Michael Jordan is the greatest scorer of all time, make no mistake about it. The shooting guard captured an impressive 10 scoring titles, ahead of Wilt Chamberlain (7 scoring titles), Kevin Durant (4 scoring titles), Allen Iverson (4 scoring titles), and George Gervin (4 scoring titles). Not to mention, Jordan ranks 1st all-time in career PPG average with 30.1 PPG ahead of Wilt Chamberlain. But his impact came beyond simply numbers and accolades because he also terrorized defenses with the utmost skill in terms of getting the ball in the basket.
Michael’s intangibles were simply on another level because he always has the right move at the right time. Especially in his younger days, Jordan had the athleticism to blow past any defender and create any shot he wanted. As he aged, he was more controlled and picked his spots at the expense of the opposition. We saw Michael take over games countless times with his scoring ability, and he never seemed to let up, regardless of the opposition. We have seen guys like Kobe Bryant and Kevin Durant come very close, but there will never be a scorer like MJ.
In honor of Jordan and his scoring prowess, it is time to rank his greatest scoring seasons by numbers. Interestingly, all of these seasons came when Michael won the scoring title. His dominance across the league for as long as he played is second to none, and it is time to go back in time to revisit his elite scoring resume.
10. 1997-98 NBA Season
Season Statistics: 28.7 PPG, 46.5% FG, 23.8% 3-PT FG, 78.4% FT, 38.8 MPG
Jordan won his 10th scoring title in the 1997-98 season, placing the GOAT by himself above every other scorer that had dominated the game before him (and after him). Michael was unbelievable in the regular season, leading the league in scoring en route to his 6th championship. His efficiency was not at its peak, as he shot under 48% and also fell under 80% from the free throw line for the only time in his career as a member of the Chicago Bulls and the second time overall (the second came with the Washington Wizards in 2002).
It is only fitting that his last scoring title came with his last NBA title because the GOAT had to end his dominance in the best way possible. There was no doubt that Jordan’s 1998 season was impressive, but it was not quite the best scoring season that Mike ever had. Nonetheless, it can be argued that the 1998 season was the most significant in Jordan’s career because he completed his second straight 3-peat.
9. 1996-97 NBA Season
Season Statistics: 29.6 PPG, 48.6% FG, 37.4% 3-PT FG, 83.3% FT, 37.9 MPG
The 1996-97 season marked the 9th scoring title by the Chicago Bulls superstar, an extraordinary feat by an extraordinary player. Michael won his second straight NBA title along with his second straight scoring title, once again confirming his status as the greatest player on the planet. During the year, Michael’s efficiency was very solid because he shot over 48% from the field, 37% from three, and over 80% from the stripe.
It is also important to note that this was Michael Jordan’s first season, where he averaged under 30 PPG since his third NBA season. Of course, there was the 1995 season where Michael averaged 26.9 PPG, but he only competed in 17 games. It didn’t matter because Michael won the championship at the end of the year and had other offensive threats beside him during the year, including Scottie Pippen, Toni Kukoc, and Steve Kerr.
8. 1991-92 NBA Season
Season Statistics: 30.1 PPG, 51.9% FG, 27.0% 3-PT FG, 83.2% FT, 38.8 MPG
A second NBA championship and a sixth-straight scoring title sound perfect alongside each other, something The GOAT achieved in the 1991-92 season. Michael Jordan averaged over 30 PPG once again, nailing 51.9% of his shots from the field and over 83% from the free-throw line. It is becoming hard to describe how great Michael was because he would not stop there.
The season would include the infamous “Shrug” by Jordan, where he dropped 35 points and 6 three-pointers in Game 1 of the NBA Finals against his rival Clyde Drexler and the Portland Trail Blazers. But Michael was certainly fantastic during the regular season because averaging 30.1 PPG on 51.9% from the field is almost unheard of in today’s game from perimeter guards.
7. 1995-96 NBA Season
Season Statistics: 30.4 PPG, 49.5% FG, 42.7% 3-PT FG, 83.4% FT, 37.7 MPG
Michael Jordan won scoring title number 8 by carrying the Chicago Bulls to the best record in the NBA and the second-highest winning record in NBA history at 72-10. The Bulls legend would also go on to win his 4th NBA championship and 4th Finals MVP, kickstarting another dynasty of dominance. During the year, Jordan posted 30.4 PPG on 49.5% from the field and 42.7% from three.
Michael was so incredibly efficient during the year and also the best player on the best team, the reason why he captured the regular-season MVP award. The shooting guard would also win the All-Star Game MVP award, capping off an all-time great regular season. Michael’s scoring and shooting numbers were clearly off the charts, and he was worthy of leading a 72-10 team all the way to the Finals at the end of the year.
6. 1990-91 NBA Season
Season Statistics: 31.5 PPG, 53.9% FG, 31.2% 3-PT FG, 85.1% FT, 37.0 MPG
Michael Jordan won his first NBA title in the 1990-91 season, led the NBA in scoring and win shares, and catapulted himself to all-time great legendary status by the end of the year. That makes for an incredibly successful season, one that Jordan himself might admit was his greatest ever. Winning the first championship is always the hardest, and the GOAT would not be denied tasting glory in any fashion.
Scoring 31.5 PPG on 53.9% shooting from the field and 85.1% from the free-throw line is extraordinary from a score-first player, but Jordan made it look effortless as soon as he had Scottie Pippen at an All-Star level beside him. Michael simply ran through the league, and once he finally defeated the Detroit Pistons, he reached the Finals and flew over the hump once and for all.
5. 1988-89 NBA Season
Season Statistics: 32.5 PPG, 53.8% FG, 27.6% 3-PT FG, 85.0% FT, 40.2 MPG
As expected, Michael Jordan won the scoring title by averaging 32.5 PPG on 53.8% shooting and leading the league in win shares. The shooting guard was simply unstoppable in all facets of the game, even if his team was not having any postseason success. Michael was getting his feet wet as possibly the greatest talent we had ever seen because he was nowhere near finished and nowhere near started.
Michael had to embrace a new role during the year by playing point guard at multiple stages of the season, a reason why he came close to averaging a triple-double at the end of the year. Michael did run into the Detroit Pistons in the playoffs, a reason why he faltered and could not reach immortality just yet. But Jordan had an iconic season by leading the league in scoring yet again while literally carrying the Chicago Bulls under head coach Doug Collins.
4. 1992-93 NBA Season
Season Statistics: 32.6 PPG, 49.5% FG, 35.2% 3-PT FG, 83.7% FT, 39.3 MPG
Jordan’s 7th straight scoring title came in spectacular fashion, as the Chicago Bulls would complete the 3-peat after defeating Charles Barkley and the Suns in the NBA Finals at the end of the year. The shooting guard was spectacular all season, averaging 32.6 PPG on 49.5% shooting. The GOAT simply scored the ball better than anyone else, and there was truly no comparison to him from anyone else.
It was amazing how many times Jordan averaged over 30 PPG over his career because he made it look effortless. The shooting guard did complete a perfect season by capping off the season with a championship and Finals MVP at the expense of Charles Barkley and the Phoenix Suns. The Chicago Bulls superstar was at his usual efficient best, averaging close to 50% from the field and over 35% from three in an era where deep-range shooting was not prioritized or actually encouraged.
3. 1989-90 NBA Season
Season Statistics: 33.6 PPG, 52.6% FG, 37.6% 3-PT FG, 84.8% FT, 39.0 MPG
Once again, Michael Jordan led the NBA in scoring by averaging well over 30 PPG. There is truly no comparison to him because he made it look so effortless yet again. Playing 39.0 MPG, shooting 52.6% from the field, and averaging 33.6 PPG was a sight to behold from a player who was finally getting some help from an up-and-coming Scottie Pippen. Not to mention, Phil Jackson was the head coach at the start of the year.
It was amazing how effortlessly Michael scored the ball. It was not even that Jordan was trying to be efficient, he just knew how to get buckets whenever he wanted for the Chicago Bulls. Head coach Phil Jackson knew how to continue to get the best out of Jordan during the regular season, and even if the Bulls would see their season ended at the expense of the Pistons in the playoffs, it was a terrific season for the superstar shooting guard.
2. 1987-88 NBA Season
Season Statistics: 35.0 PPG, 53.5% FG, 13.2% 3-PT FG, 84.1% FT, 40.4 MPG
A year after winning his first scoring title, Michael Jordan led the NBA in scoring at 35.0 PPG while also winning the Defensive Player of the Year award and his first Most Valuable Player award. It will be hard to see any player accomplish a similar feat because Jordan’s desire to dominate all areas of the game was almost scary to watch.
It is also important to note that the 1988 season was the one in which Michael also won his second Slam Dunk Contest in an all-time great duel against “The Human Highlight Film” Dominique Wilkins. Michael also got out of the first round of the playoffs but ran into the Detroit Pistons. Nonetheless, scoring 35.0 PPG on 53.5% shooting from the field while also winning the Defensive Player of the Year award could possibly signal the best season in NBA history by any player.
1. 1986-87 NBA Season
Season Statistics: 37.1 PPG, 48.2% FG, 18.2% 3-PT FG, 85.7% FT, 40.0 MPG
The 1986-87 season saw Jordan not only take his game from bonafide All-Star level to untouchable superstar level, but a 37.1 PPG scoring average was also witnessed. Jordan shot 48.2% from the field while dropping over 37 PPG, something we might never see again. In only his 3rd season, Michael became the most unstoppable scorer in the league, and he would just be getting started with the accolades. In fact, Jordan’s 37.1 PPG is ranked 5th all-time behind 4 scoring seasons from Wilt Chamberlain.
Michael would have preferred to not shoot as much as he did during the year, but he had a weak squad around him. The shooting guard was forced to average a career-high 27.8 field goal attempts, all while attempting less than 1 three-pointer per game on average. Thanks to Jordan’s offense, the Chicago Bulls barely finished under .500 with a 40-42 record. Michael did lead the Bulls to the playoffs in a 0-3 sweep to the Boston Celtics. But Jordan’s scoring in the regular season was unprecedented from a guard, as he had two 61-point games, six 50+ point games, and only seven games scoring under 25 points. Jordan is simply the greatest scorer of all time, and it isn’t close.