# List of NBA annual scoring leaders

In basketball, points are accumulated through free throws or field goals. The National Basketball Association's (NBA) scoring title is awarded to the player with the highest points per game average 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. The three-point field goal was introduced in the NBA at the start of the 1979–80 season. 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. For the scoring title, this has been the requirement since the 2013–14 season, with requirements changing several times previously throughout history.
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. He also holds the rookie records for points per game when he averaged 37.6 points in the 1959–60 season. 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.
Michael Jordan has won the most scoring titles, with 10. Jordan and Chamberlain are the only players to have won seven consecutive scoring titles (this was also Chamberlain's career total). George Gervin, Allen Iverson and Kevin Durant have won four scoring titles in their career, and James Harden, George Mikan, Neil Johnston and Bob McAdoo have achieved it three times. Paul Arizin, Bob Pettit, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Shaquille O'Neal, Tracy McGrady, Kobe Bryant, Russell Westbrook, Stephen Curry and Joel Embiid have each won the scoring title twice. Since the 1946–47 season, five players have won both the scoring title and the NBA championship in the same season: Joe Fulks in 1947 with the Philadelphia Warriors, Mikan from 1949 to 1950 with the Minneapolis Lakers, Abdul-Jabbar (then Lew Alcindor) in 1971 with the Milwaukee Bucks, Jordan from 1991 to 1993 and from 1996 to 1998 with the Chicago Bulls, and O'Neal in 2000 with the Los Angeles Lakers. Since the introduction of the three-point field goal, O'Neal is the only scoring leader to not have made a three-pointer during the season.
At 21 years and 197 days, Durant is the youngest scoring leader in NBA history, 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.

## Key

| ^ | ^ | Denotes player who is still active in the NBA | Denotes player who is still active in the NBA | Denotes player who is still active in the NBA | Denotes player who is still active in the NBA | Denotes player who is still active in the NBA |
| * | * | Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame | Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame | Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame | Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame | Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame |
| § | § | 1st time eligible for Hall of Fame in 2025 | 1st time eligible for Hall of Fame in 2025 | 1st time eligible for Hall of Fame in 2025 | 1st time eligible for Hall of Fame in 2025 | 1st time eligible for Hall of Fame in 2025 |
| ‡ | ‡ | Denotes player who won the Most Valuable Player award that year | Denotes player who won the Most Valuable Player award that year | Denotes player who won the Most Valuable Player award that year | Denotes player who won the Most Valuable Player award that year | Denotes player who won the Most Valuable Player award that year |
| Player (X) | Player (X) | Denotes the number of times the player had been the scoring leader up to and including that season | Denotes the number of times the player had been the scoring leader up to and including that season | Denotes the number of times the player had been the scoring leader up to and including that season | Denotes the number of times the player had been the scoring leader up to and including that season | Denotes the number of times the player had been the scoring leader up to and including that season |
| G | Guard | Guard | F | Forward | C | Center |

## Annual leaders

| Season | Player | Age | Pos | Team | GP | Field goals made | 3-point field goals made | Free throws made | Total points | Points per game |
| 1946–47 | Joe Fulks* | 25 | F/C | Philadelphia Warriors | 60 | 475 | — | 439 | 1,389 | 23.2 |
| 1947–48 | Max Zaslofsky | 22 | G/F | Chicago Stags | 48 | 373 | — | 261 | 1,007 | 21.0 |
| 1948–49 | George Mikan* | 24 | C | Minneapolis Lakers | 60 | 583 | — | 532 | 1,698 | 28.3 |
| 1949–50 | George Mikan* (2) | 25 | C | Minneapolis Lakers | 68 | 649 | — | 567 | 1,865 | 27.4 |
| 1950–51 | George Mikan* (3) | 26 | C | Minneapolis Lakers | 68 | 678 | — | 576 | 1,932 | 28.4 |
| 1951–52 | Paul Arizin* | 23 | F/G | Philadelphia Warriors | 66 | 548 | — | 578 | 1,674 | 25.4 |
| 1952–53 | Neil Johnston* | 23 | C | Philadelphia Warriors | 70 | 504 | — | 556 | 1,564 | 22.3 |
| 1953–54 | Neil Johnston* (2) | 24 | C | Philadelphia Warriors | 72 | 591 | — | 577 | 1,759 | 24.5 |
| 1954–55 | Neil Johnston* (3) | 25 | C | Philadelphia Warriors | 72 | 521 | — | 589 | 1,631 | 22.7 |
| 1955–56 ‡ | Bob Pettit* | 23 | F/C | St. Louis Hawks | 72 | 646 | — | 557 | 1,849 | 25.7 |
| 1956–57 | Paul Arizin* (2) | 28 | F/G | Philadelphia Warriors | 71 | 613 | — | 591 | 1,817 | 25.6 |
| 1957–58 | George Yardley* | 29 | F/G | Detroit Pistons | 72 | 673 | — | 655 | 2,001 | 27.8 |
| 1958–59 ‡ | Bob Pettit* (2) | 26 | F/C | St. Louis Hawks | 72 | 719 | — | 667 | 2,105 | 29.2 |
| 1959–60 ‡ | Wilt Chamberlain* | 23 | C | Philadelphia Warriors | 72 | 1,065 | — | 577 | 2,707 | 37.6 |
| 1960–61 | Wilt Chamberlain* (2) | 24 | C | Philadelphia Warriors | 79 | 1,251 | — | 531 | 3,033 | 38.4 |
| 1961–62 | Wilt Chamberlain* (3) | 25 | C | Philadelphia Warriors | 80 | 1,597 | — | 835 | 4,029 | 50.4 |
| 1962–63 | Wilt Chamberlain* (4) | 26 | C | San Francisco Warriors | 80 | 1,463 | — | 660 | 3,586 | 44.8 |
| 1963–64 | Wilt Chamberlain* (5) | 27 | C | San Francisco Warriors | 80 | 1,204 | — | 540 | 2,948 | 36.9 |
| 1964–65 | Wilt Chamberlain* (6) | 28 | C | San Francisco Warriors Philadelphia 76ers | 73 | 1,063 | — | 408 | 2,534 | 34.7 |
| 1965–66 ‡ | Wilt Chamberlain* (7) | 29 | C | Philadelphia 76ers | 79 | 1,074 | — | 501 | 2,649 | 33.5 |
| 1966–67 | Rick Barry* | 22 | F | San Francisco Warriors | 78 | 1,011 | — | 753 | 2,775 | 35.6 |
| 1967–68 | Dave Bing* | 24 | G | Detroit Pistons | 79 | 835 | — | 472 | 2,142 | 27.1 |
| 1968–69 | Elvin Hayes* | 23 | F/C | San Diego Rockets | 82 | 930 | — | 467 | 2,327 | 28.4 |
| 1969–70 | Jerry West* | 31 | G | Los Angeles Lakers | 74 | 831 | — | 647 | 2,309 | 31.2 |
| 1970–71 ‡ | Lew Alcindor* | 23 | C | Milwaukee Bucks | 82 | 1,063 | — | 470 | 2,596 | 31.7 |
| 1971–72 ‡ | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar* (2) | 24 | C | Milwaukee Bucks | 81 | 1,159 | — | 504 | 2,822 | 34.8 |
| 1972–73 | Nate Archibald* | 24 | G | Kansas City-Omaha Kings | 80 | 1,028 | — | 663 | 2,719 | 34.0 |
| 1973–74 | Bob McAdoo* | 22 | C/F | Buffalo Braves | 74 | 901 | — | 459 | 2,261 | 30.6 |
| 1974–75 ‡ | Bob McAdoo* (2) | 23 | C/F | Buffalo Braves | 82 | 1,095 | — | 641 | 2,831 | 34.5 |
| 1975–76 | Bob McAdoo* (3) | 24 | C/F | Buffalo Braves | 78 | 934 | — | 559 | 2,427 | 31.1 |
| 1976–77 | Pete Maravich* | 29 | G | New Orleans Jazz | 73 | 886 | — | 501 | 2,273 | 31.1 |
| 1977–78 | George Gervin* | 25 | G/F | San Antonio Spurs | 82 | 864 | — | 504 | 2,232 | 27.2 |
| 1978–79 | George Gervin* (2) | 26 | G/F | San Antonio Spurs | 80 | 947 | — | 471 | 2,365 | 29.6 |
| 1979–80 | George Gervin* (3) | 27 | G/F | San Antonio Spurs | 78 | 1,024 | 32 | 505 | 2,585 | 33.1 |
| 1980–81 | Adrian Dantley* | 24 | F/G | Utah Jazz | 80 | 909 | 2 | 632 | 2,452 | 30.7 |
| 1981–82 | George Gervin* (4) | 29 | G/F | San Antonio Spurs | 79 | 993 | 10 | 555 | 2,551 | 32.3 |
| 1982–83 | Alex English* | 29 | F | Denver Nuggets | 82 | 959 | 2 | 406 | 2,326 | 28.4 |
| 1983–84 | Adrian Dantley* (2) | 27 | F/G | Utah Jazz | 79 | 802 | 1 | 813 | 2,418 | 30.6 |
| 1984–85 | Bernard King* | 28 | F | New York Knicks | 55 | 691 | 1 | 426 | 1,809 | 32.9 |
| 1985–86 | Dominique Wilkins* | 26 | F | Atlanta Hawks | 78 | 888 | 13 | 577 | 2,366 | 30.3 |
| 1986–87 | Michael Jordan* | 23 | G | Chicago Bulls | 82 | 1,098 | 12 | 833 | 3,041 | 37.1 |
| 1987–88 ‡ | Michael Jordan* (2) | 24 | G | Chicago Bulls | 82 | 1,069 | 7 | 723 | 2,868 | 35.0 |
| 1988–89 | Michael Jordan* (3) | 25 | G | Chicago Bulls | 81 | 966 | 27 | 674 | 2,633 | 32.5 |
| 1989–90 | Michael Jordan* (4) | 26 | G | Chicago Bulls | 82 | 1,034 | 92 | 593 | 2,753 | 33.6 |
| 1990–91 ‡ | Michael Jordan* (5) | 27 | G | Chicago Bulls | 82 | 990 | 29 | 571 | 2,580 | 31.5 |
| 1991–92 ‡ | Michael Jordan* (6) | 28 | G | Chicago Bulls | 80 | 943 | 27 | 491 | 2,404 | 30.1 |
| 1992–93 | Michael Jordan* (7) | 29 | G | Chicago Bulls | 78 | 992 | 81 | 476 | 2,541 | 32.6 |
| 1993–94 | David Robinson* | 28 | C | San Antonio Spurs | 80 | 840 | 10 | 693 | 2,383 | 29.8 |
| 1994–95 | Shaquille O'Neal* | 22 | C | Orlando Magic | 79 | 930 | 0 | 455 | 2,315 | 29.3 |
| 1995–96 ‡ | Michael Jordan* (8) | 32 | G | Chicago Bulls | 82 | 916 | 111 | 548 | 2,491 | 30.4 |
| 1996–97 | Michael Jordan* (9) | 33 | G | Chicago Bulls | 82 | 920 | 111 | 480 | 2,431 | 29.6 |
| 1997–98 ‡ | Michael Jordan* (10) | 34 | G | Chicago Bulls | 82 | 881 | 30 | 565 | 2,357 | 28.7 |
| 1998–99 | Allen Iverson* | 23 | G | Philadelphia 76ers | 48 | 435 | 58 | 356 | 1,284 | 26.8 |
| 1999–00 ‡ | Shaquille O'Neal* (2) | 27 | C | Los Angeles Lakers | 79 | 956 | 0 | 432 | 2,344 | 29.7 |
| 2000–01 ‡ | Allen Iverson* (2) | 25 | G | Philadelphia 76ers | 71 | 762 | 98 | 585 | 2,207 | 31.1 |
| 2001–02 | Allen Iverson* (3) | 26 | G | Philadelphia 76ers | 60 | 665 | 78 | 475 | 1,883 | 31.4 |
| 2002–03 | Tracy McGrady* | 23 | G/F | Orlando Magic | 75 | 829 | 173 | 576 | 2,407 | 32.1 |
| 2003–04 | Tracy McGrady* (2) | 24 | G/F | Orlando Magic | 67 | 653 | 174 | 398 | 1,878 | 28.0 |
| 2004–05 | Allen Iverson* (4) | 29 | G | Philadelphia 76ers | 75 | 771 | 104 | 656 | 2,302 | 30.7 |
| 2005–06 | Kobe Bryant* | 27 | G | Los Angeles Lakers | 80 | 978 | 180 | 696 | 2,832 | 35.4 |
| 2006–07 | Kobe Bryant* (2) | 28 | G | Los Angeles Lakers | 77 | 813 | 137 | 667 | 2,430 | 31.6 |
| 2007–08 | LeBron James^ | 23 | F | Cleveland Cavaliers | 75 | 794 | 113 | 549 | 2,250 | 30.0 |
| 2008–09 | Dwyane Wade* | 27 | G | Miami Heat | 79 | 854 | 88 | 590 | 2,386 | 30.2 |
| 2009–10 | Kevin Durant^ | 21 | F | Oklahoma City Thunder | 82 | 794 | 128 | 756 | 2,472 | 30.1 |
| 2010–11 | Kevin Durant^ (2) | 22 | F | Oklahoma City Thunder | 78 | 711 | 145 | 594 | 2,161 | 27.7 |
| 2011–12 | Kevin Durant^ (3) | 23 | F | Oklahoma City Thunder | 66 | 643 | 133 | 431 | 1,850 | 28.0 |
| 2012–13 | Carmelo Anthony$^§$ | 28 | F | New York Knicks | 67 | 669 | 157 | 425 | 1,920 | 28.7 |
| 2013–14 ‡ | Kevin Durant^ (4) | 25 | F | Oklahoma City Thunder | 81 | 849 | 192 | 703 | 2,593 | 32.0 |
| 2014–15 | Russell Westbrook^ | 26 | G | Oklahoma City Thunder | 67 | 627 | 86 | 546 | 1,886 | 28.1 |
| 2015–16 ‡ | Stephen Curry^ | 28 | G | Golden State Warriors | 79 | 805 | 402 | 363 | 2,375 | 30.1 |
| 2016–17 ‡ | Russell Westbrook^ (2) | 28 | G | Oklahoma City Thunder | 81 | 824 | 200 | 710 | 2,558 | 31.6 |
| 2017–18 ‡ | James Harden^ | 28 | G | Houston Rockets | 72 | 651 | 265 | 624 | 2,191 | 30.4 |
| 2018–19 | James Harden^ (2) | 29 | G | Houston Rockets | 78 | 843 | 378 | 754 | 2,818 | 36.1 |
| 2019–20 | James Harden^ (3) | 30 | G | Houston Rockets | 68 | 672 | 299 | 692 | 2,335 | 34.3 |
| 2020–21 | Stephen Curry^ (2) | 32 | G | Golden State Warriors | 63 | 658 | 337 | 362 | 2,015 | 32.0 |
| 2021–22 | Joel Embiid^ | 27 | C | Philadelphia 76ers | 68 | 666 | 93 | 654 | 2,079 | 30.6 |
| 2022–23 ‡ | Joel Embiid^ (2) | 28 | C | Philadelphia 76ers | 66 | 728 | 66 | 661 | 2,183 | 33.1 |
| 2023–24 | Luka Dončić^ | 25 | G | Dallas Mavericks | 70 | 804 | 284 | 478 | 2,370 | 33.9 |

## Multiple-time leaders

| Rank | Player | Team | Times leader | Years |
| 1 | Michael Jordan | Chicago Bulls | 10 | 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998 |
| 2 | Wilt Chamberlain | Philadelphia Warriors/San Francisco Warriors (5) / Philadelphia 76ers (2) | 7 | 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966 |
| 3 | Kevin Durant | Oklahoma City Thunder | 4 | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014 |
| 3 | George Gervin | San Antonio Spurs | 4 | 1978, 1979, 1980, 1982 |
| 3 | Allen Iverson | Philadelphia 76ers | 4 | 1999, 2001, 2002, 2005 |
| 6 | James Harden | Houston Rockets | 3 | 2018, 2019, 2020 |
| 6 | Neil Johnston | Philadelphia Warriors | 3 | 1953, 1954, 1955 |
| 6 | Bob McAdoo | Buffalo Braves | 3 | 1974, 1975, 1976 |
| 6 | George Mikan | Minneapolis Lakers | 3 | 1949, 1950, 1951 |
| 10 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | Milwaukee Bucks | 2 | 1971, 1972 |
| 10 | Paul Arizin | Philadelphia Warriors | 2 | 1952, 1957 |
| 10 | Kobe Bryant | Los Angeles Lakers | 2 | 2006, 2007 |
| 10 | Stephen Curry | Golden State Warriors | 2 | 2016, 2021 |
| 10 | Adrian Dantley | Utah Jazz | 2 | 1981, 1984 |
| 10 | Joel Embiid | Philadelphia 76ers | 2 | 2022, 2023 |
| 10 | Tracy McGrady | Orlando Magic | 2 | 2003, 2004 |
| 10 | Shaquille O'Neal | Orlando Magic (1) / Los Angeles Lakers (1) | 2 | 1995, 2000 |
| 10 | Bob Pettit | St. Louis Hawks | 2 | 1956, 1959 |
| 10 | Russell Westbrook | Oklahoma City Thunder | 2 | 2015, 2017 |