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Winning the NBA scoring title and championship in the same season is an incredibly difficult thing to do. LeBron James, a notable name in the GOAT debate, has never achieved this feat in his 18-year stint.
In league history, only five players have won the NBA scoring title and the championship in the same season. Shaquille O'Neal is the most recent such player, following his 29.7 points per game in the 1999-00 season. He was unstoppable that year, winning the scoring title, regular-season MVP and NBA championship, and was also awarded the Finals MVP.
Meanwhile, Michael Jordan has achieved both accolades a record six times. He has also won the most scoring titles, his first seven coming in consecutive seasons between 1987 and 1993.
While no active player has achieved this feat, there is a high probability it might soon happen. That's primarily due to the rise of superteams and NBA rules favoring offensive players.
On that note, here are the top five NBA players who stand the best chance of winning the scoring title and the championship in the same season.
#5 Jayson Tatum
The Boston Celtics selected Jayson Tatum in the 2017 NBA draft, and he has since then proved to be the right choice. As things stand, he is their best chance of winning their long-awaited 18th championship.
Since Tatum's arrival, the Boston Celtics have not missed the NBA playoffs. The Celtics were close to missing out on the playoffs in the 2020-21 season. But Tatum's impressive 50-point game guaranteed them a spot in the postseason through the play-in tournament. However, they were eliminated in the first round by the Brooklyn Nets.
Expecting Tatum to single-handedly carry the Celtics to a championship in the 2021-22 NBA season is a monumental ask. Although the franchise made some big moves in the offseason, their lineup is still not formidable enough to take on multiple superteams in the league.
However, the Cs stand a great chance in the coming years, as the 22-year-old is likely to develop into an elite scorer, perhaps as effective as Kevin Durant. He ended the 2020-21 NBA season ranked 12th in the scoring leaderboard; Tatum averaged 26.4 points and shot 45.9% from the field.
It's only a matter of time before Tatum leads the league in scoring, as he has continued to improve year after year, and has age on his side.
#4 Luka Doncic
Luka Doncic is an absolute terror in offense, and is well on his way to taking over the NBA. Pundits believe he will could the face of the NBA after LeBron James' retirement. Despite spending only three seasons in the league, he has asserted his dominance early on, and found his way to the cover of NBA 2k22.
Winning a championship might not be in the books for Doncic, as the Dallas Mavericks are yet to surround him with the right supporting cast. However, his attempt to secure the NBA scoring title could start as early as the 2021-22 season.
Doncic could blossom into an elite talent who will take the league by storm. In the 2021 NBA playoffs, he led the scoring with 35.7 points, despite his team's first-round exit. He has shown that he can perform at the highest level; all he needs is a solid support system.
The 21-year-old Doncic finished sixth in the 2020-21 scoring leaderboard averaging 27.7 points. Although it was a dip compared to his 2019-20 numbers, his 2021 playoff run showed he can stuff the stat sheet.
Also Read: What is Luka’s Net Worth in 2021?
#3 James Harden
James Harden has led the NBA in scoring for three consecutive seasons, from 2018-2020. He has shown how effective he can be during the regular season, something that could continue in 2021-22 as well.
However, Harden has woefully failed in his attempts to clinch a playoff title. He has come under heavy fire for his inefficiencies in the playoffs, as he seems to lose his shooting range every time.
Luckily, he has partnered with two exceptional offensive players who can carry the scoring load in an attempt to clinch an NBA title. He joined the Brooklyn Nets midway through the 2020-21 season to form a Big 3 with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving.
The Nets were the favorites to win the 2021 NBA Finals, but injuries to key players put paid to their title hopes. In their semi-finals bout, they lost Irving and Harden, leaving all the scoring to Durant. While the Bucks are to be credited for their defensive superiority and effectiveness, one can't help wonder what might have been if the Nets had a healthy roster.
The Brooklyn Nets are one of the contenders for the 2022 title, as they continue to restructure in a bid to address their biggest weakness - defense. The NBA community is expecting a Nets-LA Lakers showdown in the finals. It remains to be seen if that happens.
#2 Stephen Curry
Stephen Curry is the current NBA scoring champion after overtaking Bradley Beal with an unreal shooting exhibition in April 2021. He ended the season averaging 32 points to secure his second career scoring championship.
Meanwhile, the basketball gods have been unkind to Curry and the Golden State Warriors, as injuries have plagued the team since 2019. Both Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson got injured in the 2019 NBA Finals against the Toronto Raptors. Since then, the Warriors have not made the playoffs.
The Golden State Warriors have made some significant under-the-radar signings in the 2021 offseason to bolster their roster. Thompson's hopeful return by December, at the latest, after two seasons on the sidelines, could also be a major boost to their championship hopes in the 2021-22 NBA season.
#1 Kevin Durant
Kevin Durant won it all in the early stages of his career, and his comeback after an Achilles injury in the 2019 NBA Finals has been impressive. Although he missed the entire 2019-20 season and over half of the 2020-21 campaign, he looked up to speed, dropping a record-breaking performance in the playoffs.
Despite playing only 35 games last season, he was the Nets' leading scorer with 26.9 points per game. With Durant healthy, the Nets have a great chance of going all the way in the 2022 NBA playoffs.
Durant has led the league in scoring four times, and has won two championships. With so many scoring options in the Nets team, he will have fewer bodies on him, and could take advantage of isolation plays.
Given how explosive he was in the playoffs and the Tokyo Olympics 2020, he stands a good chance of being the scoring leader for the first time since 2014. Durant staying healthy could be key for the Nets winning the 2021-22 NBA championship.
Guess the Lakers players!
