In
basketball,
points are accumulated through
free throws or
field goals.[1] The
National Basketball Association's (NBA) scoring title is awarded to the player with the highest
points per gameaverage in a given season. The scoring title was originally determined by total points scored through the
1968–69 season, after which points per game was used to determine the leader instead.[2] The
three-point field goal was introduced in the NBA at the start of the
1979–80 season.[3][4] To qualify for the scoring title, a player must appear in at least 58 games (out of 82). However, a player who appears in fewer than 58 games may qualify as annual scoring leader if his point total would have given him the greatest average, had he appeared in 58 games.[5] For the scoring title, this has been the requirement since the
2013–14 season, with requirements changing several times previously throughout history.[6]
Wilt Chamberlain holds the all-time records for total points scored (4,029) and points per game (50.4) in a season; both records were achieved in the
1961–62 season.[7] He also holds the rookie records for points per game when he averaged 37.6 points in the
1959–60 season.[7] Among active players,
James Harden has the highest point total (2,818) and the highest scoring average (36.1) in a season; both were achieved in the
2018–19 season.
At 21 years and 197 days, Durant is the youngest scoring leader in NBA history,[12] averaging 30.1 points in the
2009–10 season.
Stephen Curry led the league with an average of 30.1 points in the
2015–16 season and became the first player to win the title shooting
50–40–90 in a season.
Russell Westbrook led the league with an average of 31.6 points in the
2016–17 season, when he also became the second NBA player to average a
triple-double in a season. The most recent champion is
Luka Dončić.
^In the 1947–48 season,
Joe Fulks averaged the most points (22.1) but had only played in 43 games and totaled 949 points, the second-highest total.[14][15]
^Wilt Chamberlain holds the all-time rookie record for points per game.[7]
^Wilt Chamberlain holds the all-time record for total points scored and points per game in a single season.[7]
^In the 1967–68 season,
Oscar Robertson averaged the most points (29.2) but had only played in 65 games and totaled 1,896 points, the sixth-highest total.[44][45]
^Elvin Hayes is the last rookie to lead the league in scoring average.
^In the 1969–70 season, rookie
Lew Alcindor had the highest point total (2,361) but was second in scoring average (28.8).[50]
^In the 1977–78 season,
George Gervin defeated
David Thompson for the scoring title in the closest scoring duel ever (27.21 to 27.15). Thompson scored 73 on the last day of the season and Gervin answered with 63 (Gervin also broke Thompson's record of 32 points set earlier on the same day in the first quarter by scoring a record 33 points in the second quarter).[65][66][67][68] Both Thompson's and Gervin's games were losses.[69]
^In the 1984–85 season, rookie
Michael Jordan had the highest point total (2,313) but was third in scoring average (28.2).
Bernard King tied for the twelfth-highest point total (1,809) but had the highest scoring average (32.9).[80]
^In the 1985–86 season
Alex English had the highest point total (2,414) but was third in scoring average (29.8).[83]
^In the 1993–94 season,
David Robinson scored 71 points in the final game of the season to edge
Shaquille O'Neal (29.3) for the scoring title.[94]
^In the 1997–98 season,
Michael Jordan defeated
Shaquille O'Neal for the scoring title in the third-closest race ever (28.7 to 28.3).[101] Jordan, at 35 years and 60 days old, is the oldest scoring leader in NBA history.[102]
^The 1998–99 season was shortened to 50 games due to the league's
lockout.[104] The qualification of this season's scoring title is to appear in at least 43 games (out of 50) or to have at least 854 points.[6]
^In the lockout-shortened 1998–99 season, Shaquille O'Neal had the highest point total (1,289) but was second in scoring average (26.3).[105]
^In the 2000–01 season,
Jerry Stackhouse had the highest point total (2,380) but was second in scoring average (29.8).[109]
^In the 2001–02 season,
Paul Pierce had the highest point total (2,144) but was third in scoring average (26.1).[111]
^In the 2002–03 season,
Kobe Bryant had the highest point total (2,461) but was second in scoring average (30.0).[113]
^In the 2003–04 season,
Kevin Garnett had the highest point total (1,987) but was third in scoring average (24.2).[116]
^In the 2007–08 season, Kobe Bryant had the highest point total (2,323) but was second in scoring average (28.3).[118]
^In the 2009–10 season,
Kevin Durant defeated
LeBron James for the scoring title (30.1 to 29.7).[121] Durant, at 21 years and 197 days old, is the youngest scoring leader in NBA history.[12]
^The 2011–12 season was shortened to 66 games due to the league's
lockout.[123] The qualification of this season's scoring title is to appear in at least 56 games (out of 66) or to have at least 1127 points.[6]
^In the 2011–12 season,
Kevin Durant defeated
Kobe Bryant for the scoring title in the second-closest scoring race ever (28.03 to 27.86).[101][124] Bryant, who needed to score 38 points in the final game to win, decided to sit out.[124]
^In the 2012–13 season, Kevin Durant had the highest point total (2,280) but was second in scoring average (28.1).[125]
^In the 2014–15 season, James Harden had the highest point total (2,217) but was second in scoring average (27.4).[127]
^In the 2015–16 season, James Harden had the highest point total (2,376) but was second in scoring average (29.0).[129]
^In the 2017–18 season, LeBron James had the highest point total (2,251) but was third in scoring average (27.5).[131]
^In the 2021–22 season,
Trae Young had the highest point total (2,155) but was fourth in scoring average (28.4).[133]
^In the 2022–23 season,
Jayson Tatum had the highest point total (2,225) but was sixth in scoring average (30.1).[135]
In
basketball,
points are accumulated through
free throws or
field goals.[1] The
National Basketball Association's (NBA) scoring title is awarded to the player with the highest
points per gameaverage in a given season. The scoring title was originally determined by total points scored through the
1968–69 season, after which points per game was used to determine the leader instead.[2] The
three-point field goal was introduced in the NBA at the start of the
1979–80 season.[3][4] To qualify for the scoring title, a player must appear in at least 58 games (out of 82). However, a player who appears in fewer than 58 games may qualify as annual scoring leader if his point total would have given him the greatest average, had he appeared in 58 games.[5] For the scoring title, this has been the requirement since the
2013–14 season, with requirements changing several times previously throughout history.[6]
Wilt Chamberlain holds the all-time records for total points scored (4,029) and points per game (50.4) in a season; both records were achieved in the
1961–62 season.[7] He also holds the rookie records for points per game when he averaged 37.6 points in the
1959–60 season.[7] Among active players,
James Harden has the highest point total (2,818) and the highest scoring average (36.1) in a season; both were achieved in the
2018–19 season.
At 21 years and 197 days, Durant is the youngest scoring leader in NBA history,[12] averaging 30.1 points in the
2009–10 season.
Stephen Curry led the league with an average of 30.1 points in the
2015–16 season and became the first player to win the title shooting
50–40–90 in a season.
Russell Westbrook led the league with an average of 31.6 points in the
2016–17 season, when he also became the second NBA player to average a
triple-double in a season. The most recent champion is
Luka Dončić.
^In the 1947–48 season,
Joe Fulks averaged the most points (22.1) but had only played in 43 games and totaled 949 points, the second-highest total.[14][15]
^Wilt Chamberlain holds the all-time rookie record for points per game.[7]
^Wilt Chamberlain holds the all-time record for total points scored and points per game in a single season.[7]
^In the 1967–68 season,
Oscar Robertson averaged the most points (29.2) but had only played in 65 games and totaled 1,896 points, the sixth-highest total.[44][45]
^Elvin Hayes is the last rookie to lead the league in scoring average.
^In the 1969–70 season, rookie
Lew Alcindor had the highest point total (2,361) but was second in scoring average (28.8).[50]
^In the 1977–78 season,
George Gervin defeated
David Thompson for the scoring title in the closest scoring duel ever (27.21 to 27.15). Thompson scored 73 on the last day of the season and Gervin answered with 63 (Gervin also broke Thompson's record of 32 points set earlier on the same day in the first quarter by scoring a record 33 points in the second quarter).[65][66][67][68] Both Thompson's and Gervin's games were losses.[69]
^In the 1984–85 season, rookie
Michael Jordan had the highest point total (2,313) but was third in scoring average (28.2).
Bernard King tied for the twelfth-highest point total (1,809) but had the highest scoring average (32.9).[80]
^In the 1985–86 season
Alex English had the highest point total (2,414) but was third in scoring average (29.8).[83]
^In the 1993–94 season,
David Robinson scored 71 points in the final game of the season to edge
Shaquille O'Neal (29.3) for the scoring title.[94]
^In the 1997–98 season,
Michael Jordan defeated
Shaquille O'Neal for the scoring title in the third-closest race ever (28.7 to 28.3).[101] Jordan, at 35 years and 60 days old, is the oldest scoring leader in NBA history.[102]
^The 1998–99 season was shortened to 50 games due to the league's
lockout.[104] The qualification of this season's scoring title is to appear in at least 43 games (out of 50) or to have at least 854 points.[6]
^In the lockout-shortened 1998–99 season, Shaquille O'Neal had the highest point total (1,289) but was second in scoring average (26.3).[105]
^In the 2000–01 season,
Jerry Stackhouse had the highest point total (2,380) but was second in scoring average (29.8).[109]
^In the 2001–02 season,
Paul Pierce had the highest point total (2,144) but was third in scoring average (26.1).[111]
^In the 2002–03 season,
Kobe Bryant had the highest point total (2,461) but was second in scoring average (30.0).[113]
^In the 2003–04 season,
Kevin Garnett had the highest point total (1,987) but was third in scoring average (24.2).[116]
^In the 2007–08 season, Kobe Bryant had the highest point total (2,323) but was second in scoring average (28.3).[118]
^In the 2009–10 season,
Kevin Durant defeated
LeBron James for the scoring title (30.1 to 29.7).[121] Durant, at 21 years and 197 days old, is the youngest scoring leader in NBA history.[12]
^The 2011–12 season was shortened to 66 games due to the league's
lockout.[123] The qualification of this season's scoring title is to appear in at least 56 games (out of 66) or to have at least 1127 points.[6]
^In the 2011–12 season,
Kevin Durant defeated
Kobe Bryant for the scoring title in the second-closest scoring race ever (28.03 to 27.86).[101][124] Bryant, who needed to score 38 points in the final game to win, decided to sit out.[124]
^In the 2012–13 season, Kevin Durant had the highest point total (2,280) but was second in scoring average (28.1).[125]
^In the 2014–15 season, James Harden had the highest point total (2,217) but was second in scoring average (27.4).[127]
^In the 2015–16 season, James Harden had the highest point total (2,376) but was second in scoring average (29.0).[129]
^In the 2017–18 season, LeBron James had the highest point total (2,251) but was third in scoring average (27.5).[131]
^In the 2021–22 season,
Trae Young had the highest point total (2,155) but was fourth in scoring average (28.4).[133]
^In the 2022–23 season,
Jayson Tatum had the highest point total (2,225) but was sixth in scoring average (30.1).[135]