We’ve seen some incredible scoring seasons throughout the course of the NBA. Obviously, with the league favoring offenses now more than ever, we’re seeing higher scoring totals on a yearly basis and players averaging more points per game each time.
Even so, the 2008-09 season was one of the greatest scoring seasons in the history of the NBA. If they played at today’s pace and shooting as many three-pointers as they do nowadays, the chances are that it would break all kinds of records.
The 2008-09 season saw some of the most determinant and impactful scorers of the past 20 years (and some of the greatest ever) go toe-to-toe right in their primes for the Scoring title. In the following paragraphs, we’ll let you know everything about them:
10. Brandon Roy – 22.6 PPG
Back in the day, Kobe Bryant said that Brandon Roy was the most difficult player to guard in the league and that his game had no flaws. That’s a helluva compliment coming from such a tough competitor, good defender, and fellow unstoppable scorer.
Brandon Roy was a problem. There just wasn’t a way to stop him on a night-to-night basis because of how versatile he was. He could pull up, drive, create for others, cut, catch-and-shoot, he got it all. Sadly, injuries took a major toll on his promising career.
9. Chris Bosh – 22.7 PPG
I still can’t fathom the fact that Chris Bosh wasn’t a first-ballot Hall of Famer. People tend to forget how cold he was during his days with the Toronto Raptors and how much of an unstoppable force he was on both ends of the backboard.
Long before he took a step back to help the Miami Heat’s Big 3 thrive, Chris Bosh was among the league’s deadliest scorers. He could dominate in the post and play below the rim, or even take you all the way to the perimeter and knock down shots from deep.
8. Carmelo Anthony – 22.8 PPG
It goes without saying that Carmelo Anthony is one of the greatest pure scorers to ever do it. He completely turned around the Denver Nuggets and made them perennial playoff contenders, even though he could never lead them to the NBA Finals.
Prime Carmelo Anthony was a different kind of beast. He didn’t rely on the jump shot as much as he does nowadays and was incredibly athletic and aggressive. Offensively, there wasn’t anything Melo couldn’t do, and his quick first step and signature jab-step always helped him create a lot of separation and get to his spots.
7. Chris Paul – 22.8 PPG
It’s funny that most people don’t think of Chris Paul as a scorer even though he could light people on night in and night out. That just speaks volumes as to how much of a great playmaker and defender he’s been throughout his career.
But, back in the day, Paul could score like the best of them. He was money from mid-range and could finish with both hands thanks to his great handles and ability to operate in tight spaces. He’s also been an efficient three-point shooter for most of his career.
6. Kevin Durant – 25.3 PPG
It didn’t take long before Kevin Durant proved that he was special and that he was going to be a perennial candidate to lead the league in points per game. He wasn’t the proficient three-point shooter he is nowadays but put up a lot of work on his game to become arguably the greatest scorer ever.
Kevin Durant doesn’t have a single flaw in his offensive package. He can put the ball on the floor, lead the break, finish above or below the rim with both hands, and he has the smoothest jump shot you’ll ever see. A guy that tall shouldn’t be able to handle and shoot the ball like that.
5. Danny Granger – 25.8 PPG
Younger fans may not remember him but Danny Granger was a walking bucket when he was in his prime. He was the Indiana Pacers’ go-to-guy and just had a feel for knocking down huge shots in the clutch before disappearing due to multiple injuries.
Granger was a top-notch scorer from all three levels during his prime. Sadly for him, his proneness to get hurt eventually led the Pacers to give a longer leash to Paul George, who eventually took the team as his own and made Granger expendable.
4. Dirk Nowitzki – 25.9 PPG
No one, not even the most optimistic Dallas Mavericks fan ever thought that Dirk Nowitzki was going to turn out to be as great as he was. He revolutionized the way the power forward spot was played and paved the way for the modern big man.
Dirk wasn’t as strong or athletic as other bigs but his smooth shooting stroke made him simply unstoppable. His signature one-legged fadeaway shot was money and unblockable, and he could pull up from downtown like a shooting guard.
3. Kobe Bryant – 26.8 PPG
Kobe Bryant had already won a couple of Scoring titles in his career but he didn’t need to do that much heavy lifting anymore with the Los Angeles Lakers back in contention with a more competitive squad. Still, he averaged the third-most points per game in the league.
Kobe was unconscious with the ball in his hands. You knew that he was going to call for an iso or that he was going to take every shot, yet there wasn’t anything you could do to stop him. That signature turnaround fadeaway will go down as one of the toughest, most beautiful shots in NBA history.
2. LeBron James 28.4 PPG
I’ll never understand how some people say that LeBron James isn’t a true scorer when he’s averaged 27.1 points per game throughout his career. Moreover, we’re talking about a guy who was a top-3 scorer in the league for many years straight.
James has never been much of an efficient shooter, yet he’s never needed it to be one of the most efficient and dominant scorers in the league. He’s always known how to make the most of his unmatched basketball IQ and impressive skills, athleticism, and strength to dominate at will.
1. Dwyane Wade – 30.2 PPG
And even though these other 9 players pictured above had historically great seasons in terms of scoring, none of them even came close to what Dywane Wade reminded everybody that he was one of the best shooting guards in the history of the game.
Prime Wade was so fun to watch because he didn’t even need to take three-pointers to be a 30+ points-per-game scorer. He was stronger, more athletic, and way faster than everybody else in the league, scoring 2,386 points throughout the season.
Next
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