List of NBA single-season scoring leaders
This list exhibits the National Basketball Association's top single-season scoring averages based on at least 70 games played or 1,400 points scored. The NBA began recording 3-point field goals during the 1979–80 NBA season.
- Statistics accurate as of the 2023–24 NBA season.
^ | Active NBA player |
* | Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame |
Rank | Season | Player | Team | Games | FGM | 3PM | FTM | Pts | PPG | P/36 | P/75P |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1961–62 | Wilt Chamberlain* | Philadelphia Warriors | 80 | 1,597 | N/A | 835 | 4,029 | 50.4 | 37.4 | N/A |
2 | 1962–63 | Wilt Chamberlain* | San Francisco Warriors | 80 | 1,463 | N/A | 660 | 3,586 | 44.8 | 33.9 | N/A |
3 | 1960–61 | Wilt Chamberlain* | Philadelphia Warriors | 79 | 1,251 | N/A | 531 | 3,033 | 38.4 | 29.8 | N/A |
4 | 1961–62 | Elgin Baylor* | Los Angeles Lakers | 48 | 680 | N/A | 476 | 1,836 | 38.3 | 31.0 | N/A |
5 | 1959–60 | Wilt Chamberlain* | Philadelphia Warriors | 72 | 1,065 | N/A | 577 | 2,707 | 37.6 | 29.2 | N/A |
6 | 1986–87 | Michael Jordan* | Chicago Bulls | 82 | 1,098 | 12 | 833 | 3,041 | 37.1 | 33.4 | 34.8 |
7 | 1963–64 | Wilt Chamberlain* | San Francisco Warriors | 80 | 1,204 | N/A | 540 | 2,948 | 36.9 | 28.8 | N/A |
8 | 2018–19 | James Harden^ | Houston Rockets | 78 | 843 | 378 | 754 | 2,818 | 36.1 | 35.4 | 36.2 |
9 | 1966–67 | Rick Barry* | San Francisco Warriors | 78 | 1,011 | N/A | 753 | 2,775 | 35.6 | 31.5 | N/A |
10 | 2005–06 | Kobe Bryant* | Los Angeles Lakers | 80 | 978 | 180 | 696 | 2,832 | 35.4 | 31.1 | 34.2 |
11 | 1987–88 | Michael Jordan* | Chicago Bulls | 82 | 1,069 | 7 | 723 | 2,868 | 35.0 | 31.2 | 32.7 |
12 | 1971–72 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar* | Milwaukee Bucks | 81 | 1,159 | N/A | 504 | 2,822 | 34.8 | 28.4 | N/A |
13 | 1960–61 | Elgin Baylor* | Los Angeles Lakers | 73 | 931 | N/A | 676 | 2,538 | 34.8 | 29.2 | N/A |
14 | 1964–65 | Wilt Chamberlain* | S.F. Warriors / Phila. 76ers | 73 | 1,063 | N/A | 408 | 2,534 | 34.7 | 27.6 | N/A |
15 | 1974–75 | Bob McAdoo* | Buffalo Braves | 82 | 1,095 | N/A | 641 | 2,831 | 34.5 | 28.8 | 26.7 |
16 | 2019–20 | James Harden^ | Houston Rockets | 68 | 672 | 299 | 692 | 2,335 | 34.3 | 33.9 | 32.6 |
17 (tie) |
1962–63 | Elgin Baylor* | Los Angeles Lakers | 80 | 1,029 | N/A | 661 | 2,719 | 34.0 | 29.0 | N/A |
1972–73 | Nate Archibald* | Kansas City-Omaha Kings | 80 | 1,028 | N/A | 663 | 2,719 | 34.0 | 26.6 | N/A | |
19 | 2023–24 | Luka Dončić^ | Dallas Mavericks | 70 | 804 | 284 | 478 | 2,370 | 33.9 | 32.5 | 33.2 |
20 | 1989–90 | Michael Jordan* | Chicago Bulls | 82 | 1,034 | 92 | 593 | 2,753 | 33.6 | 31.0 | 32.0 |
21 | 1965–66 | Wilt Chamberlain* | Philadelphia 76ers | 79 | 1,074 | N/A | 501 | 2,649 | 33.5 | 25.5 | N/A |
22 | 1979–80 | George Gervin* | San Antonio Spurs | 78 | 1,024 | 32 | 505 | 2,585 | 33.1 | 31.7 | 29.0 |
23 | 2022–23 | Joel Embiid^ | Philadelphia 76ers | 66 | 728 | 66 | 661 | 2,183 | 33.1 | 34.4 | 35.6 |
24 | 2005–06 | Allen Iverson* | Philadelphia 76ers | 72 | 815 | 72 | 675 | 2,377 | 33.0 | 27.6 | 29.8 |
25 | 1984–85 | Bernard King* | New York Knicks | 55 | 691 | 1 | 426 | 1,809 | 32.9 | 31.6 | 31.7 |
26 | 1992–93 | Michael Jordan* | Chicago Bulls | 78 | 992 | 81 | 476 | 2,541 | 32.6 | 29.8 | 32.3 |
27 | 1988–89 | Michael Jordan* | Chicago Bulls | 81 | 966 | 27 | 674 | 2,633 | 32.5 | 29.1 | 30.0 |
28 | 2022–23 | Luka Dončić^ | Dallas Mavericks | 66 | 719 | 185 | 515 | 2,138 | 32.4 | 32.2 | 33.3 |
29 | 1981–82 | George Gervin* | San Antonio Spurs | 79 | 993 | 10 | 555 | 2,551 | 32.3 | 32.6 | 31.8 |
30 | 2022–23 | Damian Lillard^ | Portland Trail Blazers | 58 | 556 | 244 | 510 | 1,866 | 32.2 | 31.9 | 32.3 |
See also
References
- "MSN Encarta: National Basketball Association Records". Archived from the original on 2009-10-28. Retrieved 2008-08-03.
- "Rauzulu's Street: National Basketball Association (NBA) Individual Records - Scoring". Retrieved 2008-08-03.
- Kalb, Elliott (2003). Who's Better, Who's Best in Basketball. McGraw-Hill Professional. p. 18. ISBN 0-07-141788-5.
- "NBA.com: Points - 1961-62". NBA.com. Archived from the original on 2012-10-24. Retrieved 2008-10-08.