In basketball, points are accumulated through free throws or field goals.^[1] The National Basketball League's (NBL) scoring title is awarded to the player with the highest points per game average in a given season. The scoring title was originally determined by total points scored through the 1996 season, after which points per game was used to determine the leader instead.^[2] Players who earned scoring titles before the 1984 season did not record any three-point field goals because the three-point line had just been implemented in the NBL at the start of that season.^[3]

Andrew Gaze has won the most scoring titles, with 14.^[2] He also holds the all-time records for total points scored (1,007; 1991)^[4] and points per game (44.1; 1987)^[5] in a season. Between 1986 and 2001, Gaze was the leader in either total points or points per game every season. While he led the NBL in points per game in 1987 (44.1) and 1990 (37.6), he was not the leader in total points scored. His 882 total points in 1987 were third best behind Paul Stanley (920) and James Crawford (903),^[6] while his 828 points in 1990 were also third best behind Derek Rucker (865) and Wayne McDaniel (848).^[7]

Key

Scoring leaders

Season Player Pos Nationality Team Games played Total points Ref 1979 Cal Bruton G  United States Brisbane Bullets 18 597 [2] 1980 † Rocky Smith G  United States St. Kilda Saints 22 737 [2] 1981 † Mike Jones F/C  United States Illawarra Hawks 22 671 [2] 1982 Reg Biddings F  United States Adelaide City Eagles 26 782 [2] 1983 Mike Jones (2) F/C  United States Illawarra Hawks 22 719 [2][8][9] 1984 Al Green G  United States West Adelaide Bearcats 21 829 [2] 1985 Kendal Pinder F/C  Bahamas Sydney Supersonics 26 871 [2] 1986 Andrew Gaze G  Australia Melbourne Tigers 25 922 [2] 1987 Paul Stanley[a] F  United States Hobart Devils 26 920 [2] 1988 Andrew Gaze (2) G  Australia Melbourne Tigers 24 886 [2] 1989 Andrew Gaze (3) G  Australia Melbourne Tigers 24 831 [2] 1990 † Derek Rucker[b] G  United States Brisbane Bullets 25 865 [2] 1991 † Andrew Gaze (4) G  Australia Melbourne Tigers 26 1,007 [2] 1992 † Andrew Gaze (5) G  Australia Melbourne Tigers 23 811 [2] 1993 Andrew Gaze (6) G  Australia Melbourne Tigers 26 858 [2] 1994 † Andrew Gaze (7) G  Australia Melbourne Tigers 26 890 [2] 1995 † Andrew Gaze (8) G  Australia Melbourne Tigers 26 900 [2] 1996 † Andrew Gaze (9) G  Australia Melbourne Tigers 26 843 [2] Season Player Pos Nationality Team Games played Points per game Ref 1997 † Andrew Gaze (10) G  Australia Melbourne Tigers 30 31.5 [2] 1998 † Andrew Gaze (11) G  Australia Melbourne Tigers 30 31.8 [2] 1998–99 Andrew Gaze (12) G  Australia Melbourne Tigers 17 33.5 [2] 1999–00 Andrew Gaze (13) G  Australia Melbourne Tigers 28 28.9 [2] 2000–01 Andrew Gaze (14) G  Australia Melbourne Tigers 27 29.1 [2] 2001–02 Randy Rutherford G  United States Brisbane Bullets 30 25.0 [2][10] 2002–03 John Rillie G  Australia West Sydney Razorbacks 16 23.6 [2][11] 2003–04 † Matthew Nielsen F  Australia Sydney Kings 33 23.5 [2] 2004–05 † Brian Wethers G/F  United States Hunter Pirates 32 24.3 [12] 2005–06 Cortez Groves G  United States Wollongong Hawks 32 24.1 [2] 2006–07 Carlos Powell F  United States New Zealand Breakers 33 28.2 [13] 2007–08 Ebi Ere G/F  Nigeria Brisbane Bullets 29 27.1 [14] 2008–09 † Kirk Penney G/F  New Zealand New Zealand Breakers 28 24.2 [15][16][17] 2009–10 Kirk Penney (2) G/F  New Zealand New Zealand Breakers 19 23.2 [18][19] 2010–11 Kirk Penney (3)[c] G/F  New Zealand New Zealand Breakers 23 20.1 [24] 2011–12 † Kevin Lisch G  United States Perth Wildcats 28 17.6 [25] 2012–13 Ben Madgen G/F  Australia Sydney Kings 28 17.9 [26][27] 2013–14 Chris Goulding G  Australia Melbourne Tigers 27 23.0 [28] 2014–15 Josh Childress F  United States Sydney Kings 18 21.1 [29] 2015–16 Jerome Randle G  United States Adelaide 36ers 23 23.0 [30] 2016–17 Bryce Cotton[d] G  United States Perth Wildcats 11 22.1 [31] 2017–18 Jerome Randle (2)[e] G  United States Sydney Kings 19 19.8 [32] 2018–19 Bryce Cotton (2)[f] G  United States Perth Wildcats 25 22.5 [34] 2019–20 † Bryce Cotton (3) G  United States Perth Wildcats 27 22.6 [35] 2020–21 † Bryce Cotton (4)[g] G  United States Perth Wildcats 32 23.5 [37][38] 2021–22 Bryce Cotton (5) G  United States Perth Wildcats 28 22.7 [39] 2022–23 Bryce Cotton (6) G  United States Perth Wildcats 28 23.5 [40][41] Multiple-time leaders[edit] Ranking Player Team Times leader Years 1 Andrew Gaze Melbourne Tigers 14 1986, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 2 Bryce Cotton Perth Wildcats 6 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 3 Kirk Penney New Zealand Breakers 3 2009, 2010, 2011 4 Mike Jones Illawarra Hawks 2 1981, 1983 Jerome Randle Adelaide 36ers (1) / Sydney Kings (1) 2016, 2018 Notes[edit] ^ In the 1987 season, Andrew Gaze had the highest scoring average (44.1) but was third in total points (882). ^ In the 1990 season, Andrew Gaze had the highest scoring average (37.6) but was third in total points (828). ^ In the 2010–11 season, both Kirk Penney and Gary Ervin averaged 20.1 points per game during the regular season when rounded to one decimal place.[20][21] When rounded to two decimal places, Penney averaged 20.13 ppg (463 points / 23 games)[22] while Ervin averaged 20.07 ppg (542 points / 27 games).[23] ^ In the 2016–17 season, both Bryce Cotton and Casper Ware averaged 22.1 points per game during the regular season when rounded to one decimal place. When rounded to three decimal places, Cotton averaged 22.090 ppg while Ware averaged 22.055.[31] ^ In the 2017–18 season, Bryce Cotton had the highest point total (544) but was third in scoring average (19.4).[32] ^ In the 2018–19 season, both Bryce Cotton and Melo Trimble averaged 22.5 points per game during the regular season when rounded to one decimal place.[33] When rounded to two decimal places, Cotton averaged 22.52 ppg (563 points / 25 games) while Trimble averaged 22.50 ppg (630 points / 28 games). ^ In the 2020–21 season, Nathan Sobey had the highest point total (758) but was second in scoring average (21.1).[36] References[edit] ^ "Basketball glossary". FIBA.com. Archived from the original on 16 May 2010. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac "All Time Leaders". NBL.com.au. Archived from the original on 23 September 2017. ^ "NBL All-Time Statistics". aussiehoopla.com. Retrieved 12 December 2019. ^ "Andrew Gaze". musictheatreaustralia.com.au. Archived from the original on 18 August 2010. Back home in Australia in 1991 he became the first NBL player to shoot over 1,000 points in a season. ^ "History". NBL.com.au. Retrieved 1 November 2019. Gaze is the NBL's all-time leading scorer with 18,908 total points, and he led the league in scoring a record 14 times, including a League record 44.1 points per game in 1987. ^ "Compeitition Statistics for NBL 1987". SportsTG.com. Archived from the original on 1 November 2019. ^ "Compeitition Statistics for NBL 1990". SportsTG.com. Archived from the original on 11 December 2019. ^ "Player statistics for Michael Jones – 1983". SportsTG.com. Archived from the original on 19 November 2019. ^ "#FlashbackFriday to the first Illawarra Hawks NBL MVP Mike Jones!". facebook.com/TheNBL. 25 March 2016. Archived from the original on 19 November 2019. He also led the League in scoring in his final year at 32.7 ppg in 1983. ^ Nagy, Boti (12 July 2013). "The Adelaide 36ers' imports all started with Reg 'Sir Reginald' Biddings back in 1982". heraldsun.com. Archived from the original on 4 November 2019. ...with Willie Farley in 2002 scoring 24.9 points per game to finish second by a free throw to Brisbane Bullets' import Randy Rutherford's 25.0 points per night. ^ "Rillie Wins Scoring Title". NBL.com.au. 4 March 2003. Archived from the original on 29 April 2003. ^ "Hunter's Wethers named NBL MVP". smh.com.au. 24 March 2005. Archived from the original on 25 October 2019. Retrieved 18 December 2019. Wethers won the NBL's scoring title, averaging 24.3 points per game... ^ "Powell scoops Breakers awards". tvnz.co.nz. 20 February 2007. Archived from the original on 23 February 2007. The 23-year-old was in scintillating form in his debut season in the ANBL, averaging a league-high 28.2 points per game... ^ "The continuing story of Ebi Ere". NBL.com.au. 2 February 2016. Archived from the original on 3 February 2016. His resume also boasts being the NBL's leading scorer in 2008 (27.1 points per game)... ^ "Penney becomes first NZer to win Aussie basketball league MVP". newshub.co.nz. 9 March 2009. Archived from the original on 11 March 2016. ^ "NZL/AUS - Penney becomes first Kiwi to capture MVP honor in Australian NBL". fiba.basketball. 13 March 2009. Archived from the original on 25 October 2019. ^ "Spurs Add Kirk Penney To Training Camp Roster". NBA.com. 28 September 2010. Archived from the original on 1 October 2010. ^ Hinton, Marc (26 February 2010). "Kirk Penney nets another Breakers MVP award". Stuff.co.nz. Archived from the original on 4 March 2010. ^ "Little guy Randle slaying NBL giants". sbs.com.au. 25 January 2016. Archived from the original on 25 October 2019. ...he will finish ahead of Kirk Penney (23.2 ppg, 2009-10)... ^ "Basketball: Braswell gets an idea of what NZ teams face". odt.co.nz. 5 April 2011. Archived from the original on 25 October 2019. Both averaged 20.1 points per game... ^ "Ervin and Cambage named MVPs". abc.net.au. 5 April 2011. Archived from the original on 25 October 2019. [Ervin] finished equal first in scoring with 20.1 points per game... ^ "Player statistics for Kirk Penney – 2010/11". SportsTG.com. Archived from the original on 25 October 2019. ^ "Player statistics for Gary Ervin – 2010/11". SportsTG.com. Archived from the original on 25 October 2019. ^ "Basketball: Muted celebrations for Breakers". odt.co.nz. 5 April 2011. Archived from the original on 25 October 2019. ^ "Lisch wins NBL top gong". abc.net.au. 27 March 2012. Archived from the original on 25 October 2019. Lisch led the NBL in scoring at 17.6 points per game... ^ Ward, Roy (19 February 2019). "Madgen becomes latest signing for new SE Melbourne Phoenix". smh.com.au. Archived from the original on 20 February 2019. The 34-year-old South Australian represented the Sydney Kings from 2010-2015, leading the NBL in scoring in 2013 and making the All-NBL first team. ^ "NBL leading scorer Ben Madgen joins Melbourne Phoenix". heraldsun.com.au. 19 February 2019. Archived from the original on 25 October 2019. Retrieved 18 December 2019. Now 34, Madgen averaged 17.9 point per game in the 2012-13 NBL when he played for the Sydney Kings. ^ "Goulding claims scoring title". NBL.com.au. 24 March 2014. Archived from the original on 24 March 2014. ^ "Childress remains a King". NBL.com.au. 2 July 2015. Archived from the original on 9 January 2016. The 32-year old led the NBL in points with 21.1 per game... ^ Nagy, Boti (2 March 2019). "Adelaide 36ers fans rejoice as Jerome Randle signs for 2016-17 NBL season". adelaidenow.com.au. Archived from the original on 25 October 2019. Retrieved 18 December 2019. Randle this season made history as the first 36er to lead the NBL in scoring, delivering 23.0 points per game. ^ a b NBLfacts (12 February 2017). "Bryce Cotton is the regular season scoring champ..." Twitter. Archived from the original on 26 February 2017. ^ a b NBL (21 February 2018). "Your #NBL18 League Leaders". Twitter. Archived from the original on 25 October 2019. Retrieved 18 December 2019. ^ "Melo Trimble Heads to Melbourne". NBL.com.au. 26 April 2019. Retrieved 26 April 2019. Playing for the Cairns Taipans last season, the 24-year-old played in all 28 games, finishing second in scoring after averaging 22.5 points... ^ O'Donoghue, Craig (17 February 2019). "Wildcats' Bryce Cotton misses out on NBL MVP award". TheWest.com.au. Retrieved 2 March 2019. Cotton averaged 22.5 points per game to lead the league in scoring... ^ "Bryce Cotton ends the regular season as the first player..." twitter.com/nblfacts. 15 February 2020. Archived from the original on 15 February 2020. ^ "Nathan Sobey wins Leroy Loggins MVP Award". brisbanebullets.com.au. 15 June 2021. Retrieved 18 July 2021. The Warnambool-product averaged 21.06 points for the season and finished as the NBL's leading scorer, with 758 points for the season. ^ "Averaging a career-high 23.5 points per game, reigning..." twitter.com/PerthWildcats. 9 June 2021. Retrieved 9 June 2021. ^ "STAT'S. A. WRAP". twitter.com/NBL. 9 June 2021. Retrieved 9 June 2021. ^ "For an incredible fourth-straight season, Bryce Cotton is the NBL22 Scoring Champion!". twitter.com/PerthWildcats. 25 April 2022. Retrieved 25 April 2022. ^ Pike, Chris (6 February 2023). "NBL's 'great disappointments' after shocking world; side that defied all odds — every team rated". foxsports.com.au. Retrieved 6 February 2023. Bryce Cotton is every chance to win a fourth MVP award after being the league's leading scorer with 23.5 points a game... ^ Woods, Dan (8 February 2023). 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