5 NBA players with the most points per game in a season since 2000 

James Harden has won the scoring title twice so far
James Harden has won the scoring title twice so far

#2 Kobe Bryant - 35.4 ppg (2005-06)

This was the last season Kobe Bryant wore the number 8 jersey
This was the last season Kobe Bryant wore the number 8 jersey

Widely considered as the second greatest shooting guard of all time, Kobe Bryant was a man on a mission during the 2005-06 campaign. The guard averaged 35.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 4.5 assists while shooting nearly 35% from beyond the arc and 45% from the field.

Kobe averaged a whopping 41 minutes per game during this campaign and was a one-man wrecking crew for the Los Angeles Lakers. Coach Phil Jackson was rehired after a year of absence and could only lead the team to a first-round playoff appearance. The franchise finished seventh in the Western Conference with a 45-37 record.

This remarkable campaign saw Kobe Bryant drop 81 points against the Toronto Raptors and was one of the most iconic performances of all time.


#1 James Harden - 36.1 ppg (2018-19)

James Harden finished second in the MVP race during the 2018-19 campaign
James Harden finished second in the MVP race during the 2018-19 campaign

Heading into this season as the reigning MVP, James Harden took his scoring charts to a whole another level this campaign. He was averaging 36.1 points, 7.5 assists, and 6.6 rebounds while shooting nearly 37% from the perimeter.

Harden's ability in one-on-one situations and to get to the free-throw line is unparalleled and is one of the reasons why he scored so much during that season. The entire Houston Rockets offensive was channeled through Harden and under Mike D'Antoni's system, it brought the best out of him.

However, the season ended in disappointment for the Rockets as they lost in the Western Conference Semifinals to the Golden State Warriors in six games. The franchise had the fourth-best record in the Western Conference which read 53-29.

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