Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan was the exception to the rule when it comes to winning a scoring title followed by an NBA championship in the same season. For Kevin Durant, Amar’e Stoudemire, Kobe Bryant, and a select few others this is not good news, as those guys are challenging each other for the scoring title so far this year. Keep this in mind as NBA experts and fans debate over who might lead the NBA in scoring this season and how it might enhance their team’s chances of making a playoff push.

Jordan, you might recall, led the NBA in scoring ten times and in six of those seasons he led the Bulls to a title.

The last player to accomplish both titles in the same year was former Lakers center Shaquille O’Neal in 1999-00. Since then we’ve seen Allen Iverson, Tracy McGrady, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Kevin Durant win the regular season PPG title but come home early when it mattered most.

Sorry, fellas.

I don’t want to negate the value of a scoring title - leading the league in points or PPG is obviously a fantastic achievement in an athlete’s career and is certainly something to hang your hat on when it’s time to sit back and reminisce.

However, it guarantees absolutely nothing when it comes to bringing home the important hardware. Not just that, it seems that it only decreases your odds of owning a fistful of rings.

Want to know how rare this feat is? Check out the table below, compiled using information from Basketball-Reference.com, illustrating the five players in NBA history that have won scoring championships (PPG) and a title in the same season.

PLAYER TEAM YEAR RECORD PPG

JOE FULKS PHILADELPHIA WARRIORS     46-47  35-25 23.2 

GEORGE MIKAN MINNEAPOLIS LAKERS 48-49 44-16 28.3

MINNEAPOLIS LAKERS 49-50 51-17 27.4

KAREEM ABDUL-JABBAR     MILWAUKEE BUCKS 70-71 66-16 31.7

MICHAEL JORDAN CHICAGO BULLS 90-91 61-21 31.5

CHICAGO BULLS 91-92 67-15 30.1

CHICAGO BULLS 92-93 57-25 32.6

CHICAGO BULLS 95-96 72-10 30.4

CHICAGO BULLS 96-97 69-13 29.6

CHICAGO BULLS 97-98 62-20 28.7

SHAQUILLE O’NEAL LOS ANGELES LAKERS 99-00 67-15 29.7

That’s an awfully small group up there, led by Mr. Jordan, of course.

What’s also surprising is how many times a player won the MVP award and scoring title in the same season - it’s occurred just nine times in history.

Even more staggering is the list of greats who NEVER won a scoring title yet were named MVP - that list includes Larry Bird, Bill Russell, Magic Johnson, Steve Nash, Tim Duncan, Julius Erving, Bob Cousy and a few others.

Notice something about those players, by the way? There are not enough fingers and toes to fit their championship rings on.

Think about all the greats who have won scoring titles and yet never brought home the Larry O’Brien Trophy - Allen Iverson, Dominique Wilkins, Pete Maravich and George Gervin come to mind.

Not only that, NBA legends Wilt Chamberlain, Rick Barry, David Robinson, Jerry West, Tiny Archibald, Bob McAdoo, and Bob Pettit all earned titles in seasons that they didn’t lead the league in scoring, some as role players later in their careers.

Even Kobe Bryant hasn’t achieved this rare accomplishment.

Shocking, I know.

It’s no secret as to why this trend exists, either. Championship caliber squads typically have two or three bona-fide scoring threats on their roster and in the playoffs this comes in handy as opposing teams can easily prepare their squads for a number one threat.  It doesn’t mean they will stop them completely but a more balanced scoring effort usually equals success over a high-scoring juggernaut.

Again, unless you’re Michael Jordan.

So for everyone out there rooting for teams led by Kevin Durant and Amar’e Stoudemire, among others, please keep in mind if your squad harbors a scoring champion this season your odds have decreased of bringing home the NBA championship.

It’s not an exact scientific fact though, so don’t give up hope.

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