For the previous exercise, I determined for every NBA season since 1952 how much the biggest volume-scorers stood out relative to their contemporaries based on Points per 100 Possessions (PP100) and TrueShooting Percentage (TS%). Relative PP100 and TS% were determined by calculating how many standard deviations above or below a player was compared to the average of his cohort.
Initially, for each season I only looked at the players that were in the top 10% of PP100, or at least the top 10 players if the top 10% included less than 10 players. This cut-off is now less strict as it's been expanded to include the top 15% of PP100, or at least the top 15 players for every season. I found that having a cut-off 10% sometimes led to notable scorers like Hakeem Olajuwon missing the cut a number of times.
Here is the link to the complete table: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1HPvcm9ocT1uUOGxwBQjbOzHyweaXOdkZJ6YIUhGZNzE/edit?usp=sharing
Below are some examples of what you can do with the data:
Best volume-scorers based on relative PP100 and TS% for every decade
Spoiler:
Code: Select all
1951 - 1961
Year Player Pos Age Tm MPG PP100 TS% PP100Δ TSΔ Score
1 1955 Larry Foust C 26 FTW 32.3 25.03 56.96 0.80 3.43 4.23
2 1952 Paul Arizin* SF 23 PHW 44.5 28.63 54.60 2.41 1.79 4.21
3 1957 Neil Johnston* C 27 PHW 36.7 27.66 54.38 1.17 2.72 3.89
4 1959 Kenny Sears PF 25 NYK 35.2 24.23 59.01 -0.03 3.81 3.78
5 1954 Neil Johnston* C 24 PHW 45.8 28.65 53.09 2.21 1.39 3.59
6 1954 Ed Macauley* C 25 BOS 39.3 24.85 56.29 0.44 2.69 3.13
7 1955 Neil Johnston* C 25 PHW 40.5 26.08 53.57 1.60 1.48 3.09
8 1959 Bob Pettit* PF 26 STL 39.9 30.42 51.93 2.31 0.71 3.02
9 1958 George Yardley* SF 29 DET 39.5 28.44 50.54 2.38 0.61 2.99
10 1953 George Mikan* C 28 MNL 37.9 27.86 48.02 2.88 0.03 2.91
1961 - 1971
Year Player Pos Age Tm MPG PP100 TS% PP100Δ TSΔ Score
1 1969 Jerry West* SG 30 LAL 39.2 28.13 55.69 3.24 1.51 4.75
2 1970 Jerry West* PG 31 LAL 42.0 31.33 57.20 3.38 1.27 4.65
3 1968 Oscar Robertson* PG 29 CIN 42.5 28.72 58.83 2.08 2.40 4.48
4 1968 Jerry West* SG 29 LAL 37.6 28.44 59.00 1.84 2.49 4.34
5 1962 Wilt Chamberlain* C 25 PHW 48.5 38.00 53.60 3.37 0.95 4.32
6 1967 Rick Barry* SF 22 SFW 40.7 32.93 53.06 3.62 0.30 3.92
7 1963 Wilt Chamberlain* C 26 SFW 47.6 36.71 55.00 3.40 0.49 3.89
8 1966 Jerry West* PG 27 LAL 40.7 30.47 57.29 2.24 1.57 3.81
9 1965 Jerry West* PG 26 LAL 41.4 31.50 57.24 2.14 1.52 3.66
10 1964 Wilt Chamberlain* C 27 SFW 46.1 33.33 53.70 3.13 0.48 3.62
1971 - 1981
Year Player Pos Age Tm MPG PP100 TS% PP100Δ TSΔ Score
1 1972 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar* C 24 MIL 44.2 34.00 60.27 4.15 2.08 6.23
2 1975 Bob McAdoo* C 23 BUF 43.2 35.60 56.89 2.72 1.63 4.35
3 1973 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar* C 25 MIL 42.8 31.22 58.04 1.45 2.90 4.35
4 1973 Tiny Archibald* PG 24 KCO 46.0 33.04 55.48 2.66 1.43 4.09
5 1977 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar* C 29 LAL 36.8 32.70 60.83 1.89 2.05 3.95
6 1974 Bob McAdoo* C 22 BUF 43.0 30.50 59.44 1.50 1.92 3.42
7 1980 George Gervin* SG 27 SAS 37.6 38.60 58.73 2.75 0.67 3.42
8 1976 John Drew SF 21 ATL 30.5 32.70 56.98 2.04 1.38 3.41
9 1980 Adrian Dantley* SF 24 UTA 39.3 35.00 63.50 1.12 2.27 3.39
10 1978 George Gervin* SG 25 SAS 34.8 34.40 59.42 1.77 1.36 3.13
1981 - 1991
Year Player Pos Age Tm MPG PP100 TS% PP100Δ TSΔ Score
1 1989 Michael Jordan* SG 25 CHI 40.2 40.0 61.41 4.07 1.50 5.57
2 1986 Adrian Dantley* SF 30 UTA 36.1 38.4 62.86 3.03 2.21 5.25
3 1987 Michael Jordan* SG 23 CHI 40.0 46.4 56.18 5.34 -0.18 5.16
4 1985 Bernard King* SF 28 NYK 37.5 42.3 58.51 4.11 0.51 4.62
5 1982 George Gervin* SG 29 SAS 35.7 42.4 56.20 4.52 0.03 4.56
6 1984 Adrian Dantley* SF 28 UTA 37.8 37.1 65.20 1.70 2.86 4.56
7 1988 Michael Jordan* SG 24 CHI 40.4 43.6 60.34 3.39 0.78 4.17
8 1990 Michael Jordan* SG 26 CHI 39.0 42.7 60.60 3.28 0.72 3.99
9 1990 Karl Malone* PF 26 UTA 38.1 40.6 62.60 2.37 1.18 3.55
10 1982 Adrian Dantley* SF 26 UTA 39.8 35.2 63.13 1.11 2.23 3.34
1991 - 2001
Year Player Pos Age Tm MPG PP100 TS% PP100Δ TSΔ Score
1 1999 Shaquille O'Neal* C 26 LAL 34.8 39.6 58.37 4.53 1.87 6.40
2 1997 Karl Malone* PF 33 UTA 36.6 40.0 59.99 2.73 1.85 4.58
3 1992 Michael Jordan* SG 28 CHI 38.8 39.4 57.86 4.05 0.37 4.42
4 1993 Michael Jordan* SG 29 CHI 39.3 43.0 56.38 4.17 0.02 4.18
5 1995 Shaquille O'Neal* C 22 ORL 37.0 40.0 58.76 3.33 0.80 4.13
6 1997 Michael Jordan* SG 33 CHI 37.9 41.8 56.66 3.59 0.49 4.09
7 2000 Karl Malone* PF 36 UTA 35.9 38.1 58.16 2.55 1.53 4.08
8 1998 Shaquille O'Neal* C 25 LAL 36.2 40.1 58.72 2.86 1.17 4.03
9 2000 Shaquille O'Neal* C 27 LAL 40.0 38.1 57.80 2.55 1.38 3.94
10 1998 Karl Malone* PF 34 UTA 37.4 38.9 59.67 2.38 1.50 3.88
2001 - 2011
Year Player Pos Age Tm MPG PP100 TS% PP100Δ TSΔ Score
1 2008 Amar'e Stoudemire C 25 PHO 33.9 36.9 65.64 1.89 3.03 4.92
2 2003 Tracy McGrady* SG 23 ORL 39.4 42.0 56.44 3.71 0.78 4.48
3 2002 Shaquille O'Neal* C 29 LAL 36.1 39.2 58.98 2.70 1.56 4.26
4 2003 Shaquille O'Neal* C 30 LAL 37.8 37.7 60.16 1.81 2.18 3.98
5 2009 LeBron James SF 24 CLE 37.7 40.8 59.13 2.82 0.98 3.81
6 2005 Amar'e Stoudemire C 22 PHO 36.1 36.0 61.69 1.54 2.13 3.67
7 2009 Dwyane Wade SG 27 MIA 38.6 41.8 57.40 3.29 0.35 3.64
8 2010 LeBron James SF 25 CLE 39.0 40.0 60.44 2.34 1.20 3.54
9 2004 Tracy McGrady* SG 24 ORL 39.9 37.1 52.58 3.95 -0.44 3.50
10 2010 Kevin Durant SF 21 OKC 39.5 39.4 60.66 2.13 1.28 3.40
2011 - 2022
Year Player Pos Age Tm MPG PP100 TS% PP100Δ TSΔ Score
1 2016 Stephen Curry PG 27 GSW 34.2 42.5 66.94 3.56 3.07 6.62
2 2019 James Harden PG 29 HOU 36.8 48.2 61.62 5.47 0.95 6.42
3 2014 Kevin Durant SF 25 OKC 38.5 41.8 63.49 3.52 1.98 5.50
4 2013 Kevin Durant SF 24 OKC 38.5 37.6 64.66 1.84 2.97 4.81
5 2018 Stephen Curry PG 29 GSW 32.0 39.8 67.51 1.91 2.75 4.66
6 2013 LeBron James PF 28 MIA 37.9 37.5 64.05 1.81 2.70 4.51
7 2021 Stephen Curry PG 32 GSW 34.2 44.0 65.47 2.53 1.92 4.45
8 2014 LeBron James PF 29 MIA 37.7 37.9 64.86 1.87 2.50 4.36
9 2012 LeBron James SF 27 MIA 37.5 38.1 60.54 2.29 1.98 4.27
10 2012 Kevin Durant SF 23 OKC 38.6 37.5 60.96 2.06 2.15 4.20
Spoiler:
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1951 - 1961
Year Player Pos Age Tm MPG PP100 TS% PP100Δ TSΔ Score
1 1958 Tom Heinsohn* PF 23 BOS 32.0 21.45 43.95 -1.05 -3.79 -4.84
2 1955 Carl Braun* SG 27 NYK 34.9 20.43 45.41 -2.80 -1.49 -4.29
3 1956 Maurice Stokes* C 22 ROC 34.7 20.81 42.18 -1.31 -2.69 -4.00
4 1953 Joe Fulks* PF 31 PHW 29.8 20.23 39.18 -1.49 -2.48 -3.97
5 1954 Jack McMahon PG 25 ROC 26.6 19.85 43.13 -1.63 -1.57 -3.20
6 1959 Willie Naulls SF 24 NYK 30.3 21.08 44.17 -1.08 -1.58 -2.67
7 1952 Dike Eddleman SF 29 TOT 28.8 20.67 38.74 -0.98 -1.66 -2.64
8 1957 Bob Cousy* PG 28 BOS 36.9 22.70 45.22 -0.49 -2.06 -2.55
9 1956 Bob Cousy* PG 27 BOS 38.4 20.54 46.09 -1.42 -1.13 -2.55
10 1957 Tom Heinsohn* PF 22 BOS 29.9 22.00 45.65 -0.72 -1.79 -2.51
1961 - 1971
Year Player Pos Age Tm MPG PP100 TS% PP100Δ TSΔ Score
1 1966 Elgin Baylor* SF 31 LAL 30.4 21.64 45.63 -0.94 -1.79 -2.72
2 1964 Tom Heinsohn* PF 29 BOS 26.8 23.66 45.76 -0.79 -1.82 -2.61
3 1967 Eddie Miles SG 26 DET 29.9 23.27 47.13 -0.88 -1.68 -2.56
4 1967 Dave Bing* PG 23 DET 34.5 22.90 47.51 -1.03 -1.53 -2.55
5 1969 Gail Goodrich* PG 25 PHO 40.0 24.19 47.38 -1.06 -1.47 -2.53
6 1963 Lee Shaffer SF 23 SYR 29.9 24.22 47.75 -0.75 -1.73 -2.48
7 1964 John Havlicek* SF 23 BOS 32.3 23.68 46.35 -0.78 -1.61 -2.40
8 1962 Willie Naulls SF 27 NYK 39.7 24.09 46.97 -0.57 -1.77 -2.34
9 1966 Kevin Loughery SG 25 BAL 33.2 21.43 47.45 -1.01 -1.19 -2.20
10 1963 Johnny Green PF 29 NYK 31.9 23.11 49.65 -1.06 -1.08 -2.14
1971 - 1981
Year Player Pos Age Tm MPG PP100 TS% PP100Δ TSΔ Score
1 1976 George McGinnis* PF 25 PHI 38.3 26.80 48.22 -0.46 -2.72 -3.17
2 1973 Bob McAdoo* PF 21 BUF 32.0 24.34 49.79 -1.98 -0.82 -2.80
3 1974 Austin Carr SG 25 CLE 38.3 26.40 48.62 -1.09 -1.64 -2.73
4 1972 Sidney Wicks PF 22 POR 39.6 26.46 47.60 -0.44 -2.24 -2.68
5 1977 Austin Carr SG 28 CLE 29.4 26.10 49.63 -1.22 -1.36 -2.58
6 1978 John Williamson SG 26 TOT 36.4 28.50 48.79 -0.69 -1.86 -2.55
7 1979 Brian Winters SG 26 MIL 32.6 27.30 53.28 -1.29 -1.08 -2.37
8 1975 Bob Love PF 32 CHI 39.4 26.90 48.07 -0.91 -1.43 -2.34
9 1974 Sidney Wicks PF 24 POR 38.0 26.10 50.32 -1.30 -1.03 -2.33
10 1977 Rick Barry* SF 32 GSW 36.8 26.40 49.99 -1.07 -1.25 -2.32
1981 - 1991
Year Player Pos Age Tm MPG PP100 TS% PP100Δ TSΔ Score
1 1986 Terry Cummings PF 24 MIL 32.5 28.7 50.35 -1.15 -1.73 -2.88
2 1990 Ledell Eackles SG 23 WSB 21.7 30.0 49.61 -0.84 -1.80 -2.63
3 1982 Darrell Griffith SG 23 UTA 32.5 28.2 51.09 -0.99 -1.49 -2.48
4 1989 Quintin Dailey SG 28 LAC 25.0 29.7 51.11 -1.00 -1.47 -2.47
5 1989 Mark Aguirre SF 29 TOT 32.5 29.2 52.36 -1.21 -1.09 -2.30
6 1982 Ron Brewer SG 26 TOT 32.2 28.1 51.86 -1.03 -1.24 -2.27
7 1983 Marques Johnson SF 26 MIL 35.7 28.8 54.31 -1.34 -0.89 -2.23
8 1985 Mike Mitchell SF 29 SAS 34.8 29.5 53.33 -1.06 -1.12 -2.19
9 1984 Mike Mitchell SF 28 SAS 36.1 29.0 52.47 -0.98 -1.17 -2.15
10 1990 Alex English* SF 36 DEN 27.6 29.5 52.17 -0.98 -1.16 -2.14
1991 - 2001
Year Player Pos Age Tm MPG PP100 TS% PP100Δ TSΔ Score
1 1992 Tom Chambers PF 32 PHO 28.2 28.0 50.10 -0.77 -2.30 -3.07
2 1995 Dominique Wilkins* SF 35 BOS 31.5 28.9 51.95 -1.06 -1.92 -2.98
3 1998 Antoine Walker PF 21 BOS 39.9 29.0 48.09 -0.58 -2.37 -2.95
4 2000 Isaiah Rider SG 28 ATL 34.7 29.1 48.80 -0.74 -2.00 -2.74
5 2000 Antoine Walker PF 23 BOS 36.6 28.4 49.36 -0.98 -1.75 -2.74
6 1993 Terry Mills PF 25 DET 27.0 28.3 50.64 -0.86 -1.82 -2.67
7 1996 Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf PG 26 DEN 35.6 28.1 53.46 -1.18 -1.43 -2.61
8 1994 Clifford Robinson C 27 POR 34.8 28.0 51.26 -0.92 -1.68 -2.60
9 1996 Clifford Robinson SF 29 POR 38.2 28.6 53.22 -1.02 -1.52 -2.55
10 1994 John Starks SG 28 NYK 34.9 28.2 51.56 -0.86 -1.56 -2.42
2001 - 2011
Year Player Pos Age Tm MPG PP100 TS% PP100Δ TSΔ Score
1 2006 Tim Duncan* PF 29 SAS 34.8 28.9 52.31 -1.22 -2.36 -3.58
2 2008 Tracy McGrady* SG 28 HOU 37.0 31.1 48.72 -0.47 -2.89 -3.36
3 2005 Jason Richardson SG 24 GSW 37.8 29.5 51.83 -1.42 -1.50 -2.92
4 2010 J.R. Smith SG 24 DEN 27.8 28.1 51.54 -1.05 -1.84 -2.88
5 2004 LeBron James SG 19 CLE 39.5 28.0 48.81 -1.25 -1.59 -2.84
6 2005 Larry Hughes SG 26 WAS 38.7 29.3 52.32 -1.52 -1.31 -2.83
7 2006 Jermaine O'Neal PF 27 IND 35.3 30.4 52.95 -0.84 -1.97 -2.81
8 2003 Chris Webber* PF 29 SAC 39.1 29.6 48.53 -0.63 -1.95 -2.58
9 2008 Antawn Jamison PF 31 WAS 38.7 29.6 52.46 -1.07 -1.42 -2.49
10 2010 Monta Ellis SG 24 GSW 41.4 29.5 51.72 -0.66 -1.77 -2.43
2011 - 2022
Year Player Pos Age Tm MPG PP100 TS% PP100Δ TSΔ Score
1 2012 Jordan Crawford SG 23 WAS 27.4 27.8 48.79 -1.12 -2.02 -3.14
2 2016 Kobe Bryant* SF 37 LAL 28.2 31.3 46.94 -0.45 -2.69 -3.14
3 2017 Andrew Wiggins SF 21 MIN 37.2 32.2 53.44 -0.91 -2.18 -3.10
4 2013 Rudy Gay SF 26 TOT 35.8 27.3 49.39 -1.01 -2.08 -3.09
5 2021 Jordan Clarkson SG 28 UTA 26.7 33.5 54.95 -1.09 -1.87 -2.97
6 2015 Al Jefferson C 30 CHO 30.6 28.0 49.97 -1.09 -1.83 -2.92
7 2017 Carmelo Anthony SF 32 NYK 34.3 32.7 53.53 -0.76 -2.14 -2.90
8 2018 Dennis Schröder PG 24 ATL 31.0 30.6 51.52 -0.79 -1.94 -2.73
9 2020 Spencer Dinwiddie PG 26 BRK 31.2 31.3 54.14 -1.06 -1.64 -2.70
10 2014 Brandon Knight PG 22 MIL 33.3 28.1 52.30 -1.15 -1.48 -2.63
Any thoughts? I think the main downside to doing relative adjustments per season is quite obvious, but I'm not sure how else to do cross-era comparisons then.
For example, I think it's fair to say that Jerry West had a better season scoring-wise in 1970 compared to 1969:
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Year Player Pos Age Tm MPG PP100 TS% PP100Δ TSΔ Score
1 1969 Jerry West* SG 30 LAL 39.2 28.13 55.69 3.24 1.51 4.75
2 1970 Jerry West* PG 31 LAL 42.0 31.33 57.20 3.38 1.27 4.65
1969
Spoiler:
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Year Player Tm Pos Age PP100 TS% PP100Δ TSΔ Score
1 1969 Jerry West* LAL SG 30.00 28.13 55.69 3.24 1.51 4.75
2 1969 Lou Hudson ATL SF 24.00 26.00 53.75 0.58 0.77 1.35
3 1969 Oscar Robertson* CIN PG 30.00 23.87 57.89 -1.39 2.60 1.21
4 1969 Bob Boozer CHI PF 31.00 25.29 53.96 -0.05 0.85 0.80
5 1969 Bob Rule SEA C 24.00 25.88 51.13 0.47 -0.12 0.36
6 1969 Earl Monroe* BAL SG 24.00 26.46 49.33 1.02 -0.73 0.28
7 1969 Flynn Robinson TOT PG 27.00 26.15 50.12 0.72 -0.46 0.26
8 1969 Zelmo Beaty* ATL C 29.00 25.27 52.46 -0.07 0.33 0.26
9 1969 Elgin Baylor* LAL SF 34.00 26.17 49.99 0.74 -0.50 0.24
10 1969 Bailey Howell* BOS PF 32.00 24.85 53.20 -0.44 0.58 0.14
11 1969 Jeff Mullins SFW SG 26.00 24.95 51.72 -0.35 0.08 -0.27
12 1969 Billy Cunningham* PHI PF 25.00 24.24 49.18 -1.01 -0.78 -1.79
13 1969 Elvin Hayes* SDR C 23.00 24.42 48.27 -0.84 -1.12 -1.95
14 1969 Dave Bing* DET PG 25.00 24.34 48.18 -0.91 -1.15 -2.06
15 1969 Gail Goodrich* PHO PG 25.00 24.19 47.38 -1.06 -1.47 -2.53
mean NaN NaN NaN NaN 27.27 25.35 51.48 0.04 0.03 0.07
std NaN NaN NaN NaN 3.45 1.14 3.00 1.17 1.11 1.78
Spoiler:
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Year Player Tm Pos Age PP100 TS% PP100Δ TSΔ Score
1 1970 Jerry West* LAL PG 31.00 31.33 57.20 3.38 1.27 4.65
2 1970 Lou Hudson ATL SF 25.00 27.57 57.63 0.57 1.49 2.06
3 1970 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar* MIL C 22.00 27.69 55.24 0.63 0.39 1.02
4 1970 Dave Bing* DET PG 26.00 29.56 51.74 1.76 -1.11 0.65
5 1970 Oscar Robertson* CIN PG 31.00 24.71 57.73 -0.95 1.54 0.59
6 1970 Flynn Robinson MIL PG 28.00 26.49 54.94 0.00 0.27 0.27
7 1970 Chet Walker* CHI SF 29.00 25.32 55.87 -0.61 0.66 0.05
8 1970 Connie Hawkins* PHO SF 27.00 24.78 56.26 -0.91 0.83 -0.07
9 1970 Joe Caldwell ATL SG 28.00 25.36 54.95 -0.59 0.27 -0.32
10 1970 Billy Cunningham* PHI SF 26.00 26.28 52.38 -0.11 -0.82 -0.92
11 1970 Jimmy Walker DET SG 25.00 25.29 53.13 -0.63 -0.49 -1.12
12 1970 Elgin Baylor* LAL SF 35.00 24.72 53.72 -0.94 -0.24 -1.18
13 1970 Bob Rule SEA C 25.00 27.38 50.55 0.47 -1.71 -1.25
14 1970 Earl Monroe* BAL PG 25.00 24.99 52.26 -0.79 -0.87 -1.66
15 1970 Tom Van Arsdale CIN SF 26.00 25.81 50.90 -0.35 -1.53 -1.88
mean NaN NaN NaN NaN 27.27 26.49 54.30 0.06 -0.00 0.06
std NaN NaN NaN NaN 3.22 1.93 2.41 1.19 1.06 1.67