NBA Scoring Champions: Former OKC Thunder Superstars Have Won 10 Of The Last 11 Scoring Titles

We have seen some tremendous offensive players throughout NBA history. Scoring is a big part of today’s NBA game and that will not change anytime soon, because points on the board mean more excitement for fans across the globe. The saying goes that defense and rebounding win championships, but winning can’t be done without being able to get buckets.

Looking over the past decade, there has been an astonishing number of scorers who have historically dominated the game. More importantly, the majority of scoring champions were drafted by the same team: the Oklahoma City Thunder. If only OKC would have kept their stars, there might have been a decade-long Dynasty. Here are all the scoring champions during the past decade starting with All-NBA forward and former Oklahoma City superstar Kevin Durant.

2009-2010 – Kevin Durant – 30.15 PPG (Oklahoma City Thunder)

The 2009-2010 season was a special one for Kevin Durant, who immediately became the best scorer in the NBA. This would be the first of three straight scoring titles for the superstar forward, and this was the year that a 21-year old Durant finally entered the conversation as one of the top-5 players in the world. KDs scoring ability was on a different level, averaging over 30 PPG on 47.6% shooting to win the scoring title over LeBron James (29.7 PPG).

2010-11 – Kevin Durant – 27.71 PPG (Oklahoma City Thunder)

Durant’s second straight scoring title once again won ahead of LeBron James (26.7 PPG), and he did it at an efficient rate. Durant shot 46.2% from the field, 35.0% from three, and 88.0% from the free-throw line. Durant led the Oklahoma City Thunder all the way to the Western Conference Finals, only to fall to the eventual champions Dallas Mavericks in 5 games. Durant’s scoring that season was the reason the Thunder made it that far, as Russell Westbrook was still finding his footing as a superstar player after averaging 21.9 PPG on 44.2% shooting.

2011-12 – Kevin Durant – 28.03 PPG (Oklahoma City Thunder)

Kevin Durant’s third straight scoring title was won by the smallest of margins ahead of Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant (27.9 PPG). A 23-year old Kevin Durant was already a superstar because his all-around game expanded tremendously. He averaged 8.0 RPG and 1.2 BPG as well, becoming one of the best players in the world. Durant couldn’t quite carry the Thunder to the championship as they fell to LeBron’s Heat in 5 games. Nonetheless, Durant made his presence known that he was not going anywhere and yet another scoring title would be on the way.

2012-13 – Carmelo Anthony – 28.66 PPG (New York Knicks)

One of the bright spots for the New York Knicks, or possibly the only one, was the spectacular season by Carmelo Anthony in the 2012-2013 season. Anthony led the NBA in scoring and beat out Kevin Durant (28.1 PPG) to become the best scorer in the league. People forget how dominant and clutch Carmelo Anthony was, as he was simply unguardable in every way. He got to the rim, he posted up, he hit contested jumpers, and he was absolutely a force to be reckoned with when he won his first and only scoring title.

2013-14 – Kevin Durant – 32.01 PPG (Oklahoma City Thunder)

Durant’s 4th scoring title was a special one because he became only the fifth player in NBA history to achieve the feat. Durant joined Allen Iverson, George Gervin, Wilt Chamberlain, and Michael Jordan as the only players to do so. Durant was once again the best offensive player in the NBA and there was no doubt he was the league’s MVP as well. With an average of over 32 PPG, Durant was the man once again and he trails only Wilt (7) and Jordan (10) for the most scoring titles ever.

2014-15 – Russell Westbrook – 28.15 PPG (Oklahoma City Thunder)

Russell Westbrook had to put forth spectacular scoring performances all season long as Kevin Durant sustained an injury that would keep him out for the majority of the season. Durant only played 27 games the entire season, forcing Westbrook to take the most shots per game in the NBA at 22.0 attempts per game. The second-highest shot taker was LaMarcus Aldridge for the Portland Trail Blazers at 19.9 attempts per game. Westbrook was sensational all season, but the Thunder were short-handed and Westbrook had to settle with missing the Playoffs.

2015-16 – Stephen Curry – 30.06 PPG (Golden State Warriors)

Stephen Curry’s unanimous MVP season also resulted in him winning the scoring title. Curry was a phenom for Golden State, as he nailed 5.1 threes a game out of 11.2 attempts. Curry’s shooting percentages of 50.4% from the field, 45.4% from three, and 90.8% from the line just further accentuate how great Curry was that season. Stephen Curry had one of the most spectacular seasons ever, and he could have capped it off with an NBA title if they didn’t blow a 3-1 lead to LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers.

2016-17 – Russell Westbrook – 31.58 PPG (Oklahoma City Thunder)

The 2016-2017 season was a special one for Russell Westbrook because this was the season he was forced to carry a short-handed Oklahoma City Thunder team without Kevin Durant. Durant departed to Golden State to form one of the most unstoppable Superteams in NBA history, and Westbrook had to put on his superhero cape for the Thunder to guide them into the playoffs. Westbrook led the NBA in scoring, while also winning league MVP for averaging a triple-double and single-handedly carrying the Thunder into the postseason.

2017-18 – James Harden – 30.43 PPG (Houston Rockets)

The 2017-2018 season was the year James Harden’s scoring dominance started in the NBA. With both Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook winning multiple scoring titles, James Harden would complete the Oklahoma City Trifecta by dropping 30.43 PPG in a spectacular season. Harden made the Rockets a title contender, and with Chris Paul by his side under D’Antoni’s offense, Harden was unstoppable. He led the NBA in scoring for the majority of the season and his style of play was both critiqued and admired. Harden could draw fouls every time for easy points or focus on the three-point shot. Harden’s first scoring title was well-deserved, and it wouldn’t be his last.

2018-19 – James Harden – 36.13 PPG (Houston Rockets)

Harden’s second straight scoring title was by far his most impressive. Harden was an entire offensive machine on his own, knocking down every free throw he took and also introducing his patented step-back three-point shot. Harden had a way of getting a bucket every time down the floor, and he would not be denied his second scoring title. Harden officially became one of the five best players in the world, and the Rockets were a contender in the West although they fell short of the Finals once again.

2019-20 James Harden – 34.34 PPG (Houston Rockets)

Once again, Harden put up spectacular scoring numbers for a Houston Rockets squad that made significant changes in the offseason. By swapping Hall of Fame point guard Chris Paul for Harden’s former running mate Russell Westbrook, Houston were once again title contenders as they looked for a deep playoff push. Harden was at the core of it once again, putting up historic scoring numbers and carrying the Rockets all season long. Harden saw plenty of double and triple-teams all season long but still managed to win his third straight scoring title.

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