantly from the last year, which made us pick him over Elfrid Payton for the 10th spot. He is scoring 1.40 points per possession this year, which is completely bonkers.

He is one of the most important role players for the Rockets and will be in the possible series against the Golden State Warriors in the Playoffs.

#9 Victor Oladipo

Victor Oladipo

Transition Scoring Stats:

2017/18- 5.7 ppg on 57.3% shooting, 1.13 points per possession

2016/17- 4.1 ppg on 50.5% shooting, 1.05 points per possession

Arguably the most improved player frontrunner this year is 9th in our list.

Carrying the Indiana Pacers on his back, Oladipo has been phenomenal this season and one of his main weapons is his ability to go up and down in the open court in a transition. His transition stats have increased significantly and his efficiency has also gotten better.

He shredded a lot of weight in the last offseason and because of it, he has been moving at even a quicker speed than before on the court, which helps him significantly in the transition offense.

The Oladipo bandwagon is for real.

#8 Kevin Durant

Kevin Durant

Transition Scoring Stats:

2017/18- 5.5 ppg on 52.1% shooting, 1.07 points per possession

2016/17- 6.5 ppg on 62.4% shooting, 1.36 points per possession

One of the best scorers of all-time is 8th in our list!

Kevin Durant is having a down year in transition and hence dropped in our list. Had we made this list last year, he would have been definitely in top 5! He is scoring less and with less efficiency and also his turnover frequency has also increased in transition. There is no stat in which he has improved in from last year in transition and that cost him 2 to 3 spots in our list.

Although it is probably because he won a ring last year and has relaxed this year in the regular season, but still, a very significant drop-off to ignore.

#7 Russell Westbrook

Russell Westbrook

Transition Scoring Stats:

2017/18- 6.9 ppg on 55.8% shooting, 1.02 points per possession

2016/17- 6.7 ppg on 50.9% shooting, 0.99 points per possession

The Westbeast is one of the most ferocious players in the open floor. He couldn't care less about his efficiency and just winning/scoring is on his mind whenever he is in the open court.

Last year, without any other superstars, he was scoring in volume in transition but his efficiency was average as team's defenses corralled at him. Now with a better team, his transition stats have become better and his efficiency have also increased.

If Russell Westbrook just can become a little better with his decision making, he will climb our list at least 2 to 3 spots. His turnover % is also high and along with his not that elite efficiency, it is hard to put Westbrook in top 5.

#6 Gary Harris

Gary Harris

Transition Scoring Stats:

2017/18- 3.8 ppg on 64.9% shooting, 1.33 points per possession

2016/17- 3.5 ppg on 63.6% shooting, 1.38 points per possession

One of the most underrated players right now in the NBA, Gary Harris is 6th in our transition scorers list. Pick 19 of the 2014 NBA Draft, has not got his deserved credit of performing consistently for the Denver Nuggets. He is a threat from the outside, is crafty inside and is overall an intelligent scorer. He has been extremely efficient in transition in the past two years, scoring over 1.30 points per possession.

In 2016/17, his effective field goal percentage was 72% and this year it's 76.6%. Last year, he was only behind LeBron James in this aspect, and this year he is leading the league!! (Minimum 3ppg in transition). He's only 23 years old and if he becomes a 20 ppg scorer alongside Jokic and developing Jamal Murray, Denver can be a dangerous team in the coming years!

#5 Jimmy Butler

Jimmy Butler

Transition Scoring Stats:

2017/18- 3.4 ppg on 62.0% shooting, 1.36 points per possession

2016/17- 4.0 ppg on 64.7% shooting, 1.44 points per possession

We have Jimmy Buckets at 5th in our transition scoring list.

Although he is not a volume scorer in transition, he is one of the most efficient transition scorers out there. Scoring over 1.35 points per possession in the last 2 year, he has been extremely efficient in scoring in transition.

He can drive to the basket, he can shoot a pull up, his offensive arsenal is complete and considering that he came in the league as a defensive stopper, that is nothing short of an achievement!

His transition stats have dropped after joining the Minnesota Timberwolves, but considering that he has finally settled in his role, his stats are expected to get better.

#4 Klay Thompson

Klay Thompson

Transition Scoring Stats:

2017/18- 5.1 ppg on 57.3% shooting, 1.41 points per possession!

2016/17- 4.7 ppg on 48.3% shooting, 1.21 points per possession

When a player has only 0.5% and-1 frequency, you can understand the difference in his style of play. Thompson is not our tradition box to box guy, instead, he is the biggest nightmare for defenses in 2 vs 1 situation. To leave a player open under the basket, or leave arguably the second best three-point shooter open. This is just like saying, choose your option to get killed.

Thompson is scoring 1.42 points per possession! That's just like playing a video game. Because of Thompson's love for 3-pointers, there is a huge difference between his effective field goal % and the shooting %. His effective field goal percentage is 75.3, just below Gary Harris.(Players with minimum 3ppg in transition)

Klay Thompson makes GSW one of the best transition teams in the NBA right now.

#3 TJ Warren

TJ Warren

Player Transition Stats-

2017/18- 5.4 ppg on 65.7% shooting, 1.30 points per possession

2016/17- 3.7 ppg on 63.1% shooting, 1.25 points per possession

Surprise Surprise! We have the Suns' small forward TJ Warren as our third best transition scorer in the NBA right now!

2014th NBA draft's 14th pick is one of the best scorers around the rim and has been a high volume efficient scorer in transition for the past 2 years. Lacking a jump shot is his biggest weakness, which makes him just above average player in general, but when it's about transition, he is unstoppable. His and-1% has increased from 4.5 to 7.4! That is good for the second-best in the league! (Minimum 3ppg, behind Jonathan Simmons)

It's a good thing that Warren has a lot of time to improve. Maybe he will develop a jump shot or Suns will bring shooters around him in the future giving him space in the paint. Will be interesting to see it in the future.

#2 LeBron James

LeBron James

Transition Scoring Stats:

2017/18- 6.2 ppg on 67.4% shooting, 1.23 points per possession

2016/17- 6.8 ppg on 71.2% shooting, 1.21 points per possession

Will this freight train ever run out of coal?!!

When LeBron James is coming at you with a full head of steam, you either move from his path to the basket or get humiliated giving him an and-1 opportunity! He is 33-years old and is still the most feared player in a fast break situation.

We have him second only because he can only fall from here(this is expected, but who knows) and the guy ranked 1st in our list is on the other end of the spectrum. Although his points per possession has increased from last year, he has a small drop off in points per game and shooting% from the last year. Surprisingly, his and-1% has increased from 6.0 to 6.9, which is the third-best in the league this year.(Minimum 3ppg, just behind Jonathan Simmons and TJ Warren)

With the King 2nd in our list, let's go the best transition scorer in the league right now, obviously...

#1 Giannis Antetokounmpo

Giannis Antetokounmpo

Transition Scoring Stats:

2017/18- 7.1 ppg on 64.2% shooting, 1.24 points per possession

2016/17- 6.2 ppg on 67.2% shooting, 1.28 points per possession

Yes! The Greek Freak tops our list of the toughest player to guard in transition. With his freakishly long arms, his pole like legs and his godlike athleticism, he is almost impossible to stop in the transition!

It was always between him and LeBron to grab the first spot and we went with the future. The terrifying thing is that Giannis is only 23 and has a lot of room to improve! Maybe he will get better in drawing fouls and finishing, as he is having 6.1% and-1's which is less than LeBron's. Maybe he will get even better finishing around the rim. Time will tell.

Stephen Curry's defense against him in 2017 All-Star Game completely sums up the defender's feelings against defending Antetokounmpo in the open floor.