The NBA’s scoring title is a source of pride for players around the league. It means, at least for one season, that nobody scored the ball better than you among your peers. It means that the player was the most voluminous and prolific scorer in the league over an entire 82-game stretch and dominated one-half of the sport. Basketball is a tale of two ends of the floor, with the offense taking center stage over the last 15 years, especially with the three-point revolution that has made the game even more offense-friendly.
The NBA scoring title has been broken down by position. It has been broken down by how many times a player both led the NBA in scoring and won a championship in the same season. Never have we simply broken down the NBA’s most prolific scorers by how many scoring titles they have won. Today that changes with the list of NBA players who did it on more than one occasion below. A portion of these players would go on to become superstars, MVPs, champions, and Finals MVPs in their careers and are among the greatest players to ever play the game.
These are the NBA players who won the most scoring titles in their careers.
NBA Players With 1 Scoring Title
Joe Fulks, Max Zaslofsky, George Yardley, Rick Barry, Dave Bing, Elvin Hayes, Jerry West, Nate Archibald, Pete Maravich, Alex English, Dominique Wilkins, Bernard King, David Robinson, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony, Joel Embiid
As you can see, the list of players who have only took home one scoring title is packed with stars. The first scoring title was given out in 1947 and was won by Joe Fulks who averaged 23.2 PPG. Out of these 17 players who won one scoring title, only four have taken home Finals MVP awards, and those four are Rick Barry, Jerry West, Dwyane Wade, and LeBron James. Nearly all of these players would win an NB championship at some point in their careers except for Carmelo Anthony, Joel Embiid, Alex English, Dominique Wilkins, Pete Maravich, Max Zaslofsky, and Dave Bing.
Only four of these players rank in the top 20 for career points scored, and those are LeBron James, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, Carmelo Anthony, Dominique Wilkins, and Elvin Hayes. These 17 players are some of the most accomplished the game has ever seen, and a lot of that has to do with their ability to score the basketball in a variety of different ways. Although these players never won more than one scoring title, their legacies remain safely cemented in NBA history.
Paul Arizin – 2 Scoring Titles
Credit: Fadeaway World
1951-52: 25.4 PPG
1956-57: 25.6 PPG
For 10 seasons, Paul Arizin graced the hardwood for the Philadelphia Warriors from 1951 thru 1962. Arizin was named the 1951 Rookie of the Year with the Warriors as a 17.2 PPG scorer while adding 9.8 RPG. The following season would be when he grabbed his first scoring title averaging 25.4 PPG on an NBA-leading 44.8% shooting. Arizin was named an All-Star both seasons and looked headed for one of the greatest careers in NBA history. That is until he left the NBA to serve in the United States Marine Corps for the 1953 and 1954 seasons.
Arizin returned in 1955 to average 21.0 PPG for the Warriors while playing a league-leading 41.0 minutes per game. In 1956, he would help Philadelphia capture an NBA championship by averaging 28.9 PPG in the playoffs, which led all eligible players for the postseason. In 1957, Arizin would once again become the scoring champion by averaging 25.6 PPG on 44.8% shooting. For his career, Arizin was a 22.8 PPG scorer and played all 10 seasons of his career with the Warriors, winning a championship and being named an All-Star for every season of his career.
Bob Pettit – 2 Scoring Titles
Credit: Darryl Norenberg-USA TODAY Sports
1955-56: 25.7 PPG
1958-59: 29.2 PPG
As one of the greatest power forwards in NBA history, Bob Pettit made a name for himself during the 50s and 60s with the Atlanta Hawks. Pettit was one of the league’s best players from day one and cruised to an easy Rookie of the Year win in 1955 with 20.4 PPG and 13.8 RPG on the season. In his second season in the league, Pettit would take home his first scoring title and his first MVP award when he averaged 25.7 PPG and 16.2 RPG on 42.9% shooting for the Hawks that season.
In 1957-58, Pettit would accomplish his most impressive feat when he led the Hawks to the NBA Finals against the Boston Celtics led by Bill Russell. Pettit and the Hawks would go on to win the Finals, becoming the first and only team to take down Russell’s Celtics in an NBA Finals for the 13 years of Russell’s career. In 1959, Pettit took home his second scoring title with 29.2 PPG on 43.8% shooting and was rewarded with the second MVP award of his career. Pettit would retire after 11 seasons in the league due to financial reasons and basketball not paying enough for him to afford to live.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar – 2 Scoring Titles
Credit: Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
1970-71: 31.7 PPG
1971-72: 34.8 PPG
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is one of the top three players to ever play the game of basketball. He succeeded at every level of play, from high school to the pros, and won multiple championships as well as an array of other accolades that place him amongst the most accomplished players ever. Kareem came into the NBA with the Bucks in 1969-70 and was a virtual lock for the Rookie of the Year award. He would win an MVP in his second season, which is also when he took home his first scoring title, NBA championship, and Finals MVP award with 31.7 PPG and 16.0 RPG on 57.7% shooting.
Kareem’s second scoring title would come the very next season in 1972, when he averaged 34.8 PPG on 57.4% shooting. Kareem would lead the Bucks to 63 wins in 1972 but fell short of their goal for another NBA championship. Kareem would play three more seasons with the Bucks before playing the final 14 years with the Lakers in Los Angeles. He would help the Lakers win five NBA championships during the 1980s and retire in 1989 as the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, as well as the player who won the most MVP awards in NBA history.
Shaquille O’Neal – 2 Scoring Titles
Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
1994-95: 29.3 PPG
1999-00: 29.7 PPG
At his best, Shaquille O’Neal may just be the most dominant big man we have ever seen play the game of basketball. Shaq was as dominant of a paint scorer as there has been in NBA history, and once he got position on his defender, it most likely ended in a negative fashion for whoever drew that unfortunate assignment. O’Neal would show from a young age that he was going to be a star for years to come, and in 1995, just his third season with the Magic, he would capture his first scoring title with 29.3 PPG. He would also help the Magic reach their first NBA Finals that same season before being swept by the Houston Rockets.
After his time in Orlando had reached its end, O’Neal ended up with the Los Angeles Lakers in 1996. Shaq would put in some tremendous years with L.A. but perhaps none more dominant than the 1999-00 season. In 2000, O’Neal would win the All-Star Game MVP, MVP, become an NBA champion, and win a Finals MVP award. O’Neal won the scoring title by averaging 29.7 PPG and then proceeded to average 30.7 PPG in the playoffs to deliver the NBA championship to the Lakers for the first time since 1988.
Tracy McGrady – 2 Scoring Titles
Credit: Fadeaway World
2002-03: 32.1 PPG
2003-04: 28.0 PPG
At his peak, Tracy McGrady was one of the most entertaining players in the NBA to watch. The way he scored the ball was incredible, with his ability to create from anywhere on the court, his tough shot-making ability, and his bursts of offensive dominance that left you speechless. After a few years of struggling to find playing time with the team that drafted him, the Toronto Raptors, McGrady was traded to the Orlando Magic, where he put on a show for the whole world to see. Immediately, McGrady became an All-Star in his first season with Orlando, and by his second season, he was one of the most lethal weapons in the NBA.
McGrady would win a scoring title in 2022-03, averaging 32.1 PPG on 45.7% shooting overall and 38.6% shooting from three. The Magic would win 42 games but lose in the first round of the playoffs. The following season, McGrady would once again lead the NBA in scoring, with the Magic averaging 28.0 PPG on 41.7% shooting and 33.9% from three. It would be McGrady’s final season in Orlando after the team won just 21 games and missed the playoffs.
Kobe Bryant – 2 Scoring Titles
Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
2005-06: 35.4 PPG
2006-07: 31.6 PPG
The fact that Kobe Bryant won two scoring titles in the fashion he did with only one MVP award to show for it is blasphemous. However, I digress. By the time Bryant was a scoring champion in the NBA, he had already been a three-time NBA champion and made it to four NBA Finals in his young career. His first scoring title came in 2005-06 when his best teammate was Lamar Odom, and others such as Chris Mihm, and Smush Parker were starters. Bryant would average over 35.0 PPG for the Lakers on 45.0% shooting from the field. Bryant’s tenacity on offense led the Lakers to the playoffs, where they fell in the first round in seven games.
The following season was no different for Bryant and the Lakers, who were still relying on guys like Luka Walton and Parker to fill big roles in their lineup. Bryant took control of the team and averaged 31.6 PPG on 46.3% shooting this time but just 34.4% from three. This time, the Lakers won just 42 games and once again fell in the first round of the playoffs. From 2008 thru 2010, following these two seasons, Bryant would win his first MVP in 2008 and NBA championships in 2009 and 2010, along with both Finals MVP awards.
Stephen Curry – 2 Scoring Titles
Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
2015-16: 30.1 PPG
2020-21: 32.0 PPG
After a few seasons of getting acclimated to the NBA out of Davidson in 2009, Stephen Curry took the league by storm and welcomed in a new generation of fans, and changed the game of basketball forever while becoming the greatest shooter in league history. Curry began to make his mark when he won his first MVP award and championship with the Warriors in 2015. The following season would be one of the finest in NBA history. Curry would win his first scoring title by averaging 30.1 PPG. He shot the ball with otherworldly efficiency at 50.4% overall, 45.4% from three on over 11.0 attempts, and over 90.0% from the foul line. He became the NBA’s first unanimous MVP and led the Warriors to an NBA-record 73 wins.
After going 3-2 in the NBA Finals from 2015 thru 2019, Curry and the Warriors struggled with injuries and depth issues as they tried to get back on track as a franchise. The 2020-21 season was a tough one for everyone coming off the Bubble championship in Orlando, and Klay Thompson still out of action for Golden State. Curry would do everything he could by averaging 32.0 PPG on 49.2% shooting overall and 42.1% shooting from three. However, despite his second scoring title, Curry could not will the Warriors past the play-in tournament that season. He would have his revenge in 2022 by winning his fourth NBA championship and finally earning a Finals MVP after years of just missing out on it.
Russell Westbrook – 2 Scoring Titles
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2014-15: 28.1 PPG
2016-17: 31.6 PPG
Watching Russell Westbrook get criticized and dragged through the mud over the last two seasons while with the Lakers was nauseating to see unfold. At his peak, Westbrook was an MVP of the league and making history with his all-around play, and triple-double milestones reached. Westbrook was explosive, athletic, fast, and strong in his assault on the NBA record books during the 2010s, and it culminated later in the decade with two scoring titles. His first would come in 2014-15, when he averaged 28.1 PPG on 42.6% shooting from the field.
The next time Westbrook would lead the league in scoring would be in the 2016-17 season with 31.6 PPG. Westbrook took home the scoring title and led the Thunder to the playoffs despite losing Kevin Durant in free agency to Golden State. Westbrook would become the first player since Oscar Robertson to average a triple-double over the course of an entire season and was named the MVP due to his rewriting of the history books. Westbrook may be a shell of his peak self in 2022-23, but don’t let that stop you from honoring what he did before.
George Mikan – 3 Scoring Titles
Credit: Fadeaway World
1948-49: 28.3 PPG
1949-50: 27.4 PPG
1950-51: 28.4 PPG
George Mikan is often referred to as the first true superstar in NBA history. Mr. Basketball, as he was referred to, is one the few players in NBA history to win three scoring titles and finish with career averages above 20.0 PPG as well as 10.0 RPG. Mikan began his scoring title journey as a rookie when he averaged 28.3 PPG for the 44-16 Minneapolis Lakers. Mikan would then go on to average 30.3 PPG in the playoffs that season to lead the Lakers to an NBA championship for the first time in his career.
Mikan would win his second scoring title in 1950 as well, averaging 27.4 PPG to lead Minneapolis to 51 wins this time. He would once again go off in the playoffs with 31.3 PPG to lead the Lakers to their second straight NBA championship. Mikan’s third scoring title would come in 1951 with 28.4 PPG, but this time, the NBA championship did not accompany it. Mikan would win three more NBA championships with the Lakers giving him a total of five in a seven-season career.
Neil Johnston – 3 Scoring Titles
Credit: Fadeaway World
1952-53: 22.3 PPG
1953-54: 24.4 PPG
1954-55: 22.7 PPG
The man who accepted the proverbial torch from Mikan as the NBA’s best scorer was Neil Johnston of the Philadelphia Warriors. Johnston would make his NBA debut in 1951-52 for the Warriors and have a lackluster rookie season with 6.0 PPG and 5.3 RPG in 64 appearances. With a much better chance to play in his second season, Johnston would win the first NBA scoring title of his career when he averaged 22.3 PPG on 45.2% shooting which also led the league.
Over the following two seasons, Johnston would win two more scoring titles averaging 24.4 PPG in 1954 and 22.7 PPG in 1955. In 1955-56, Johnston would lead the Warriors to an NBA championship averaging 22.1 PPG on a league-leading 45.7% shooting. He averaged 20.3 PPG and 14.3 RPG in the playoffs to help them obtain that goal. Johnston would play just eight seasons in the NBA and be inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1990.
Bob McAdoo – 3 Scoring Titles
Credit: Manny Rubio-USA TODAY Sports
1973-74: 30.6 PPG
1974-75: 34.5 PPG
1975-76: 31.1 PPG
One of the great and historically underrated centers this game has ever seen is Bob McAdoo. He would play 14 seasons in the NBA, most notably with the Buffalo Braves and Los Angeles Lakers. McAdoo made his debut in the 1972-73 season and got things started with a Rookie of the Year award averaging 18.0 PPG and 9.1 RPG. The very next season, McAdoo would take home his first scoring title with a whopping 30.6 PPG on 54.7% shooting which led the NBA.
As we entered 1974-75, McAdoo was among the best players in basketball already and proved it with another strong season. He would win the 1975 MVP award and his second scoring title averaging 34.5 PPG and 14.1 RPG on the year. He would win his third straight scoring title in 1976, averaging 31.1 PPG, which would be the final 30.0 PPG season of his career. Down the road, McAdoo would become a two-time NBA champion with the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1980s and go down as one of the 20 best centers in NBA history.
James Harden – 3 Scoring Titles
Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
2017-18: 30.4 PPG
2018-19: 36.1 PPG
2019-20: 34.3 PPG
When James Harden broke into the league with the Oklahoma City Thunder in the early 2010s, it was clear that he had talent far superior to the first man off the bench. Although he had been a Sixth Man of the Year, Harden was clearly a star in the making stuck in the wrong situation. That is where the Houston Rockets come in and allow Harden to flourish. He became an All-Star and All-NBA player immediately upon arrival in Houston and has one of the best offensive peaks of any player in the last 20 years.
Harden would win his first scoring title for the 2017-18 season when he averaged 30.4 PPG. He would also be named the MVP for the 2018 season after leading the Rockets to 65 wins. In 2019, harden would average a historic 36.1 PPG for Houston, becoming the first player since Jordan to average over 36.0 PPG in a season. His final scoring title came in his final full season with the Rockets when he averaged 34.3 PPG and shot 44.4% from the field.
George Gervin – 4 Scoring Titles
Credit: Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
1977-78: 27.2 PPG
1978-79: 29.6 PPG
1979-80: 33.1 PPG
1981-82 32.3 PPG
George Gervin is one of those players who continues to lose a little bit more of his legacy as time goes on and younger fans forget or simply just do not know about his contributions to the game. After spending five seasons in the ABA, Gervin arrived in the NBA along with the Spurs in 1976. Gervin was clearly one of the most talented scorers in the league and it was only a matter of time before he won at least one scoring title. In 1978, that would come to fruition as Gervin won the scoring title averaging 27.2 PPG on 53.6% shooting.
Gervin would win all four of his five scoring titles over a five-year stretch from 1978 thru 1982. During this five-year stretch, Gervin averaged 29.8 PPG on 51.9% shooting overall and 84.0% from the foul line. Gervin would never get to become an NBA champion but he should still be known for his signature finger roll and his scoring abilities that provided a generation of fans with countless memories.
Allen Iverson – 4 Scoring Titles
Credit: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports
1998-99: 26.8 PPG
2000-01: 31.1 PPG
2001-02: 31.4 PPG
2004-05: 30.7 PPG
Allen Iverson’s four career scoring titles are some of the most impressive feats on this list. Standing at just 6’0’’, Iverson displayed zero fear in his attack on the basket and rim. He wasn’t afraid to be labeled as a ball hog or inefficient because those words meant nothing during this time period. Iverson would become one of the greatest shooting guards in the game’s history eventually as he continued to shatter the expectations of anyone who doubted him.
Iverson would win his first scoring title in 1999 when he averaged 26.8 PPG in a lockout-shortened season for the NBA. In 2001, Iverson would not only win his second scoring title but he would also take home the MVP award and the first of three straight steals titles as well. His next two scoring titles would come with the Sixers in 2002 and 2005. From 1999 thru 2006, his final full year in Philadelphia, Iverson would average 33.0 PPG for the Sixers with one MVP award and one trip to the NBA Finals.
Kevin Durant – 4 Scoring Titles
Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
2009-10: 30.1 PPG
2010-11: 27.7 PPG
2011-12: 28.0 PPG
2013-14: 32.0 PPG
Over the last 16 years, we have watched as Kevin Durant has become one of the most talented and efficient scorers in NBA history. Durant’s near 7-foot frame along with his ability to handle the ball, create shots, and shoot from anywhere have made him one of the most lethal offensive players of the last 30 years. Durant is especially gifted from the mid-range and has no issues pulling up from deep or putting the ball on the floor and getting to the basket.
Durant’s four scoring titles all came within a five-year period from 2010 thru 2014. He would win his first three in a row from 2010 thru 2012 averaging, 28.7 PPG on 47.7% shooting over that stretch. In 2014, Durant would have his best scoring season when he averaged 32.0 PPG on 51.0% shooting and 40.3% from three. Durant would be named the 2014 MVP as well while leading the thunder to 59 wins and a division title. Durant is still scoring at an insanely efficient level in 2022-23 if he could only stay on the court long enough to impact a championship.
Wilt Chamberlain – 7 Scoring Titles
Credit: Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
1959-60: 37.6 PPG
1960-61: 38.4 PPG
1961-62: 50.4 PPG
1962-63: 44.8 PPG
1963-64: 36.9 PPG
1964-65: 34.7 PPG
1965-66: 33.5 PPG
Wilt Chamberlain was bound to go down as one of the best players in NBA history simply based on his pre-NBA accomplishments. Chamberlain was a superhuman athlete standing over seven feet tall who was a mismatch for any opponent he faced on every level he played. Chamberlain would make an impact upon arrival in the NBA and take home the first of seven straight scoring titles to begin his career. Over these seven seasons, Wilt would rewrite the scoring history books within the NBA and averaged 39.6 PPG and 24.8 RPG on 51.1% shooting from the field.
Wilt’s most impressive seasons from 1960 thru 1966 had to have been in 1962 and 1963. In 1962, Chamberlain set an NBA record when he averaged 50.4 PPG while playing 48.5 minutes per game. This means that he was basically guaranteed to score 50 points every night while playing every minute of regulation and overtime. Wilt would follow that up with 44.8 PPG in 1963 which is the second-highest PPG in a season all time. He would win MVP awards in 1960 and 1966 while adding two more later in his career with the Sixers and Lakers. He would also become a two-time NBA champion and the 1973 Finals MVP.
Michael Jordan – 10 Scoring Titles
Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
1986-87: 37.1 PPG
1987-88: 35.0 PPG
1988-89: 32.5 PPG
1989-90: 33.6 PPG
1990-91: 31.5 PPG
1991-92: 30.1 PPG
1992-93: 32.6 PPG
1995-96: 30.4 PPG
1996-97: 29.6 PPG
1997-98: 28.7 PPG
At last, we have reached the end of our list, which ends with the greatest scorer and greatest player in NBA history, Michael Jordan. For 15 years, Jordan graced the NBA hardwood and completely changed the game forever by bringing it to peak popularity on a global stage. He would win his 10 scoring titles in a 12-season stretch that saw him take nearly two seasons off in the middle of his prime. While winning scoring titles, Jordan was named MVP five times which is the second-most in NBA history, and six NBA championships along with six Finals MVP awards.
Jordan dominated the NBA offensively like no other player ever has during the late 80s and the entirety of the 90s with the Chicago Bulls. Jordan would win his first scoring title in 1987 and win every season in which he played fully through 1998. He would lead the Bulls to two three-peats from 1991 thru 1993 and 1996 thru 1998 becoming the first team to do so since the Celtics of the 1960s. Jordan set the bar for NBA players during his peak and holds records for both the most career regular season PPG with 30.1 PPG and playoffs with 33.4 PPG. Many have come, and many have tried, but nobody has ever done it better than Michael Jordan.
Source: fadeawayworld
