LeBron (King) James of the Cleveland Cavaliers was crowned NBA scoring champion without even playing.

The Cavaliers wanted the superstar forward rested for the playoffs, so listed him a healthy scratch in Wednesday's 84-74 loss to the visiting Detroit Pistons in the regular-season finale for both teams.

LeBron James (23) is the first Cleveland Cavalier to win the NBA scoring title.
(Tony Dejak/Associated Press)

James, who sat behind the Cleveland bench in street clothes, has been hampered by back spasms in recent weeks.

James, 23, averaged a league-high 30.0 points in 75 games, as well as 7.9 rebounds, 7.2 assists, 1.8 steals and 40.4 minutes. 

He led the Cavaliers with a 48.4 per cent shooting percentage, and joins Michael Jordan and Oscar Robertson in the 30-7-7 club. 

"He is going to be so much better than he is right now, after all is said and done," Cavaliers head coach Mike Brown said.

Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant finished second (28.3) behind James, the first Cavalier to win the scoring title.

"I'm not surprised that it happened," Brown said. "There is nothing he can do that surprises me." 

James has averaged 27.3 points, 6.9 rebounds, 6.6 assists, 1.8 steals and 41.2 minutes in 391 NBA games since he was drafted first overall out of high school in 2003.

Cleveland (45-37), seeded fourth, will play the fifth-ranked Washington Wizards (43-39) in the Eastern Conference quarter-finals for the third year in a row.

With files from the Associated Press