Joel Embiid wins scoring title: 76ers center joins exclusive company with second consecutive feat

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.

76ERS VS NETS PLAYOFF SERIES PREVIEW: Is this the start of a special Joel Embiid run?

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.

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: