Historic NBA regular seasons (and the 2020-21 regular season)

(Originally posted on Friday, 23 July 2021)

The present post features the lists of historic NBA regular seasons according to my calculations done after the end of the 2020-21 regular season. The in-depth explanations can be found here:
Historic NBA regular seasons (and the 2018-19 regular season)

All the data I used to create the present post I found on this site:
https://www.basketball-reference.com/

Please remember that the lists below do NOT take into account team records and that the minimum threshold was 41 games played in a season (a relatively low threshold).

The highest per-game values in the regular seasons from 1977-78 to 2020-21:
1. James Harden (2018-19):    34.5
2. Michael Jordan (1988-89):    33.9
3. James Harden (2019-20):    33.7
4. Michael Jordan (1987-88):    33.4
5. Michael Jordan (1989-90):    32.9
6. Russell Westbrook (2016-17):    32.2
7. Nikola Jokic (2020-21)*:    31.9
8. Michael Jordan (1986-87):    31.6
9. Stephen Curry (2015-16):    31.6
10. Larry Bird (1987-88):    31.5
11. David Robinson (1993-94):    31.4
12. Larry Bird (1986-87):    31.3
13. James Harden (2016-17):    31.2
14. Kevin Durant (2013-14):    31.2
15. Stephen Curry (2020-21)**:    31.2
16. Giannis Antetokounmpo (2018-19):    31.1
17. Larry Bird (1984-85):    31.1
18. Giannis Antetokounmpo (2019-20):    31.1
19. LeBron James (2009-10):    30.9
20. Michael Jordan (1990-91):    30.8

* Nikola Jokic got to the all-time top-20 for the first time.
** Stephen Curry got to the all-time top-20 for the second time.

Hakeem Olajuwon's 1992-93 season and James Harden's 2017-18 season were pushed out of the list.

The highest per-game values in the regular season 2020-21:
1. Nikola Jokic:    31.9
2. Stephen Curry:    31.2
3. Giannis Antetokounmpo:    30.1
4. James Harden:    29.5
5. Joel Embiid:    29.0
6. Damian Lillard:    28.6
7. Luka Doncic:    28.0
8. Kyrie Irving:    27.0
9. Karl-Anthony Towns:    27.0
10. Bradley Beal:    26.7
11. Kawhi Leonard:    26.2
12. LeBron James:    26.2
13. Nikola Vucevic:    26.1
14. Russell Westbrook:    26.0
15. Jayson Tatum:    25.4
16. Zach LaVine:    25.4
17. Zion Williamson:    25.3
18. Julius Randle:    25.3
19. Jimmy Butler:    25.1
20. Domantas Sabonis:    24.9


The highest per-game scoring values in the regular seasons from 1976-77 to 2020-21:
1. James Harden (2018-19):    27.0
2. James Harden (2019-20):    25.8
3. Stephen Curry (2020-21)*:    25.5
4. Stephen Curry (2015-16):    24.3
5. Michael Jordan (1986-87):    24.2
6. Michael Jordan (1987-88):    24.2
7. Kevin Durant (2013-14):    23.9
8. Michael Jordan (1989-90):    23.6
9. Kobe Bryant (2005-06):    23.6
10. Michael Jordan (1988-89):    22.9
11. Damian Lillard (2019-20):    22.8
12. James Harden (2017-18):    22.6
13. Adrian Dantley (1983-84):    22.6
14. George Gervin (1979-80):    22.5
15. Bradley Beal (2020-21)**:    22.1
16. Damian Lillard (2020-21)***:    22.0
17. Michael Jordan (1990-91):    21.9
18. Isaiah Thomas (2016-17):    21.8
19. Bernard King (1984-85):    21.8
20. Kobe Bryant (2006-07):    21.7

* Stephen Curry got to the all-time top-20 for the second time. He also pushed out of the top-3 his own earlier season.
** Bradley Beal got to the all-time top-20 for the first time.
*** Damian Lillard got to the all-time top-20 for the second time.

Kevin Durant's 2009-10 season, Karl Malone's 1989-90 and Stephen Curry's 2018-19 season were pushed out of the list.

The highest per-game scoring values in the regular season 2020-21:
1. Stephen Curry:    25.5
2. Bradley Beal:    22.1
3. Damian Lillard:    22.0
4. Joel Embiid:    21.0
5. Zach LaVine:    20.8
6. Kyrie Irving:    19.9
7. Nikola Jokic:    19.7
8. Giannis Antetokounmpo:    19.7
9. Luka Doncic:    19.1
10. Zion Williamson:    19.1
11. Jayson Tatum:    18.5
12. Donovan Mitchell:    18.4
13. Kawhi Leonard:    18.3
14. James Harden:    18.2
15. Karl-Anthony Towns:    18.1
16. Trae Young:    18.0
17. Devin Booker:    17.8
18. LeBron James:    17.5
19. Jaylen Brown:    17.3
20. Paul George:    17.0


The highest per-game playmaking values in the regular seasons from 1977-78 to 2020-21:
1. John Stockton (1989-90):    8.0
2. John Stockton (1987-88):    7.7
3. John Stockton (1990-91):    7.5
4. John Stockton (1991-92):    7.3
5. Isiah Thomas (1984-85):    7.2
6. John Stockton (1988-89):    7.0
7. Muggsy Bogues (1989-90):    6.7
8. John Stockton (1993-94):    6.7
9. Chris Paul (2007-08):    6.6
10. John Stockton (1994-95):    6.4
11. Kevin Porter (1978-79):    6.4
12. John Stockton (1992-93):    6.2
13. Chris Paul (2013-14):    6.1
14. Magic Johnson (1985-86):    6.1
15. John Lucas (1983-84):    6.1
16. Magic Johnson (1988-89):    6.0
17. Chris Paul (2009-10):    5.9
18. Magic Johnson (1984-85):    5.9
19. Magic Johnson (1990-91):    5.8
20. Magic Johnson (1986-87):    5.8

The highest per-game playmaking values in the regular season 2020-21:
1. Chris Paul:    4.8
2. James Harden:    4.4
3. Russell Westbrook:    4.4
4. Draymond Green:    4.0
5. DeMar DeRozan:    3.5
6. Jimmy Butler:    3.5
7. Nikola Jokic:    3.4
8. Ricky Rubio:    3.4
9. T.J. McConnell:    3.2
10. Trae Young:    3.2
11. Fred VanVleet:    3.1
12. Kyle Lowry:    3.0
13. Damian Lillard:    2.8
14. Mike Conley:    2.7
15. Devonte' Graham:    2.7
16. De'Aaron Fox:    2.6
17. Tyrese Haliburton:    2.6
18. Jrue Holiday:    2.6
19. Malcolm Brogdon:    2.5
20. Ja Morant:    2.5


The highest per-game defensive values in the regular seasons from 1976-77 to 2020-21:
1. Hakeem Olajuwon (1989-90):    15.4
2. Hakeem Olajuwon (1990-91):    14.6
3. Ben Wallace (2002-03):    14.3
4. Hakeem Olajuwon (1988-89):    14.3
5. David Robinson (1991-92):    14.3
6. Hakeem Olajuwon (1992-93):    14.1
7. Moses Malone (1978-79):    13.7
8. Dennis Rodman (1991-92):    13.6
9. Hakeem Olajuwon (1991-92):    13.6
10. David Robinson (1990-91):    13.6
11. Bill Walton (1976-77):    13.4
12. Ben Wallace (2001-02):    13.3
13. Andre Drummond (2018-19):    13.3
14. Mark Eaton (1984-85):    13.3
15. Mark Eaton (1984-85):    13.3
16. Dennis Rodman (1992-93):    13.2
17. Andre Drummond (2017-18):    13.2
18. Shaquille O'Neal (1992-93):    13.1
19. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1978-79):    13.0
20. David Robinson (1989-90):    13.0

The highest per-game defensive values in the regular season 2020-21:
1. Clint Capela:    11.9
2. Rudy Gobert:    11.9
3. Andre Drummond:    9.9
4. Jonas Valanciunas:    9.5
5. Domantas Sabonis:    9.3
6. Giannis Antetokounmpo:    9.3
7. Nikola Vucevic:    9.0
8. Joel Embiid:    9.0
9. Russell Westbrook:    8.9
10. Nikola Jokic:    8.8
11. Karl-Anthony Towns:    8.6
12. Deandre Ayton:    8.5
13. Jarrett Allen:    8.3
14. Myles Turner:    8.3
15. Enes Kanter:    8.2
16. Christian Wood:    8.1
17. Bam Adebayo:    7.8
18. Julius Randle:    7.6
19. Mason Plumlee:    7.5
20. Jakob Poeltl:    7.5