Kobe Bryant shoots a free throw during a game against the Golden State Warriors on November 1, 2014.
The Los Angeles Lakers are one of the most storied franchises in the NBA and have been home to many of the best players in league history. Let’s highlight their top five all-time single-season scoring leaders.
1. Kobe Bryant: 35.4 ppg (2005-06)
The Lakers acquired Bryant in a Draft day trade with the Hornets in 1996. He would go on to play his entire career with the Lakers. While Bryant racked up plenty of impressive scoring seasons, his best came in 2005-06 when he led the league by averaging 35.4 points per game. He attempted 27.2 shots per game that season, which ended up being the highest mark of his career by a wide margin. Bryant made the All-Star team that season and finished fourth in MVP voting.
2. Elgin Baylor: 34.8 ppg (1960-61)
Baylor won the Rookie of the Year Award with the Minneapolis Lakers in 1958-59. He averaged 24.9 points, 15.0 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game, which also helped him make the All-Star team and finish third in MVP voting. In 1960-61, he finished second in the league by averaging 34.8 points per game, behind only Wilt Chamberlain (38.4).
3. Elgin Baylor: 34.0 ppg (1962-63)
Baylor actually averaged 38.3 points in 1961-62, but he only appeared in 48 games. He was called to active military duty, which caused him to play mostly just weekend games. Following that limited campaign, Baylor averaged 34.0 points while playing 80 games in 1962-63. That scoring average ranked second in the NBA behind Wilt Chamberlain (44.8). Baylor would go on to spend his entire career with the Lakers, averaging 27.4 points and making 11 All-Star teams. He was eventually elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame.
4. Kobe Bryant: 31.6 ppg (2006-07)
After Bryant led the league in scoring in 2005-06, he led the league again the following season by averaging 31.6 points per game. While he saw his shot attempts dip to 22.8 per game that season, he improved his efficiency by shooting 46.3% from the field. This also marked the third straight season that Bryant averaged at least 10.0 free-throw attempts per game. Bryant made the All-Star team and finished third in MVP voting that season. In his career, Bryant averaged 25.0 points, made 18 All-Star teams, won an MVP award and won five championships. He was eventually elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame.
5. Jerry West: 31.3 ppg (1965-66)
Like Bryant and Baylor, West spent his entire career with the Lakers. He averaged at least 30.0 points for a season four times in his career, including his career best mark of 31.3 points per game in 1965-66. That mark ranked second in the NBA that season behind Wilt Chamberlain (33.5). For his career, West averaged 27.0 points, made 14 All-Star teams and won one championship. He is another member of the Lakers to be elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame.
