Last year, Joel Embiid became the first center to win a scoring title since Shaquille O'Neal. This year, Embiid has placed his name in even more exclusive company among centers.
When Embiid was ruled out for Philadelphia's season finale in Brooklyn, he officially finished with his second consecutive scoring title with an average of 33.1 points over 66 games.
Embiid is the first player to take home consecutive scoring titles since now-teammate James Harden won three straight during his time in Houston. He's the first center to win consecutive scoring titles since Bob McAdoo won three straight in the 1970s.
Of the last 10 players to capture the NBA's scoring title, four have gone on to be named MVP.
Embiid's scoring title puts a bow on an MVP-caliber season, but will it be the resume booster he needs to take home the award for the first time in his career? Let's put his latest achievement into perspective.
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Joel Embiid wins 2022-23 scoring title: 76ers center joins exclusive company
Let's start by looking at the competition. Embiid was one of six players to average over 30 points per game this season, edging out guards Luka Doncic and Damian Lillard, among others.
As a reminder, a player must play in 70 percent of their team's games (58) to be considered a statistical champion at the end of the season.
| Player | PPG | Games | |
| 1. | Joel Embiid | 33.1 | 66 |
| 2. | Luka Doncic | 32.4 | 66 |
| 3. | Damian Lillard | 32.1 | 58 |
| 4. | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | 31.4 | 68 |
| 5. | Giannis Antetokounmpo | 31.1 | 63 |
| 6. | Jayson Tatum | 30.1 | 74 |
This season, Embiid improved upon his scoring average from last year by 2.5 points per game — despite playing in two fewer games, Embiid scored over 100 more points in 2022-23 than he did in 2021-22.
Among Embiid's best performances of the season were 13 games of 40 or more points, including three 50-point performances. Embiid scored a career-high 59 points in a win over the Jazz on Nov. 13.
MORE: Doc Rivers says 'MVP race is over' after Joel Embiid's latest 50-point game
History of NBA scoring leaders
In winning his second consecutive scoring title, Embiid has done something that legendary centers like Shaquille O'Neal and David Robinson never did during their Hall of Fame careers.
Here's a look back at all of the scoring leaders in NBA history:
| Season | Player | PPG |
| 2022-23 | Joel Embiid | 33.1 |
| 2021-22 | Joel Embiid | 30.6 |
| 2020-21 | Stephen Curry | 32.0 |
| 2019-20 | James Harden | 34.3 |
| 2018-19 | James Harden | 36.1 |
| 2017-18 | James Harden | 30.4 |
| 2016-17 | Russell Westbrook | 31.6 |
| 2015-16 | Stephen Curry | 30.1 |
| 2014-15 | Russell Westbrook | 28.1 |
| 2013-14 | Kevin Durant | 32.0 |
| 2012-13 | Carmelo Anthony | 28.7 |
| 2011-12 | Kevin Durant | 28.0 |
| 2010-11 | Kevin Durant | 27.7 |
| 2009-10 | Kevin Durant | 30.1 |
| 2008-09 | Dwyane Wade | 30.2 |
| 2007-08 | LeBron James | 30.0 |
| 2006-07 | Kobe Bryant | 31.6 |
| 2005-06 | Kobe Bryant | 35.4 |
| 2004-05 | Allen Iverson | 30.7 |
| 2003-04 | Tracy McGrady | 28.0 |
| 2002-03 | Tracy McGrady | 32.1 |
| 2001-02 | Allen Iverson | 31.4 |
| 2000-01 | Allen Iverson | 31.1 |
| 1999-00 | Shaquille O'Neal | 29.7 |
| 1998-99 | Allen Iverson | 26.8 |
| 1997-98 | Michael Jordan | 28.7 |
| 1996-97 | Michael Jordan | 29.6 |
| 1995-96 | Michael Jordan | 30.4 |
| 1994-95 | Shaquille O'Neal | 29.3 |
| 1993-94 | David Robinson | 29.8 |
| 1992-93 | Michael Jordan | 32.6 |
| 1991-92 | Michael Jordan | 30.1 |
| 1990-91 | Michael Jordan | 31.5 |
| 1989-90 | Michael Jordan | 33.6 |
| 1988-89 | Michael Jordan | 32.5 |
| 1987-88 | Michael Jordan | 35.0 |
| 1986-87 | Michael Jordan | 37.1 |
| 1985-86 | Dominique Wilkins | 30.3 |
| 1984-85 | Bernard King | 32.9 |
| 1983-84 | Adrian Dantley | 30.6 |
| 1982-83 | Alex English | 28.4 |
| 1981-82 | George Gervin | 32.3 |
| 1980-81 | Adrian Dantley | 30.7 |
| 1979-80 | George Gervin | 33.1 |
| 1978-79 | George Gervin | 29.6 |
| 1977-78 | George Gervin | 27.2 |
| 1976-77 | Pete Maravich | 31.1 |
| 1975-76 | Bob McAdoo | 31.1 |
| 1974-75 | Bob McAdoo | 34.5 |
| 1973-74 | Bob McAdoo | 30.6 |
| 1972-73 | Nate Archibald | 34.0 |
| 1971-72 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 34.8 |
| 1970-71 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 31.7 |
| 1969-70 | Jerry West | 31.2 |
| 1968-69 | Elvin Hayes | 28.4 |
| 1967-68 | Dave Bing | 27.1 |
| 1966-67 | Rick Barry | 35.6 |
| 1965-66 | Wilt Chamberlain | 33.5 |
| 1964-65 | Wilt Chamberlain | 34.7 |
| 1963-64 | Wilt Chamberlain | 36.9 |
| 1962-63 | Wilt Chamberlain | 44.8 |
| 1961-62 | Wilt Chamberlain | 50.4 |
| 1960-61 | Wilt Chamberlain | 38.4 |
| 1959-60 | Wilt Chamberlain | 37.6 |
| 1958-59 | Bob Pettit | 29.2 |
| 1957-58 | George Yardley | 27.8 |
| 1956-57 | Paul Arizin | 25.6 |
| 1955-56 | Bob Pettit | 25.7 |
| 1954-55 | Neil Johnston | 22.7 |
| 1953-54 | Neil Johnston | 24.5 |
| 1952-53 | Neil Johnston | 22.3 |
| 1951-52 | Paul Arizin | 25.4 |
| 1950-51 | George Mikan | 28.4 |
| 1949-50 | George Mikan | 27.4 |
| 1948-49 | George Mikan | 28.3 |
| 1947-48 | Max Zaslofsky | 21.0 |
| 1946-47 | Joe Fulks | 23.2 |
