The average NBA points per game (PPG) is the total number of points a player scores in the course of an NBA game, divided by the total number of games played in that season. It is a measure of a player’s offensive output, and it is also a way to compare players of different positions and styles of play.
The NBA has been around since 1946 and since then, the average PPG has been steadily increasing year after year. In the 2017-2018 season, the league average was 111.2 points per game, which was the highest in NBA history.
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Average NBA Points Per Game by Position
When looking at the average NBA points per game by position, the point guard (PG) typically has the highest average. This is mainly due to the fact that point guards are the ones who initiate the offense and often have the ball in their hands the most. In the 2017-2018 season, the average point guard PPG was 18.8.
The shooting guard (SG) is typically the second-highest scoring position, with an average of 17.9 PPG in the 2017-2018 season. The small forward (SF) and power forward (PF) are usually the third and fourth-highest scoring positions, with averages of 16.2 and 15.0, respectively. The center (C) usually has the lowest PPG, with an average of 12.5.
All-Time Highest Average NBA Points Per Game
The all-time highest NBA points per game average was held by Wilt Chamberlain, who averaged an impressive 50.4 PPG during the 1961-1962 season. This is the highest single-season average in NBA history, and it is unlikely that anyone will ever reach this mark again.
The second-highest average in NBA history belongs to Michael Jordan, who averaged 37.1 PPG during the 1986-1987 season. This is an impressive feat, considering that Jordan was playing in an era where teams were much more defensive-minded than they are today.
The third-highest average belongs to James Harden, who averaged an impressive 36.1 PPG during the 2017-2018 season. This was the first time in NBA history that a player had averaged over 36 PPG in a single season.
Conclusion
The average NBA points per game (PPG) has been steadily increasing over the years, and in the 2017-2018 season, the league average was 111.2 points per game, which is the highest in NBA history. The point guard (PG) typically has the highest average, with a PPG of 18.8 in the 2017-2018 season. The all-time highest NBA points per game average was held by Wilt Chamberlain, who averaged an impressive 50.4 PPG during the 1961-1962 season. The second-highest average in NBA history belongs to Michael Jordan, who averaged 37.1 PPG during the 1986-1987 season.