At the end of each regular season in the National Basketball Association, the league names a scoring champion. From 1946 – 1968, the scoring champion was determined by the player with the most total points scored in the season. Starting in the 1968-1969 season, the NBA scoring champ was determined by the highest points-per-game average. In 1974, the league set criteria in order to qualify for the scoring title. To qualify, the player must play in at least 70/82 regular season games (amended for shortened seasons), or score at least 1,400 points in the season.
Nobody has won the title as the NBA’s leading scorer more times than Michael Jordan (10), who along with Wilt Chamberlain won the award seven consecutive times. Wilt Chamberlain holds the record for points scored in an NBA season (4,029) and highest per game average (50.4). The youngest player to win the NBA Scoring Title is Kevin Durant of the OKC Thunder who was 21 years and 197 days old.
Winning the scoring title rarely equates to a championship as well, as only three players have ever won the scoring title and an NBA championship in the same year. Those players would be: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1971), Michael Jordan (1991-93 and 1996-98), and Shaquille O’Neal (2000).
List of NBA Scoring Champions
The NBA Scoring leader for the 2015-16 season was Stephen Curry, Guard for the Golden State Warriors. he averaged 30.1 PPG.
The NBA Scoring leader for the 2014-15 season was Russell Westbrook, Guard for the Oklahoma City Thunder. He averaged 28.1 PPG.
The NBA Scoring leader for the 2013-14 season was Kevin Durant, Forward for the Oklahoma City Thunder. He averaged 32 PPG.
The NBA Scoring leader for the 2012-13 season was Carmelo Anthony, Forward for the New York Knicks. He averaged 28.7 PPG.
The NBA Scoring leader for the 2011–12 season was Kevin Durant, Forward for the Oklahoma City Thunder. He averaged 28 PPG.
The NBA Scoring leader for the 2010–11 season was Kevin Durant, Forward for the Oklahoma City Thunder. He averaged 27.7 PPG.
The NBA Scoring leader for the 2009–10 season was Kevin Durant, Forward for the Oklahoma City Thunder. He averaged 30.1 PPG.
The NBA Scoring leader for the 2008–09 season was Dwyane Wade, Guard for the Miami Heat. He averaged 30.2 PPG.
The NBA Scoring leader for the 2007–08 season was LeBron James, Forward for the Cleveland Cavaliers. He averaged 30 PPG.
The NBA Scoring leader for the 2006–07 season was Kobe Bryant, Guard for the Los Angeles Lakers. He averaged 31.6 PPG.
The NBA Scoring leader for the 2005–06 season was Kobe Bryant, Guard for the Los Angeles Lakers. He averaged 35.4 PPG.
The NBA Scoring leader for the 2004–05 season was Allen Iverson, Guard for the Philadelphia 76ers. He averaged 30.7 PPG.
The NBA Scoring leader for the 2003–04 season was Tracy McGrady, Forward for the Orlando Magic. He averaged 28 PPG.
The NBA Scoring leader for the 2002–03 season was Tracy McGrady, Forward for the Orlando Magic. He averaged 32.1 PPG.
The NBA Scoring leader for the 2001–02 season was Allen Iverson, Guard for the Philadelphia 76ers. He averaged 31.4 PPG.
The NBA Scoring leader for the 2000–01 season was Allen Iverson, Guard for the Philadelphia 76ers. He averaged 31.1 PPG.
The NBA Scoring leader for the 1999–00 season was Shaquille O’Neal, Center for the Los Angeles Lakers. He averaged 29.7 PPG.
The NBA Scoring leader for the 1998–99 season was Allen Iverson, Guard for the Philadelphia 76ers. He averaged 26.8 PPG.
The NBA Scoring leader for the 1997–98 season was Michael Jordan, Guard/Forward for the Chicago Bulls. He averaged 28.7 PPG.
The NBA Scoring leader for the 1996–97 season was Michael Jordan, Guard/Forward for the Chicago Bulls. He averaged 29.6 PPG.
The NBA Scoring leader for the 1995–96 season was Michael Jordan, Guard/Forward for the Chicago Bulls. He averaged 30.4 PPG.
The NBA Scoring leader for the 1994–95 season was Shaquille O’Neal, Center for the Orlando Magic. He averaged 29.3 PPG.
The NBA Scoring leader for the 1993–94 season was David Robinson, Center for the San Antonio Spurs. He averaged 29.8 PPG.
The NBA Scoring leader for the 1992–93 season was Michael Jordan, Guard/Forward for the Chicago Bulls. He averaged 32.6 PPG.
The NBA Scoring leader for the 1991–92 season was Michael Jordan, Guard/Forward for the Chicago Bulls. He averaged 30.1 PPG.
The NBA Scoring leader for the 1990–91 season was Michael Jordan, Guard/Forward for the Chicago Bulls. He averaged 31.5 PPG.
The NBA Scoring leader for the 1989–90 season was Michael Jordan, Guard/Forward for the Chicago Bulls. He averaged 33.6 PPG.
The NBA Scoring leader for the 1988–89 season was Michael Jordan, Guard/Forward for the Chicago Bulls. He averaged 32.5 PPG.
The NBA Scoring leader for the 1987–88 season was Michael Jordan, Guard/Forward for the Chicago Bulls. He averaged 35 PPG.
The NBA Scoring leader for the 1986–87 season was Michael Jordan, Guard/Forward for the Chicago Bulls. He averaged 37.1 PPG.
The NBA Scoring leader for the 1985–86 season was Dominique Wilkins, Forward/Guard for the Atlanta Hawks. He averaged 30.3 PPG.
The NBA Scoring leader for the 1984–85 season was Bernard King, Forward for the New York Knicks. He averaged 32.9 PPG.
The NBA Scoring leader for the 1983–84 season was Adrian Dantley, Forward/Guard for the Utah Jazz. He averaged 30.6 PPG.
The NBA Scoring leader for the 1982–83 season was Alex English, Forward for the Denver Nuggets. He averaged 28.4 PPG.
The NBA Scoring leader for the 1981–82 season was George Gervin, Guard/Forward for the San Antonio Spurs. He averaged 32.3 PPG.
The NBA Scoring leader for the 1980–81 season was Adrian Dantley, Forward/Guard for the Utah Jazz. He averaged 30.7 PPG.
The NBA Scoring leader for the 1979–80 season was George Gervin, Guard/Forward for the San Antonio Spurs. He averaged 33.1 PPG.
The NBA Scoring leader for the 1978–79 season was George Gervin, Guard/Forward for the San Antonio Spurs. He averaged 29.6 PPG.
The NBA Scoring leader for the 1977–78 season was George Gervin, Guard/Forward for the San Antonio Spurs. He averaged 27.2 PPG.
The NBA Scoring leader for the 1976–77 season was Pete Maravich, Guard for the New Orleans Jazz. He averaged 31.1 PPG.
The NBA Scoring leader for the 1975–76 season was Bob McAdoo, Center/Forward for the Buffalo Braves. He averaged 31.1 PPG.
The NBA Scoring leader for the 1974–75 season was Bob McAdoo, Center/Forward for the Buffalo Braves. He averaged 34.5 PPG.
The NBA Scoring leader for the 1973–74 season was Bob McAdoo, Center/Forward for the Buffalo Braves. He averaged 30.6 PPG.
The NBA Scoring leader for the 1972–73 season was Nate Archibald, Guard for the Kansas City-Omaha Kings. He averaged 34 PPG.
The NBA Scoring leader for the 1971–72 season was Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Center for the Milwaukee Bucks. He averaged 34.8 PPG.
The NBA Scoring leader for the 1970–71 season was Lew Alcindor, Center for the Milwaukee Bucks. He averaged 31.7 PPG.
The NBA Scoring leader for the 1969–70 season was Jerry West, Guard/Forward for the Los Angeles Lakers. He averaged 31.2 PPG.
The NBA Scoring leader for the 1968–69 season was Elvin Hayes, Forward/Center for the San Diego Rockets. He averaged 28.4 PPG.
The NBA Scoring leader for the 1967–68 season was Dave Bing, Guard for the Detroit Pistons. He averaged 27.1 PPG.
The NBA Scoring leader for the 1966–67 season was Rick Barry, Forward for the San Francisco Warriors. He averaged 35.6 PPG.
The NBA Scoring leader for the 1965–66 season was Wilt Chamberlain, Center for the Philadelphia 76ers. He averaged 33.5 PPG.
The NBA Scoring leader for the 1964–65 season was Wilt Chamberlain, Center for the San Francisco Warriors. He averaged 34.7 PPG.
The NBA Scoring leader for the 1963–64 season was Wilt Chamberlain, Center for the San Francisco Warriors. He averaged 36.9 PPG.
The NBA Scoring leader for the 1962–63 season was Wilt Chamberlain, Center for the San Francisco Warriors. He averaged 44.8 PPG.
The NBA Scoring leader for the 1961–62 season was Wilt Chamberlain, Center for the Philadelphia Warriors. He averaged 50.4 PPG.
The NBA Scoring leader for the 1960–61 season was Wilt Chamberlain, Center for the Philadelphia Warriors. He averaged 38.4 PPG.
The NBA Scoring leader for the 1959–60 season was Wilt Chamberlain, Center for the Philadelphia Warriors. He averaged 37.6 PPG.
The NBA Scoring leader for the 1958–59 season was Bob Pettit, Forward/Center for the St. Louis Hawks. He averaged 29.2 PPG.
The NBA Scoring leader for the 1957–58 season was George Yardley, Forward/Guard for the Detroit Pistons. He averaged 27.8 PPG.
The NBA Scoring leader for the 1956–57 season was Paul Arizin, Forward/Guard for the Philadelphia Warriors. He averaged 25.6 PPG.
The NBA Scoring leader for the 1955–56 season was Bob Pettit, Forward/Center for the St. Louis Hawks. He averaged 25.7 PPG.
The NBA Scoring leader for the 1954–55 season was Neil Johnston, Center for the Philadelphia Warriors. He averaged 22.7 PPG.
The NBA Scoring leader for the 1953–54 season was Neil Johnston, Center for the Philadelphia Warriors. He averaged 24.5 PPG.
The NBA Scoring leader for the 1952–53 season was Neil Johnston, Center for the Philadelphia Warriors. He averaged 22.3 PPG.
The NBA Scoring leader for the 1951–52 season was Paul Arizin, Forward/Guard for the Philadelphia Warriors. He averaged 25.4 PPG.
The NBA Scoring leader for the 1950–51 season was George Mikan, Center for the Minneapolis Lakers. He averaged 28.4 PPG.
The NBA Scoring leader for the 1949–50 season was George Mikan, Center for the Minneapolis Lakers. He averaged 27.4 PPG.
The NBA Scoring leader for the 1948–49 season was George Mikan, Center for the Minneapolis Lakers. He averaged 28.3 PPG.
The NBA Scoring leader for the 1947–48 season was Max Zaslofsky, Guard/Forward for the Chicago Stags. He averaged 21 PPG.
The NBA Scoring leader for the 1946–47 season was Joe Fulks, Forward/Center for the Philadelphia Warriors. He averaged 23.2 PPG.