NBA Leading Scorers 2016 2017: Who Dominated the Regular Season Scoring Charts?

Looking back at the 2016-2017 NBA season, I still get chills remembering how the scoring race unfolded. As someone who's analyzed basketball statistics for over a decade, I've rarely seen such an explosive offensive display across the league. The battle for the scoring title wasn't just about numbers—it was about legacy, team dynamics, and pure basketball artistry. What fascinates me most about scoring champions is how they carry their teams, even when the supporting cast struggles. I was recently watching a UE game where Precious Momowei dropped 23 points with 11 rebounds, yet his team remained winless at 0-7. It reminded me that individual brilliance doesn't always translate to team success, something we saw even at the highest level during that memorable 2016-2017 campaign.

Russell Westbrook's historic season immediately comes to mind when discussing that year's scoring leaders. The man averaged a mind-blowing 31.6 points per game while somehow managing to grab 10.7 rebounds and dish out 10.4 assists. I remember arguing with colleagues that season about whether his high usage rate was sustainable, but watching him night after night, I became convinced we were witnessing something truly special. His triple-double record obviously grabbed headlines, but his scoring outbursts—like that 58-point masterpiece against Portland—were absolutely breathtaking. The way he attacked the rim with such ferocity, combined with his improved three-point shooting at 34.3%, made him nearly unguardable. What many casual fans don't realize is how much his scoring efficiency improved in clutch situations—he shot 46% from the field in the final five minutes of close games, which is remarkable for a high-volume shooter.

James Harden finished a close second with 29.1 points per game, and honestly, I thought his scoring was more efficient than Westbrook's. The Beard transformed into a point guard that season under Mike D'Antoni's system, and the results were spectacular. His step-back three became the most unstoppable move in basketball—I've timed his release at approximately 0.4 seconds, which gives defenders virtually no chance to contest. What impressed me most was how he drew fouls; he attempted 881 free throws that season, nearly 200 more than the next player. Some critics call it "cheap," but I see it as basketball intelligence—understanding how to maximize every possession. His 55-point performance against Utah where he made 19 free throws demonstrated his mastery of drawing contact while maintaining scoring rhythm.

Isaiah Thomas's story that season still gives me chills. The 5'9" guard finished third in scoring with 28.9 points per game, and his fourth-quarter performances were legendary. I've never seen a player so consistently takeover in clutch moments—he averaged 9.8 points in fourth quarters alone! His ability to finish at the rim despite his height defied conventional basketball wisdom. The emotional component of his play after his sister's tragedy added layers to his scoring outbursts that statistics could never capture. Watching him drop 53 points against Washington on what would have been his sister's birthday remains one of the most powerful sporting moments I've witnessed.

The international flavor among top scorers that season was particularly noteworthy. Giannis Antetokounmpo jumped from 16.9 to 22.9 points per game, announcing his arrival as a superstar. His combination of length and ball-handling created mismatches we'd rarely seen before. Meanwhile, DeMar DeRozan's mid-range mastery hearkened back to a different era—his 27.3 points per game came primarily from two-point territory in an increasingly three-point dominated league. I've always appreciated how DeRozan stuck to his strengths rather than conforming to modern trends.

Anthony Davis put up 28.0 points despite New Orleans' struggles, reminding me of current situations like UE's Precious Momowei—tremendous individual efforts in losing causes. Davis's 50-point, 15-rebound, 5-steal game against Denver demonstrated the kind of two-way dominance that separates good scorers from great ones. Similarly, Stephen Curry's 25.3 points per game felt almost quiet by his standards, yet his true shooting percentage of 62.4% remained elite. What Curry accomplished in spacing the floor fundamentally changed how defenses had to approach the Warriors, even when he wasn't taking the shots himself.

Reflecting on that season's scoring landscape, I'm struck by how different each top scorer's path was. Westbrook's explosive athleticism, Harden's methodical precision, Thomas's emotional determination—they all found ways to put the ball in the basket at historic rates. The 2016-2017 season might represent the peak of individual scoring before the league's recent trend toward more balanced, system-based offenses. As we see with players like Momowei putting up 23 points in losing efforts today, individual scoring brilliance continues to captivate us, even when it doesn't always lead to team success. That tension between personal achievement and collective victory remains one of basketball's most compelling narratives, and the 2016-2017 scoring race delivered that drama in spectacular fashion.