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Who has won the most scoring titles in NBA history?

The scoring title is considered one of the most prestigious awards in the NBA. A lot of elite players have ended their careers without claiming this title. However some managed to win it several times. 

Who has the most scoring titles in the NBA? Legendary Michael Jordan won it for a record 10 times throughout his career. The Bulls legend could have won it even more times, had it not been the absence from the NBA. Jordan is also on the list of players who have the most points scored in the league. 

Michael Jordan always dominated the opponents. In this article we will also have a look at other players who have won the scoring title several times.

Michael Jordan

From 1987 to 1998 Michael Jordan missed winning the title only twice: in 1994 and 1995. It is not a surprising fact, because during this period Michael was not playing in the NBA. As we have already noted above Jordan could have won the title 12 times had it not been his retirement from the NBA.

Jordan is widely considered as the greatest basketball player of all time. This is something that even experts agree with. Jordan completely revolutionized basketball and if someone mentions the NBA, Jordan is primarily associated with the league. With the Bulls, Jordan won 6 championship titles and he was never beaten in the Finals.

Wilt Chamberlain

Wilt Chamberlain is undoubtedly one of the most dominant players of all time – no questions about that. Chamberlain won the scoring title award 7 times – from 1960 to 1966. Of course the NBA was very different from the one that we know right now, but still this feat is worth mentioning. His confrontation with Bill Russell is one of the most famous basketball rivalries that spectators have ever witnessed. Chamberlain broke several records, including 100 points in a single game and during a regular season he averaged 50 points.

Chamberlain was simply unstoppable in the paint and he scored points without much effort. With his offensive-minded game, Chamberlain became a role model for numerous players and winning the title during the Russell-era was something extraordinary. Yet, Chamberlain managed to achieve that.

Even in the playoffs, Chamberlain was dominant. While he had problems against the Boston Celtics (the team which later broke several records), Chamberlain’s athleticism and prowess cannot be compared with other players. 

Kevin Durant

Kevin Durant is a phenomenal player. Even though he missed a lot of time because of injuries, still the Brooklyn Nets small forward, managed to establish himself as one of the most dominant and elite players nowadays. Durant is a magnificent scorer, who can shoot from any range. He is often considered as a player, who is unguardable. Durant won his first scoring title in 2010, and followed in 2011, 2012 and 2014.

Kevin Durant continues to get better with time. He is in the club of 50/40/90 players. Durant twice became a champion of the NBA in 2017 and 2018 with the Golden State Warriors, but failed to repeat the same feat with the Brooklyn Nets in 2021.

Allen Iverson

Allen Iverson can be called as one of the most influential players of all time. While he was not particularly known for his height, Iverson had impeccable ball-handling skills – something that a lot of players cannot boast of even nowadays. Iverson is one of the few elite players, who have never won a championship title in the NBA. He won scoring titles in 1999, 2001, 2002 and 2005. With his crossovers, effective play and scoring, Iverson also became a role model for numerous players. Regardless of the fact that Allen Iverson has never become an NBA champion, his legacy is untouchable.

While Iverson was a talented and extraordinary player, he had issues with discipline and a lot of coaches noted that. Had it not been his lack and attitude towards basketball, Iverson could have achieved even more success during his career.

George Gervin

George Gervin is not mentioned as frequently as his counterparts. Being a member of the NBA Hall of Fame, Gervin also won the scoring title 4 times, and while he had seasons when he averaged 14 points, he also had ones when Gervin scored more than 30 points. Perhaps one of the most impressive things regarding his career is the fact that Gervin retired from the NBA with a 51.1% field goal percentage – something that even centers find it difficult to achieve.

Gervin spent the majority of his playing career with the San Antonio Spurs and is considered a legend of the franchise. The 9-time NBA all-star retired in 1990 and averaged 25.1 points.

Can Anyone Catch Jordan?

At the present moment there is no player who can overcome Jordan. In fact, in modern basketball such a milestone seems unlikely. While James Harden, Steph Curry, Kevin Durant, Luka Doncic are considered as elite players, who can score a lot of points, catching Jordan seems extraordinary. Even LeBron James, who is the closest to become an all-time leader in the most points scored, has only won the title only once.

From active players James Harden and Kevin Durant seem to be the closest ones to catch Michael Jordan. However they are already over 30 and keeping the same shape would be difficult, considering that new talents are emerging. Luka Doncic can be one of the main contenders to challenge Jordan – or at least come closer to him.