All the times the NBA's top scorers were not the scoring champions
hoopshype staff
·3-min read
Feb 2, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) reacts after scoring against the Philadelphia 76ers in the fourth quarter at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images
Last season, the NBA set a minimum of at least 65 games played for players to be eligible for individual postseason awards in an effort to curb load management. The early returns were promising, too. So why stop there? Historically, the scoring champion has been decided by a player's points-per-game average. But what if we changed that to total points scored?
Today, we're going to take a look at the seasons in which the NBA's top scorers (judged by total points scored) were not the scoring champions because they didn't have a high enough points-per-game average.
There have been several such instances in NBA history, as long ago as 1969-70 and as recently as 2022-23.
Crazily enough, Kobe Bryant's legacy would be even more impressive had scoring champions been decided by total points scored. Bryant had two scoring championships in his career, one in '06 and one in '07. But in 2002-03, he scored 54 more total points than Tracy McGrady but lost the scoring title due to scoring average. And in 2007-08, Bryant outscored the scoring champion, LeBron James, by 73 total points, but again lost the title due to his lower average.
This change would have given Bryant a ridiculous four scoring titles in his career, tying him with Kevin Durant and George Gervin for the third-most ever.
For what it's worth, although James would have lost the '08 scoring title to Bryant if it were judged by total points, he was actually the total points scored champion in 2017-18 over James Harden, so he would still have one scoring title in his career in this scenario.
Oh, and if we were handing out scoring titles by total points scored, His Airness, Michael Jordan, would have 11 scoring titles instead of 10, because in 1984-85, he actually scored 504 more points than Bernard King, the year's scoring champion by points average.
Not too shabby.
Below, check out the years where the NBA's top scorers by total points were not scoring champions.
1969-70 season
MILWAUKEE, WI - JANUARY 10: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar #33 of the Milwaukee Bucks shoots the ball over Wes Unseld #41 of the Baltimore Bullets on January 10, 1971 at the Milwaukee Arena in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1971 NBAE (Photo by Vernon Biever/NBAE via Getty Images)
Top scorer: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (2361 points, 28.79 ppg)
Actual scoring champion: Jerry West (2309 points, 31.2 ppg)
1984-85 season
October 18, 1984; New York, NY, USA; Michael Jordan, 23, sets up Bull's offense against the Knicks during an exhibition game at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Mandatory Credit: Carmine Galasso/North Jersey Media Group via USA TODAY NETWORK
Top scorer: Michael Jordan (2313 points, 28.21 ppg)
Actual scoring champion: Bernard King (1809 points, 32.89 ppg)
1985-86 season
.
Top scorer: Alex English (2414 points, 29.8 ppg)
Actual scoring champion: Dominique Wilkins (2366 points, 30.33 ppg)
1998-99 season
LOS ANGELES, UNITED STATES: Shaquille O'Neal (C) of the Los Angeles Lakers is congratulated by teammates of Brian Shaw (L) and Kobe Bryant (R) 07 June, 2000, during the second half of game one of the NBA Finals games at Staples Centers in Los Angeles, CA. O'Neal finished the game with 43 points to lead the Laker to a 104-87 win to lead the best-of-seven game series 1-0. (ELECTRONIC IMAGE) AFP PHOTO/Jeff HAYNES (Photo credit should read JEFF HAYNES/AFP via Getty Images)
Top scorer: Shaquille O'Neal (1289 points, 26.31 ppg)
Actual scoring champion: Allen Iverson (1284 points, 26.75 ppg)
2000-01 season
Jerry Stackhouse, 2000-01. Piston 021799 Stack Kd
Top scorer: Jerry Stackhouse (2380 points, 29.75 ppg)
Actual scoring champion: Allen Iverson (2207 points, 31.08 ppg)
2001-02 season
NEWARK, NJ - APRIL 14: Paul Pierce #34 of the Boston Celtics reacts after he made a 2-point basket in the second half against the New Jersey Nets at Prudential Center on April 14, 2012 in Newark, New Jersey. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Chris Chambers/Getty Images)
Top scorer: Paul Pierce (2144 points, 26.15 ppg)
Actual scoring champion: Allen Iverson (1883 points, 31.38 ppg)
2002-03 season
Los Angeles Lakers' guard Kobe Bryant (R) dribbles around Toronto Raptors Antonio Davis (L) during the 2001 All-Star Game 11 February 2001 at the MCI Center in Washington, DC. AFP PHOTO/Heather HALL (Photo by - / AFP) (Photo credit should read -/AFP via Getty Images)
Top scorer: Kobe Bryant (2461 points, 30.01 ppg)
Actual scoring champion: Tracy McGrady (2407 points, 32.09 ppg)
2003-04 season
MINNEAPOLIS - MAY 3: Kevin Garnett #21 of the Minnesota Timberwolves and NBA commissioner David Stern pose for a portrait at Target Center on May 3, 2004 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2004 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
Top scorer: Kevin Garnett (1987 points, 24.23 ppg)
Actual scoring champion: Tracy McGrady (1878 points, 28.03 ppg)
2007-08 season
LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 15: Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers stands on the court in the first half of Game Five of the 2008 NBA Finals against the Boston Celtics on June 15, 2008 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)
Top scorer: Kobe Bryant (2323 points, 28.33 ppg)
Actual scoring champion: LeBron James (2250 points, 30.0 ppg)
2012-13 season
May 5, 2013; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (35) handles the ball against the Memphis Grizzlies during the second half in game one of the second round of the 2013 NBA Playoffs at Chesapeake Energy Arena. The Thunder defeated the Grizzlies 93-91. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Top scorer: Kevin Durant (2280 points, 28.15 ppg)
Actual scoring champion: Carmelo Anthony (1920 points, 28.66 ppg)
2014-15 season
OAKLAND, CA - MAY 21: James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets handles the ball against Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors in the second quarter during game two of the Western Conference Finals of the 2015 NBA PLayoffs at ORACLE Arena on May 21, 2015 in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Top scorer: James Harden (2217 points, 27.37 ppg)
Actual scoring champion: Russell Westbrook (1886 points, 28.15 ppg)
2015-16 season
Apr 3, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) celebrates after scoring a basket during the third quarter against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Toyota Center. The Rockets won 118-110. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Top scorer: James Harden (2376 points, 28.98 ppg)
Actual scoring champion: Stephen Curry (2375 points, 30.06 ppg)
2017-18 season
May 7, 2018; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) makes a shot against Toronto Raptors forward Pascal Siakam (43) in the third quarter in game four of the second round of the 2018 NBA Playoffs at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
Top scorer: LeBron James (2251 points, 27.45 ppg)
Actual scoring champion: James Harden (2191 points, 30.43 ppg)
2021-22 season
Oct 14, 2022; Birmingham, Alabama, USA; Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young (11) signals to teammates against the New Orleans Pelicans in the first quarter at Legacy Arena at BJCC. Mandatory Credit: Larry Robinson-USA TODAY Sports
Top scorer: Trae Young (2155 points, 28.36 ppg)
Actual scoring champion: Joel Embiid (2079 points, 30.57 ppg)
2022-23 season
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 04: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics reacts after making a three point shot during the fourth quarter of the game against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center on November 04, 2023 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty Images)
Top scorer: Jayson Tatum (2225 points, 30.07 ppg)
Actual scoring champion: Joel Embiid (2183 points, 33.08 ppg)
