Winning a championship and MVP honors are the achievements that make an NBA player great. However, the G.O.A.T debate cannot be settled through the championship count, as Bill Russell would be the greatest ever to play the game with his 11 rings. At the same time, the awards don’t decide the individual greatness of a player in a particular season.
The NBA will enter its 79th season in October 2024, and several players have dominated the league with their performance in a particular season. Let’s discuss the greatest individual performances in a season in NBA history.
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Stephen Curry (2015-16)
The Golden State Warriors registered the best regular-season record in NBA history in the 2015-16 season. However, despite a 73-9 record that season, they failed to win the championship. In the 2016 NBA Finals, then-defending champions Warriors lose to LeBron James’ Cleveland Cavaliers. The Dubs won their first NBA championship in 40 years last season.
Despite their Finals loss against the Cavaliers, Curry retained his MVP honor for a sensational season. The Golden State Warriors guard was exceptional in the 2015-16 season. He scored 402 three-pointers, surpassing the previous NBA record of 286, and averaged 45.4% from the threes.
Chef Curry averaged 30.1 points in 79 games, becoming the only NBA player to record a 50-40-90 FG season with that scoring average. Curry registered 6.7 assists, 5.4 rebounds, and 2.1 steals per game. He was the scoring and steals leader in that season.
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LeBron James (2012-13)
Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James’ most efficient season was in 2012-13 when he played for the Miami Heat. While he powered the Heat to their second consecutive NBA championship, he also won his fourth NBA MVP award that season. The 20-time All-Star recorded 56.5% FG in the 2012-13 season, his second-best field goals shooting percentage.
LeBron averaged 26.8 points, 8 rebounds, 7.3 assists, and 1.7 steals in the 2012-13 season. His clutch performance in the final two games against the San Antonio Spurs helped the Heat win the Finals 4-3.
In the first three games, LeBron averaged 16.7 points against the Spurs as Miami went 2-1 down. However, in the series’ last four games, King James averaged almost 30 points per game. The former Miami Heat forward’s sensational finals performance bagged him his second NBA Finals MVP honor.
Kobe Bryant (2005-06)
Late NBA legend Kobe Bryant played 20 seasons in the NBA with the Los Angeles Lakers and his 2005-06 season is considered his standout season. While the Lakers failed to win the championship after the Phoenix Suns eliminated them in the first round, Kobe stood behind Steve Nash (winner), LeBron James, and Dirk Nowitzki in the 2006 MVP race.
The Lakers legend won his first scoring champion honor in the 2005-06 season, recording a career-high 35.4 points per game, the highest since Michael Jordan’s 1986-87 season. He had multiple 50-point games that season, including the second-highest scoring performance in NBA history with 81 points against the Toronto Raptors.
On December 20, 2005, Kobe scored 62 points against the Dallas Mavericks in three quarters, outsourcing the entire Mavericks (62-61) at that point. The Mavericks registered 60 wins that season and lost the NBA Finals against the Miami Heat.
Also Read: Is Kobe Bryant The Greatest Laker Ever? Ranking The Greatest Lakers Stars Of All-Time
Shaquille O’Neal 1999-2000
Talking about the greatest individual season, Shaquille O’Neal, one of the most dominant NBA players of all time, will undoubtedly make the list. The Lakers legend won four NBA championships, three with the Los Angeles Lakers and the Miami Heat in 2006. He won his first ring in 2000 and paved the way for the Lakers’ championship three-peat alongside Kobe Bryant.
In the 1999-2000 season, O’Neal was a beast on the court, leading the team in scoring, rebounds, and blocks. With a team-high 57.4% shooting from the field, Shaq had the most FG attempts in the regular season. That season, the Diesel averaged 29.7 points (career-high), 13.6 rebounds, and 3.8 assists (career-high) in 79 games.
Shaq won several awards in the 1999-2000 season, including the scoring champion, MVP, Finals MVP, and All-Star Game MVP. The three-time Finals MVP from 2000 to 2002 continued his spectacular performance in the next two seasons to help the Lakers complete a three-peat of NBA championships, which led many to claim that he was one of the most dominant players in history.
Michael Jordan 1987-88
NBA legend Michael Jordan was known for his scoring prowess and clutch performances. In his 15-season career, MJ’s 1987-88 season is widely regarded as his best individual season. That year, he was the Scoring Champion, Defensive Player of the Year, Steals leader, and Slam Dunt Contest winner.
Despite recording his career-best 37.1 points per game in the 1986-87 season, Jordan fell behind Lakers legend Magic Johnson in the MVP award race. The six-time NBA champion recorded his second-best scoring season, averaging 35 points per game, to win his first MVP honor in 1988.
In the 1987-88 season, the Chicago Bulls legend averaged 35 points on 53.5% shooting from the field. He also registered 5.5 rebounds, 5.9 assists, 3.2 steals, and 1.6 blocks per game. In 1988, Jordan also won his first NBA All-Star Game MVP award.
Wilt Chamberlain (1961-62)
The Philadelphia Warriors selected NBA Hall of Famer Wilt Chamberlain as the territorial pick in the 1959 Draft. The franchise was relocated to San Francisco in 1962 and renamed the San Francisco Warriors. With his rookie contract, Chamberlain became the highest earner in the NBA.
In his third NBA season, Chamberlain, who recorded over 37 points per game in his first two seasons, exploded in the 1961-62 season. Wilt averaged an NBA record of 50.4 points per game and a playing time average of 48.5 minutes. He also led the league in rebounding that season.
In the 1961-62 season, Wilt Chamberlain averaged 50.4 points on 50.6 shooting from the field, 25.7 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game. Despite his dominant performance, Chamberlain couldn’t win the NBA championship and MVP honors as the Warriors were eliminated in the Conference Finals against Bill Russell’s Boston Celtics.
Other notable mentions include Hakeem Olajuwon’s 1993-94 season with the Houston Rockets. Olajuwon averaged 27.3 points, 11.9 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.6 steals, and 3.7 blocks per game that season. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, and Oscar Robertson are the other players who have had sensational individual seasons.
Also Read: From Luka Doncic To Joel Embiid: Top 5 Active NBA Players With Most Points Scored In A Game
