The Highest Scoring Teams in NBA History
The Early 1980s Denver Nuggets Put Up Three of the Best Scoring Averages in NBA History. That’s Alex English, Dan Issel and Kiki Vandeweghe in the Top Row.
Offenses just aren’t what they used to be in the NBA. Or has defense become more of a focus?
More likely, though, a combination of rule changes and a rise in talent and competition have changed the pro game of basketball from one where teams regularly score in the 100-110 point range to one with less explosive offenses.
For example, in a previous Sports List of the Day post - NBA League Scoring Averages (1946-47 through 2011-12) – you can see that the 1960′s and 1980′s were the biggest decades for scoring a whole lot of points.
Since the 1995-96 season, only twice in 17 years has the league scoring average been over 100 points.
It makes sense, then, that 19 of the top 20 teams with the highest scoring averages in NBA history made their mark in the 60′s and 80′s.
The early 80′s Denver Nuggets, led by Alex English, Kiki Vandeweghe and Dan Issel, were a scoring machine, placing three times in the top six.
Follow @VinGetz| YEAR | TEAM | PPG | G | W | L | PTS | SEASON RESULT | |
| 1. | 1981-82 | Denver Nuggets | 126.5 | 82 | 46 | 36 | 10,371 | Lost to Phoenix Suns in Round 1 |
| 2. | 1961-62 | Philadelphia Warriors | 125.4 | 80 | 49 | 31 | 10,035 | Lost to Boston Celtics in Division Finals |
| 3. | 1966-67 | Philadelphia 76ers | 125.2 | 81 | 68 | 13 | 10,143 | WON NBA FINALS (over San Francisco Warriors) |
| 4. | 1959-60 | Boston Celtics | 124.5 | 75 | 59 | 16 | 9,337 | WON NBA FINALS (over St. Louis Hawks) |
| 5. | 1983-84 | Denver Nuggets | 123.7 | 82 | 38 | 44 | 10,147 | Lost to Utah Jazz in Round 1 |
| 6. | 1982-83 | Denver Nuggets | 123.2 | 82 | 45 | 37 | 10,105 | Lost to San Antonio Spurs in Division Semifinals |
| 7. | 1961-62 | Cincinnati Royals | 123.1 | 80 | 43 | 37 | 9,845 | Lost to Detroit Pistons in Division Semifinals |
| 8. | 1967-68 | Philadelphia 76ers | 122.6 | 82 | 62 | 20 | 10,051 | Lost to Boston Celtics in Division Finals |
| 9. | 1966-67 | San Francisco Warriors | 122.4 | 81 | 44 | 37 | 9,911 | Lost NBA FINALS to Philadelphia 76ers |
| 10. | 1969-70 | Philadelphia 76ers | 121.9 | 82 | 42 | 40 | 9,998 | Lost to Milwaukee Bucks in Division Semifinals |
| 11. | 1980-81 | Denver Nuggets | 121.8 | 82 | 37 | 45 | 9,986 | No playoff appearance |
| 12. | 1962-63 | Syracuse Nationals | 121.6 | 80 | 48 | 32 | 9,730 | Lost to Cincinnati Royals in Division Semifinals |
| 13. | 1960-61 | Syracuse Nationals | 121.3 | 79 | 38 | 41 | 9,586 | Lost to Boston Celtics in Division Finals |
| 14. | 1967-68 | Los Angeles Lakers | 121.2 | 82 | 52 | 30 | 9,937 | Lost NBA FINALS to Boston Celtics |
| 15. | 1961-62 | Boston Celtics | 121.1 | 80 | 60 | 20 | 9,687 | WON NBA FINALS (over Los Angeles Lakers) |
| 16. | 1960-61 | Philadelphia Warriors | 121.0 | 79 | 46 | 33 | 9,558 | Lost to Syracuse Nationals in Division Semifinals |
| 16. | 1971-72 | Los Angeles Lakers | 121.0 | 82 | 69 | 13 | 9,920 | WON NBA FINALS (over New York Knicks) |
| 18. | 1969-70 | Baltimore Bullets | 120.7 | 82 | 50 | 32 | 9,900 | Lost to New York Knicks in Division Semifinals |
| 18. | 1961-62 | Syracuse Nationals | 120.7 | 80 | 41 | 39 | 9,658 | Lost to Philadelphia Warriors in Division Semifinals |
| 20. | 1966-67 | Los Angeles Lakers | 120.5 | 81 | 36 | 45 | 9,764 | Lost to San Francisco Warriors in Division Semifinals |
Thanks to basketball-reference.com and their play index. Here are the results to my query for this post: Every NBA team that averaged at least 100 PPG.
Photo: smokingsection.uproxx.com
Posted on December 11, 2012, in NBA and tagged average, Basketball, highest, history, List, most, nba, points, scoring, season, sports list of the day, teams, top. Bookmark the permalink. Leave a Comment.
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