Which NBA season s scoring champion is more "watery"?

Judgement of whether the NBA scoring champion is "water", but it can usually be analyzed from the following perspectives:

The absolute value of the scoring champion is relatively low: The average score of the scoring champion this season is significantly lower than that of other years.

Competition is not fierce: The gap between the scoring champion and the second place is extremely small, or there are special circumstances (such as multiple stars being injured) that lead to weakening of competition.

Inefficient: Although the scoring champion scores high, its efficiency (real hit rate TS%) is far lower than the league average or other top scorers of the same era, and there is a suspicion of "scoring points".

Rules/Environment Special: The data statistics environment is abnormal due to special reasons (such as shutdowns and shrinkage, and the initial period of drastic changes in the rules).

The team has poor record and high dependence: The team where the scoring leader is located has poor record, and its scoring is more due to its super high shooting rights rather than efficiency, and has limited contribution to the team's victory (i.e., "empty cut").

Based on these criteria, there are several seasons in history that have often been mentioned as "relatively low in gold content" or "comparatively watery":

George Gerwen - 1977-78 Season: 27.2 points per game

Low absolute value: This is the absolute lowest average score of the scoring champions since the ABA-NBA merger (1976). 27.2 points seem very "humble" among the many scoring champions in history.

Special competitive landscape: This season is a turbulent period after the merger of the NBA and the ABA. The overall competitiveness of the league is diluted and there is a lack of dominant scorers. David Thompson (average 27.1 points per game) scored 73 points in the last game of the regular season before barely forcing Gewen (leading before the game) to the point where he needed to defend his title with high points (Gewen scored 63 points in the last game and defended his title with a 0.07 point advantage). The difference in scoring between the two is very small.

Times background: The late 1970s was recognized as the "dark age" in NBA history, with low ratings and low overall competitive level and ornamentality. This low-scoring champion is also regarded as a microcosm of that era.

George Gervin - 1978-79 season: Average of 29.6 points

is still low: Although it is much higher than last season, 29.6 points are still a low level among the scoring leaders in history (far lower than the scores of Jabbar and McAdu in the early 1970s).

The competition gap is extremely small: Gerwen beat Walter Davis (29.5 points) with a narrow advantage per game. This tiny gap also makes its dominance less convincing.

Trecy McGrady - 2003-04 season: Average of 28.0 points

is relatively low: 28.0 points is the first time since the 1981-82 season (German 30.3 points), the scoring champion has failed to exceed 28.5 points per game. In the late era of "Hand-Checking" that emphasizes defense, this score is not amazing.

Efficiency issue: McGrady's efficiency (TS% 52.6%) was not outstanding among the top scorers in the league at that time, lower than stars such as Garnett, Nowitzki, O'Neal during the same period.

The team has a poor record: The Magic have only achieved 21 wins and 61 losses this season at the bottom of the league. McGrady's score more reflects the release of personal abilities in weak teams, but the conversion rate of victory is very low, which has triggered doubts about "scoring points" (although McGrady's personal abilities are unquestionable).

Allen Iverson - 2004-05 season: Average 30.7 points

Inefficiency: This is the lowest-efficiency in the season (TS% only 53.7%), which is far below the league average (about 54%). He averaged 24.2 shots per game (42.4% shooting percentage), and his characteristics of high shooting and low efficiency are quite obvious.

Team Reliance and Record: The 76ers built a single-core team around Iverson. He has unlimited firepower, but the team's record is only 43 wins and 39 losses, and was eliminated in the first round of the playoffs. There is a certain disconnect between personal data and team performance.

Special circumstances worth discussing: Shaquille O'Neal - 1998-99 season (shrinked season): Average of 26.3 points per game

shrinked season: This season was suspended due to labor disputes, with only 50 games in the regular season. Small sample size means that data stability and accidental increase, and also reduce the chance of players' data decline due to fatigue or state fluctuations.

The value is not high: 26.3 points is the lowest average score of the scoring champion since the 1968-69 season (Ervin Hayes 28.4 points).

Competitive environment: Although O'Neal is extremely efficient (TS% 57.7%) and his dominance is unquestionable, the competition for the scoring champion is not fierce (Iverson's 26.8 points were not included in the scoring list due to insufficient appearances). This "water" originates more from the abnormal attributes of the season itself, rather than O'Neal's personal performance.

Summary and Important Tips:

"Water" is relative: Being able to become the scoring champion itself proves that the player is one of the players with the strongest scoring ability in the season. The "water" here is relative to other more shocking, more efficient and more competitive scoring seasons. The late 1970s were the trough: George Gerwen's two consecutive seasons (77-78, 78-79) were usually considered the "wateriest" scoring season in the history of the modern NBA (ABA-NBA merger) because of his lowest absolute score and a very small competitive gap.

Efficiency and performance affect their perception: McGrady (03-04) and Iverson (04-05)'s scoring champion season, because of the relatively low efficiency and poor team performance, the "gold content" of their personal high scoring data may be more questioned.

Special seasons need to be viewed separately: O'Neal's scoring champion in the shrinking season, his "low score" is more of a product of the special season environment and cannot be completely blamed on individuals..

Therefore, if you want to choose a "wateriest" scoring season, George Gervin's average of 27.2 points per game in the 1977-78 season is usually the least controversial answer. But no matter how you evaluate it, these players' scoring ability in their respective seasons is still at the top of the league.