About: Highest Single-Season Scoring Averages in NBA History

Overview of the data behind this chart

NBA players ranked by points per game average in a single regular season, according to official NBA Statistics records. Wilt Chamberlain's 1961–62 season scoring average of 50.4 points per game is the most extraordinary individual statistical achievement in the history of North American professional sport — a figure so far outside the normal range of elite performance that it has never been seriously threatened in the six decades since it was set. Chamberlain accomplished this total while playing virtually every minute of every game, in an era before the three-point line, shot clock variations, or defensive schemes designed specifically to contain him had been developed. His dominance over the 1960–61 through 1962–63 seasons — in which he averaged 38.4, 50.4, and 44.8 points per game respectively — represents a three-year stretch of statistical production that remains unmatched in any major professional sport.

Key Findings

Auto-computed highlights from this dataset

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James Harden (2018–19) leads with 36 in 2019.

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Average value in 2019: 36 · median: 36.

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1962 recorded the highest combined total across all categories.

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Highest Single-Season Scoring Averages in NBA History

Data Insights Below

Data Insights

Numbers, trends & sources behind this chart

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Data Points

8 categories · 7 years

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Top Value

Wilt Chamberlain (1961–62)

Points Per Game · 1962

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Metrics

Points Per Game

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Period

1960 – 2019

7 years of data

Statistical Summary — 2019

Maximum

Minimum

Average

Median

What This Data Shows

Auto-generated trend summaries per category

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Wilt Chamberlain (1959–60)

Recorded 38 Points Per Game in 1960.

Source

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Wilt Chamberlain (1960–61)

Recorded 38 Points Per Game in 1961.

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Wilt Chamberlain (1961–62)

Recorded 50 Points Per Game in 1962.

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Elgin Baylor (1961–62)

Recorded 38 Points Per Game in 1962.

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Wilt Chamberlain (1962–63)

Recorded 45 Points Per Game in 1963.

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Michael Jordan (1986–87)

Recorded 37 Points Per Game in 1987.

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Kobe Bryant (2005–06)

Recorded 35 Points Per Game in 2006.

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James Harden (2018–19)

Recorded 36 Points Per Game in 2019.

Source

Full Data Table

8 records across 7 years

8 sourced

Category	Metric	1960	1961	1962	1963	1987	2006	2019
Wilt Chamberlain (1959–60)	Points Per Game	38	—	—	—	—	—	—
Wilt Chamberlain (1960–61)	Points Per Game	—	38	—	—	—	—	—
Wilt Chamberlain (1961–62)	Points Per Game	—	—	50	—	—	—	—
Elgin Baylor (1961–62)	Points Per Game	—	—	38	—	—	—	—
Wilt Chamberlain (1962–63)	Points Per Game	—	—	—	45	—	—	—
Michael Jordan (1986–87)	Points Per Game	—	—	—	—	37	—	—
Kobe Bryant (2005–06)	Points Per Game	—	—	—	—	—	35	—
James Harden (2018–19)	Points Per Game	—	—	—	—	—	—	36