A guy on the Jump mentioned in his book why he thinks the NBA should move back the 3-point shot. So, I looked up league averages on basketball reference. The league average was only 35.5%. That's only the 14th-highest mark in league history.
But, the league average eFG% was 52.4% this year - the highest in history. #2 was last year. #3 was the year before that. #4 was the year before that. #5 was 2013-14. So, 5 of the best shooting years in league history occurred in the past 6 seasons. These were the only 6 seasons in league history with an average eFG% above 50% for the season.
This was the first year ever the league attempted more than 30 3-pointers per game (32.0).
Also, the league average turnover percentage was also the best ever this year (lowest at 12.4%). #2 was 2016-17. #3 was 2017-18. #5 was 2015-16. #6 was 2014-15. So, 5 of the best turnover years in league history occurred in the past 6 seasons.
On the flip side, the absolute 6 lowest offensive rebounding percentage seasons occurred in the past 6 seasons.
2 of the bottom 5 FTA/FGA seasons in league history occurred in the past 2 seasons, which makes Harden's FTA totals appear even more unbelievable because he's doing it in a period in league history where nobody goes to the line any more. This year was the 11th lowest in average fouls called per game. Last year was the 4th-lowest. 2016-17 was the 3rd-lowest.
As a result, the 3 highest offensive ratings in league history were the past 3 seasons with this year eclipsing 110 points per 100 possessions (110.4) as league average for the 1st time ever.
Pace is not very high - 16th in league history. The top 7 seasons all occurred in the 70s.
Assists were not very high either - 19th in league history. The top 11 seasons were all in the 80s or last two years of the 70s.