Great article. Lebron is having perhaps the most dominant regular season the league has ever seen.
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Great article. Lebron is having perhaps the most dominant regular season the league has ever seen. -
Michael never got swept in a Finals. Also has 6 rings. Holler when hes at 4."This is why my basketball intelligence is unmatched on this site. I'm sure there are better cappers but no one can tell you the strategies of most coaches before the game even starts "
Goat MilkComment -
James is more successful at this point in his career than Jordan was.Comment -
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It doesnt matter, hes a LONG way away from doing what Michael did.
Michael never lost in the finals."This is why my basketball intelligence is unmatched on this site. I'm sure there are better cappers but no one can tell you the strategies of most coaches before the game even starts "
Goat MilkComment -
jordan didnt win 1 til his 7th year. This is Lebrons 7th year.. and he didn't have 3 years of college like Jordan....nor did he have Scottie PippenComment -
Michael never reached the finals in his first 6 seasons, James has and did it with a joke of a supporting cast.
This article is only comparing regular season stats though. Lebron is putting up numbers that are better than Big O's triple-double season and better than Jordan's best year when you adjust for the slower pace of todays game.Comment -
Amazing that he's having one of the top 3 (if the not the best ever) regular seasons and barely a word has been said about it.Comment -
not an insiderComment -
For those without insider:
Normally at this time of year, we would be writing breathless articles about the MVP race, rallying our support behind one candidate or another and sifting through torrents of angry e-mails supporting that player's rivals.
Not this year.
The MVP race has been over since about mid-January. LeBron James has run so far away from the pack that he could shoot 0-for-100 from the field over his final eight games and still win the award going away. (For fun, I fact-checked this: Even with 100 straight misses, no assists and no rebounds in his next 200 minutes, he'd still lead the league in PER.)
Only two items of interest remain. First, will some sycophant homer screw up what should be a unanimous decision with a completely indefensible vote for his local guy? And second, is this the best individual season a player has ever had?
As you might suspect, today's topic deals with the second of those questions. Some of this may sound familiar, as this time a year ago I mentioned that James was en route to one of the best statistical seasons in history.
Here's the thing: This season, he's been better.
Once again, a hallowed record (at least in my world) is in play for James as we enter the final eight games: He could surpass Michael Jordan's 1987-88 campaign for the greatest single-season PER in the modern era. I have to add the "modern" qualifier because the league didn't keep track of things like blocks and individual turnovers before 1973-74, rendering the PER exercise a guessing game for players from previous eras.
James' current PER of 31.81 is second best in "modern" history, and with eight games left (of which he'll probably play only five or six), he retains an outside shot at breaking Jordan's all-time mark of 31.89. At the very least, he's going to be within hailing distance.
Top All-time PER Seasons
Player Year PPG RPG APG MPG PER Michael Jordan 1987-88 35.0 5.5 5.9 40.4 31.89 LeBron James 2009-10 29.8 7.2 8.6 39.0 31.81 Michael Jordan 1990-91 31.5 6.0 5.5 37.0 31.79 LeBron James 2008-09 28.4 7.6 7.2 38.6 31.76 Michael Jordan 1989-90 33.6 6.9 6.3 39.0 31.31 Michael Jordan 1988-89 32.5 8.0 8.0 40.2 31.29
Regardless, James will almost certainly set another record: The best two-year PER stretch of any player in history. James was no slouch last season, finishing at 31.76 for the third-best PER ever (well, until he bumped it down to fourth this season); combined, that gives him a two-year average of 31.78. The best Jordan mustered was 31.55.
Obviously, the larger James versus Jordan argument won't be much of a debate until LeBron picks up some hardware in the postseason. Nonetheless, I can't emphasize enough what an extraordinary accomplishment James' past two seasons represent. We've flinched at comparing current players to Jordan after several previous "next Jordans" were found wanting. But that has put up a mental barrier to a declaration that the numbers see as obvious: In terms of regular-season performance, we're watching the next Jordan.
I'd argue that we can extend that comparison further. When Jordan was at the same stage of his career as LeBron, the press treated him almost exactly the same. Like James, he was a wondrous regular-season performer who had never won anything important and thus couldn't be compared with the likes of Magic Johnson and Larry Bird.
Looking back, that whole notion seems laughable, if not downright quaint … yet we're falling in the exact same trap. Jordan, remember, didn't win a title until his seventh season. As luck would have it, James is in his seventh season, and his odds of winning a crown have never looked better. With the Lakers faltering down the stretch and the Celtics succumbing to age, only James' nemesis from a year ago -- Orlando -- would rate as an even-money proposition to stop him from winning the trophy.
That part of the James-Jordan comparison won't be settled for another two months, his regular-season one in a little more than two weeks.
James leads the league in scoring, at least for the moment (Kevin Durant is only 0.2 behind, and if James rests the final couple of games, Durant will have a number to shoot for, David Robinson-style, in the season finale). But LeBron is not just scoring. He's getting his 29.8 points per game with incredibly high-percentage shots. James' true shooting percentage of 60.4 ranks in the league's top 25, and most of the players ahead of him are snipers with much smaller offensive roles.
Yet for me, his passing is the most amazing part. In fact, for a wing player, it's eye-popping: James has cracked the league's top 15 in pure point rating even though he plays small forward. (Except for James and San Antonio's Manu Ginobili, every player in the top 40 plays the point).
Or try this one on for size: No forward in league history has ever averaged more than eight assists per game until this season; Larry Bird's 7.6 assists per game in 1986-87 came the closest. James is averaging 8.6, even though he's playing in one of the slow-paced eras in league annals and averages a relatively modest 39.0 minutes per game. Put him at Bird's pace in 1986-87, and he'd be averaging a whopping 9.3.
The same applies to most of James' numbers. On a per possession basis, his triple-crown stats of 29.8 points, 7.2 rebounds and 8.6 assists crush Oscar Robertson's triple-double season in 1961-62 … or Jordan's 32.5-8.0-8.0 season in 1988-89 … or just about any statistical season in history.
All except one, that is. James' output still trails Jordan's peak campaign in 1987-88 by a whisker. He has a chance to glide past him in the final two weeks but, with Cleveland throttling down to coast into the postseason, probably won't.
Nonetheless, it's a season for the ages -- and his second of the like in a row. We've held off on comparing James to Jordan for some good reasons, especially since he hasn't won a title yet. But at this point, there's nobody else left to whom we can compare him.Comment -
Yes Scottie Pippen was a badass. But Michael made him better. Lebron is a beast and my favorite player. But he should have the ability to make other guys better. Michael did.
Also Yes MJ had scottie, but the rest were Ron Harpers, Luc Longley, Randy Brown, Steve Kerr, Jason Caffey, Bill Wennington, Tony Kukoc......dont for one minute act like those were amazing players. MJ made them better. They are no different than Delonte, Mo, Anderson, all those guys."This is why my basketball intelligence is unmatched on this site. I'm sure there are better cappers but no one can tell you the strategies of most coaches before the game even starts "
Goat MilkComment -
I'm not sure if I'm understanding you correctly here. Are you suggesting that Lebron doesn't make his teammates better? If so, you are greatly mistaken.
Yes, MJ had role players on his team just like anyone else. However, Scottie Pippen is one of the top 50 players in history and a strong case can be made for Dennis Rodman to be in the top 100. Lebron has a better cast this year than ever before, but Jordan still had a better surrounding team (at least the first 5-7 guys).Comment -
Goat, care to explain how he isn't? Lebron had more success in his first 6 years than Jordan did. If Lebron can manage to get his first ring this year he will stay ahead of MJ's pace. Also, keep in mind that Lebron is 3 years younger than MJ was at the same point in his career.Comment -
Jordan averaged 37 5 and 5 one season, then he averaged 33 8 and 8. Those are both better stats in a season then Lebron has this year. And Jordan was a MUCH better defensive player than Lebron. He led the league in steals almost every year. Lebron has a long way to go (defensively) if your going to put him on JOrdan's level or even Kobe's.Cause Sleep is the Cousin of DeathComment -
If you adjust Lebron's stats to the pace of the NBA during Jordan's early years Lebron is actually putting up better numbers. Similarly, his numbers this year beat Oscar's triple-double season once pace-adjusted (Average team score in a game during that year was around 122 PPG if I am remembering correctly).Comment -
And didn't Jordan lead the league in scoring his first 7 of 8 years in the league? That's nuts.Cause Sleep is the Cousin of DeathComment -
Lebron with only 1 scoring title thus far after 7 years.Cause Sleep is the Cousin of DeathComment -
Yeah, and then he realized that that wasn't the best way for him to play for his team to be successful, which Lebron seems to already have embraced.
Keep in mind that during Jordan's early years (the 80s) he was criticized much the same way Lebron is when compared to Kobe (Individual success but no rings....i.e. and oversimplified and dumb argument). Jordan wasn't considered a winner, Bird and Magic were. Then he won his first ring in his seventh season and never looked back, making those arguments seem stupid in retrospect. I suspect the same will be true of Lebron in a few years.Comment -
There's no postseason success if you don't win buddy. No one remembers who loses in the ECF or the finals. If you asked someone who lost in the finals the past 10 years, they wouldn't no every team. My point is, you have to win it all or your not sucessful in the postseasonCause Sleep is the Cousin of DeathComment -
Jordan put up better stats, 33, 8 and 8 and 3 steals his 5th year in the league. That was the question. I answered it. That's clearly a better season then Lebron is having this year. So stop arguing. Enough man.Cause Sleep is the Cousin of DeathComment -
And lastly, let me know when Hollinger makes up a system that shows what Jordan would have done with no handchecking in his prime
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would you quit saying pace adjusted.......you sounds stupid.
Michael went to his first finals against Magic Johnson and the Lakers. He took em out. Lebron went up against the spurs which were the beast in the west at the time and got swept.
KOBE AND LEBRON CANT WASH MICHAELS SOCKS."This is why my basketball intelligence is unmatched on this site. I'm sure there are better cappers but no one can tell you the strategies of most coaches before the game even starts "
Goat MilkComment -
I suspect in due time Lebron will gain his championships in the same form Jordan won his... Jordan never had to beat a team with a dominat big man to become a champion. Jordan, also did not win any championships until Majic and Bird retired and the Pistons thunder was fading... Who did Jordan beat in the finals.. He beat the Jazz when Malone and Stockton were in the twilight of there careers. Don't get me wrong.. Jordan is the best player I ever watched, but the championships he won were against non-contenders that couldn't have beat the 80's Celtics or Lakers.. The Celtics and Lakers was the best basketball the NBA has ever seen and any of you that think other wise are showing your age or ignorance.
In due time Lebron will start to gain championships as the field of contenders dwindles.. As I know willy despises of Kobe, but he is a threat to win it each and every year and Kobe's time is fading into the sunset.. I really don't know any team in the near future that will challenge Lebron.. I can only think of the Thunder with Durant and some key improvements in the future..
Beware of OKC in the future.. Durant and Westbrook are special.. If that team holds on to them 2 and adds a big time player down low or another shooter or a key 6th man or just adds bench depth that team will be dangerous and a threat to Lebron and the Cavs.. Now, keep in mind i am talking future here before you go on a tirade.. The truth is Westbrook is better than any player on the Cavs roster not named Lebron and he is a PG, coupled with Durant.. OKC, could have a bright future ahead if, and it is a big if...they must add some pieces first.Comment -
michael got three in a row retired came back and got three more in a row nw that's dominating,if he didn't retire he would have gotten ten in a row,now that's dominatingComment -
when michaell was around there was never a question of who was gona take the championship,now thats dominatingComment -
I "sounds" stupid? You're a moron.
In the year Oscar Robertson averaged a triple-double ('62) teams averaged 125.5 possessions per 48 minutes. Last year teams averaged 91.7 possessions. Even someone with a limited education such as yourself should be able to understand that when a player gets 73% of the amount of possessions Big O they will put up lower numbers. If you adjust Lebron's numbers from this year by a factor of 1.368 (125.5/91.7) you get 40.8 PPG, 11.8 APG, 9.8 RPG, 2.3 SPG. Also, the league-wide FG% was much lower is Oscar's days, making rebounds even more inflated (Wilt is the best example of this). Furthermore, Oscar averaged 44 MPG in comparison to Lebron's 39. Pace-adjusted puts these numbers in context, understand? His numbers this year are otherworldly.Comment
Exactly. Lebron will never have someone of Pippen's caliber alongside him.
