If you’re looking for the best scorer in the NBA, the first place to look is Oklahoma City.
Russell Westbrook won the scoring title last season (2014-15) as he finished with the highest scoring average of any player in the league at 28.1 points per game. A big reason for Westbrook’s high scoring was the fact that his teammate, Kevin Durant, was hurt for most of the season and the Thunder needed Westbrook to focus more on scoring than he does when Durant is healthy.
When KD is on the court, he is the best scorer in the game, with his ability to score from anywhere on the court – from 3-point range to fast break dunks. Before Westbrook’s scoring title last season, Durant had won four of the previous five scoring titles (2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12, 2013-14).
In fact, KD and Russ became the first teammates to win back-to-back scoring titles in over 50 seasons. With that pair of amazing offensive players, the Thunder are always a contender for the NBA title and made it to The Finals in 2012.
While scoring is an important skill, it is not a guarantee of success. Consider this, Kevin Durant has won four scoring titles, one MVP and has yet to win a championship, while LeBron James has won just one scoring title, four MVPs and has won two championships.
In fact, only five times in NBA history has a player won the scoring title and the championship in the same season. It last happened in 2000 when Shaquille O’Neal won the scoring title and led the L.A. Lakers to the first of three straight championships.
Here are some key facts to know about the NBA scoring title:
- Michael Jordan has won the most scoring titles with 10, including seven straight from 1986–87 to 1992–93.
- Wilt Chamberlain is second with seven scoring titles, but Wilt owns the highest single-season scoring average in NBA history with an amazing 50.4 points in 1961-62.
- Kevin Durant has the most scoring titles of any active player (four). He is currently tied with NBA legends George Gervin and Allen Iverson and is still only 26 years old.