James Harden's historic scoring streak: Inside the eye-popping numbers

Love or hate his style of play, there's no denying the historic nature of James Harden's scoring binge this season.

The Houston Rockets star scored at least 30 in 32 consecutive games from Dec. 13 through Feb. 21. Harden's streak is the longest since the NBA-ABA merger in 1976-77 and the second-longest all-time.

Wilt Chamberlain is the only other player in NBA history to score at least 30 points in 32 consecutive games. The legendary center holds the all-time record with 65 consecutive 30-point games during the 1961-62 season.

The game is very different now than in Chamberlain's day, so it's incredibly difficult to compare eras. The 3-point line that Harden and his contemporaries have used to transform the game wasn't instituted in the NBA until the 1979-80 season — seven years after Chamberlain retired.

Rather than compare Harden's streak to any of Chamberlain's, or debate whose scoring run is more impressive, let's simply take a moment to marvel at Harden's dominance. Here are some eye-popping numbers from a scoring tear the likes of which we hadn't seen in over half a century:

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► Harden averaged 41.1 points a game during his streak. He averaged 40.6 points over 34 games, including the two before the streak started. Only Chamberlain (515) and Elgin Baylor (33) have ever averaged at least 40 points over 33 games — and no, 515 is not a typo.

► Harden raised his season scoring average to 36.4 points a game. In the last 40 years, Michael Jordan is the only player to average more over a season (37.1 in 1986-87).

► The reigning MVP scored at least 40 points 18 times during his streak and 27 times overall this season. Steph Curry, Paul George and Anthony Davis are tied for second in the league this season with seven 40-point games each.

► Harden poured in over 50 points four times during his run (eight total this season). Ten other players have scored at least 50 in a game this season, and none have done it more than once. With 57 and 58 points in consecutive games Jan. 14 and 16, Harden joined Chamberlain as the only players in NBA history to score at least 55 in back-to-back games.

► As noted, Harden is at the forefront of the league's 3-point revolution. During his 30-point streak, he attempted 488 shots from long range (15.3 per game). For the year, Harden leads the league in 3-pointers attempted (932, 13.3 per game) and made (340, 4.9 per game).

► The most polarizing aspect of Harden's game is his ability to draw fouls and get to the free-throw line. He's led the league in free-throw attempts in each of the last four seasons and five of the last six. During his 32-game streak, Harden attempted 411 free throws (12.8 per game). Overall, Harden leads the NBA in free throws attempted (778, 11.1 per game) and made (683, 9.8 per game).

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