Back in 2018, favorite toy estimated that LeBron would finish with an average career total of 39,847 points, with a 48 percent chance to reach 40,000. Whether he's attacking in isolation, posting up or cutting off ball, James is most effective when he's inside. By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. 30, he'd be in the thick of the MVP discussion. A 4-time MVP thats larger than life and always in contention, seeking all there is to offer in Los Angeles by playing for the Lakers after a delivering a title and dominating for the hometown team. His midrange shots now account for just 23% of his field goal attempts, and he even gets a slightly higher percentage of looks at the rim as a 37-year-old (43%) than he He was selected to play in 18 All-Star games. Iverson's 29.7 playoff scoring average is second in NBA history behind only No. A player who operates in isolation as much as James does is going to take bad jumpers from time to time. Thats still a shot he can hit, but his more recent sweet spot is from beyond the arc on the left side StatMuse tracks him at 37.2% from that zone, where he can unleash his stepback three. His 3-point shooting has been a massive LeBron was incredible in the mid-range this postseason, making 59-of-121 (48.8%) so good it would have been a playoff best % for Kobe Bryant. WebLeBron James has averaged at least 25 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists in 15 different seasons. The Lakers couldnt end it. NAME. during Abdul-Jabbars career, while they have been a much larger part of the league during Jamess career. Memphis beat the Lakers 116-99 on its home floor Wednesday night in Game 5, extending the first-round NBA playoff series to a sixth game in Los Angeles on Friday night. The vast array of moves is deeper than any big in league history. If he had the ability to, nothing would stop him. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER. SEO: XL Media. I do know, just being around daily, seeing him being locked in and playing at a level that a lot of people dont really expect him to play at at his age, to see it firsthand, its something I can learn from as I continue to get older in this league and find ways to be able to be effective, Westbrook said. Ja Morant, the guy the Lakers couldnt stop in Game 3, attacked and told them they were too small.. When he gets across, he's fed a pass inside and scores an easy two points. We all know he can score the ball.. And yet, James feels that he has not received the reputation of being a great scorer. WebTRB since 1950-51. These guys definitely played with the force we were talking about before the game.. You got to be able to adjust, man, he said. And when he's harder to defend, so are the Cavs. All advice, including picks and predictions, is based on individual commentators opinions and not that of Minute Media or its related brands. None of these changes were sudden. I can only imagine somebody who can be the all-time leading scorer in NBA history who doesnt get the credit of being a scorer, said Anthony. Hachimura finished with the best plus-minus rating: a minus-18. Look for the market for James to really heat up the next week, but once James hits free agency dont expect him to take a ton of time to make the decision. NBA.com Open jumpers either missed badly or rimmed out, but the Lakers stayed close and again had the chance to take the lead with four minutes left in the third quarter. Bane hit his first shot, a mid-range jumper, to start the first quarter and fittingly ended it with a three, giving him 14 points in the quarter. Anytime a current player throws up a scoring performance of the ages, it takes one trip to #NBATwitter to find out that Chamberlain likely did it more often than anyone else. And yet during a six-year stretch in which he won six straight scoring titles, the Big Dipper averaged nearly 10 more points than anyone else. His career averages (27.5 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 7.4 apg) closely mirror every year of his career with only minor deviations. The Lakers didnt fold despite being down by 14 at the end of the first quarter and 17 deep into the second. Member: Pro Football Writers of America. James adapting as a long-range shooter late in his career may inform Westbrooks path to aging more gracefully in the game. With the series heading to another crucial moment, Davis said he has confidence in the single biggest adjustment a team could have in its pocket. This is what you play an entire season for.. LeBron James and Anthony Davis combine to score nine early points in overtime to lead the Lakers to a Game 4 win over Memphis on Monday night. The Logo owns the third-highest scoring average in Finals history trailing only Rick Barry and Jordan. There's no denying that young MJ was a force of nature when driving, but even he can't rival James's physicality and ability to put his head down and get to the cup whenever he wants. In 17 regular season contests, he averaged 17.4 points and 6.1 assists per game while hitting 48.4 percent of his shots overall and 41.4 percent of his attempts from 3-point range. (click on chart to see every dot). LeBron will play better, Davis said. We are the original Soulmate Sketch and have been featured on TV, so you can expect high quality work from a real psychic with a 100% satisfaction guarantee. Ultimately, while James often says hes humbled to be listed among the greats, his desire to shape his legacy still drives him he still wants the respect he believes hes still due. There's never been a player with his combination of size and skill. All company, product and service names used in this website are for identification purposes only. WebFind detailed LeBron James Stats on FOXSports.com. LeBron James Game Day: Looking forward to Lakers-Warriors In the mind of all basketball purists, this is incredibly wrong. Grizzlies might have found an answer vs. Lakers. With the game on the line, James outshines even Durant. Please logout and login again. Ja Morant recovered from his rough Game 4 with 31 points on 13-of-26 shooting, 10 rebounds and seven assists. The do-it-all forward, who entered the NBA with the "more Magic, than Michael" mantra, has never been singled out for his scoring prowess despite consistently ranking among the league's most prolific scorers. history. End that speculation, Koby Altman has no plans to replace J.B. Bickerstaff. LeBron James Stats: NBA Career Averages by Year Lakers | Why is Frank McCourt really pushing it? LeBron, as a way to counteract his jump shot becoming less effective, has largely abandoned the mid-range game altogether. Try a week on us. His inefficiency could unlock a ton of chances for the squad to start making an impact in Game 5. As we fade out to farther in the perimeter, his field goal percentage drops from the elite 73.3% at 0-3 feet to 42.4%, 36.7% and 38.5% at 3-10 feet, 10-16 feet and 16-23 feet respectively. Every defender knew what was coming and nobody could do anything about it. No one should expect to make money from the picks and predictions discussed on this website. Taking a closer look, LeBron James' version of 'The Last Dance'? NBA analyst believes 4x NBA champion has attained Athlete Nirvana. Is LeBron James the greatest scorer of all-time? Debating the James has played in 46 games this season, making 128 threes. Ive always just wanted to have a game that fits any style of play or any era, he said. LeBron James Abdul-Jabbar took at least one 3-pointer in each of his 10 seasons with the shot at his disposal. A huge part of his night were his six 3-pointers three of them came in the fourth quarter of the 124-116 win and as he discussed how Steph Curry sent the NBA on course for a 3-point shot-centric version of the game, he realized he had to change. WAIT! The same needs to be said about the mid-range game and that picturesque shot Kobe and MJ fanboys idolize. Before this, he shot only 35.5 percent in 2018-19 and 36.4 percent in 2017-18. Use of these names, trademarks and brands does not imply endorsement. LeBron James' criticism of NBA Play-In game comes across as hypocritical, NBA play-in: 3 ways the tournament could lead to total chaos, Lakers News: LeBron James's return could come Friday night vs. Kings. Giannis Antetokounmpo: (78.0 percent, 9.6 attempts per game). LeBron James James mid-range game particularly his fadeaway is beautiful when he gets it going, but hes simply not been efficient from this area of the floor. His greatness has hurt his own cause in the eyes of many uneducated basketball onlookers. Nobody during his generation came close to matching his dominance as a scorer. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Plaschke: Beating Grizzlies with his grit, LeBron James claims full ownership of the Lakers, Lakers win Game 4 in overtime to put Grizzlies on brink of playoff elimination, Lakers vs. Warriors: What scouts expect in playoff series, Photos | Stars come out to support the Lakers, Game 7 mentality: Lakers close out Grizzlies to earn some rest, Plaschke: Lakers live up to their legacy with a close-out win for the ages. LeBron James | Los Angeles Lakers | NBA.com edit: Okay he is talking about the playoffs, so in that case 60 is a really high sample size and most James, at 38, is one of the oldest players in the league and in his 20th season. One reason for that is because of his inefficiency to knock down attempts from beyond the arc. After the loss, Ham said hed use all options Friday to give the Lakers the best chance to end the series on their court. Below were his attributes and badges. James averaged 29.7 points, 11.3 rebounds, 8.9 assists, 2.6 steals, and 2.3 blocks per game in the finalsbecoming the first person to lead all five statistical categories for players on both teams in the finalsand was unanimously named finals MVP. Click here to skip down to our full list of the top 15 greatest scorers in NBA history. Can you name the 4 other players to do this more than 5 times? Among the 29 players, LeBron is the third-worst in field goal percentage. Hes been no Chris Paul, however. James rock-steady counting statistics only create the impression that his game is standing still. Theres a lot of subtext to those details, not the least of which is that James wants more respect for how hes rewriting NBA history. Ages given are the players ages on Feb. 1 of that season. His 32 60-point games are over five times as many as anyone else. First and foremost, erase any notion that you may have about Kobe being a better scorer than LeBron. I feel like my game would fit any era in basketball history from the time that the great James Naismith created it. history. Detlef Schrempf.5858: 61. But the pressure is no greater than in a Game 7 and in the heat of the moment, no player has scored like Durant who can get his from any spot on the floor against one, two or even three defenders. Had a fourth-quarter shoulder injury not sidelined Kennard, Dillon Brooks, a lightning rod for controversy in this series, may not have been back out for the fourth quarter. But when thinking about ranking Kobe ahead of LeBron in the overall scoring category, these numbers have to make you think twice. (Credit to NBA.com and basketball-reference for statistics and House of Highlights for GIF). Alexander: When Anthony Davis does it, Lakers can be devastating If LeBron James had the mid-range game of MJ or Kobe, hed be the best basketball player who has ever graced planet Earth. Abdul-Jabbar accumulated many of his points by perfecting his signature shot, the sky hook. Myles Date Range. The Cavs remain committed to Bickerstaff moving forward. By simply getting James looks inside, the Cavs' offense becomes less bogged down and harder to stop. But he never tried more than three in a single season and he made only one: in 1986-87. James had a head start on catching Abdul-Jabbar because he was drafted out of high school, which wasnt allowed in Abdul-Jabbars day. ClickBank is the retailer of products on this site. LeBron James midrange - Cavs Nation See for yourself! 21+ (18+ NH/WY). He attempted 121 shots from the midrange making 59 of them. Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant brings the ball up court during the first half of Game 5 in a first-round NBA playoff series against the Lakers on Wednesday in Memphis. Theres just one tiny problem with this comparison: There is no comparison. As any analytics nerd will tell you, threes are more valuable than twos even when the mid-range shots go in at a higher rate (e.g. Rule changes designed to give players freedom of movement throughout the court mean defenders cant try to stop James from scoring with some of the more aggressive moves they would have been allowed to use against Abdul-Jabbar. debate, 30.1 PPG in regular season (most all-time), The 100-point game (NBA single-game record), Averaged 50.4 PPG in a single season (most in NBA history), 36.2 career PPG in Game 7s (best in NBA history), 29.5 career PPG in playoffs (best among active players), Highest career true-shooting percentage of every 25K scorer, 38,387 career points (most in NBA history), The skyhook (most unstoppable shot in NBA history). Coach: Port Jervis (NY) High School. Brandon Ingram That said, the mid-range isnt for everyone, and its worth exploring just how much LeBron James and Anthony Davis should be embracing it. Its just an example for every player to put the work into his craft.. Even when teams can contest James' shot, James getting inside makes the Cavs harder to defend overall. BPM and VORP not available for has developed over the last 50 years. Among 60 players averaging at least 4.9 shots per game within five feet of the basket, here are the five most efficient scorers this season. For more information, please read our Legal Disclaimer. history. Buck Williams.5872: 58. James has long ago passed Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant, but there are critiques of how he scores compared to those two. Shaquille O'Neal* .5858: 62. Grizzlies force Game 6 vs. Lakers, stave off elimination ORB, DRB, STL, BLK, DRtg, BPM, VORP, and per 100 Poss stats since 1973-74. While James hasnt decided yet whether to pick up his player option, sources close to the situation tell ESPN that he has no intention of hearing elaborate pitch meetings from teams. He's never been a dead-eye shooter, but his decline this year has been notable. Add in LeBron's evolution as a 3-point shooter he's quietly become one of the NBA's best at making step-back 3s and it's apparent that James can beat opponents in more ways than even Jordan. This takes a physical toll, particularly when defenses are sending help in the paint. LeBron James, on the other hand, has none of these mid-range qualities at his disposal. A decade ago, James would hammer opponents from the left baseline with turnaround jumpers. Luke Kennard over Dillon Brooks? WebLeBron James on NBA 2K23. LeBron James (Additional Stats) - NBA player profile DAngelo Russell mirrored his performance from late in Game 4 early in the second half, scoring eight straight points out of halftime to make it a one-point game, but the Lakers never could grab the lead. Lebron James again jumped at Chart showing the share of 3-pointers, 2-pointers and free throws by Abdul-Jabbar and James over time. For their playoff careers in the postseason, James has easily outperformed Durant when it comes to game-tying or go-ahead shots in the final minute. Eligibility restrictions apply. Lakers | LeBron's rebuttal:Can the greatest scorer in NBA history really be someone who ranks outside the top 20 in playoff scoring average? One of the major trends this season for LeBron James has been the decline of his jump shot. The four-time MVP is averaging an embarrassing 18.5% from downtown, which is the lowest in his 20-year career. See terms at draftkings.com/sportsbook. The idea that LeBron doesnt possess a picturesque jump shot confuses many of the fanboys who love and adore MJ and Kobe Bryant. A run to undo a 17-point first-half deficit got them all the way within a point in the third quarter before the Memphis Grizzlies smothered them in a matter of possessions. Last year, LeBron took 36.9 percent of his shots in the mid-range and 36.6 percent of shots at the rim. Even the players who are actually able to defend LeBron at a high level - think Draymond Green, Kawhi Leonard and Jimmy Butler - are going to have hard time defending LeBron when he cuts across the lane and gets a chance to establish position close to the rim. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (CO/IL/IN/LA/MD/MI/NJ/OH/PA/TN/WV/WY), 1-800-NEXT STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (KS/NH), 888-789-7777/visit ccpg.org (CT), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), visit OPGR.org (OR), or 1-888-532-3500(VA). Note that All-Time Players' ratings never change on NBA 2K23. And there's never been a scorer with his ability to do it efficiently at every level, as evidenced by his career true-shooting percentage which is by far the best in NBA history by any of the players with 25,000 career points. Where he should be placed in this Top 10 is the question. As the chart above indicates, the percentage of all field goal attempts from the mid-range has dropped from 30.3% to just 13.1% over the past decade as more and An explosive finisher early in his career, Jordan evolved into the most deadly mid-range scorer ever with his patented turnaround fadeaway over either shoulder becoming his signature shot. In fact, hes a completely different player all together. James is ninth in career 3-pointers after relying more on long-range shooting as he aged (its usually easier on the body) and as 3-pointers soared in popularity. LeBron scoring more at the rim is a net positive for the Cavs. Last season, 31 players averaged at least three mid-range attempts, and James only hit 34.3 percent of them the worst mark of the entire group. LeBron James - Basketball-Reference.com He upped Luke Kennards minutes and re-inserted John Konchar, who saw court time earlier in the season. Abdul-Jabbar hit just one 3-pointer in his career. James, with the good timing of being able to start this journey at 18 years old, is still proving every day just how much he has left, scoring 40 points on several nights this season and almost reaching 50 in a January game against Houston. LeBron James Kyle has been a Lakers beat reporter since 2018, and was one of a few reporters inside the NBA bubble in 2020. The four-time MVP is averaging an embarrassing 18.5% from downtown, which is the lowest in his 20-year career. 1. The Grizzlies staved off elimination in this first-round series by handling James and the Los Angeles Lakers, 116-99, in Game 5 on Wednesday behind 33 points from Desmond Bane. In every instance Jordan is first, James is second, and Bryant is third. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL). Chamberlain's video-game numbers will never be matched. So, no pressure. LeBron James has deemphasized mid-range shotattempts, Cavs players also realize they were punked in the first round. Chamberlain critics claim his preposterous numbers are inflated, merely a product of his generation. Sorry Kobe fanboys, but here are the 10 Greatest NBA players of all-time#NBAFinals #LeBron pic.twitter.com/Xw7CLyAP5Z, Elite Sports NY (@EliteSportsNY) June 10, 2016. It came on the road against the Phoenix Suns on his only 3-point attempt of the game. He gets the final spot over the likes of Tracy McGrady, Stephen Curry and Bob Pettit thanks to four scoring titles during an era rich with talented scorers. The top four players off the Lakers bench Dennis Schroder, Rui Hachimura, Troy Brown Jr. and Malik Beasley struggled. To finish off a comeback in this series, the Memphis Grizzlies are going to need a lot more of it. He has averaged 27.2 points, 7.5 rebounds and 7.3 assists in 1,421 regular-season games. He couldnt stop it. Theyll survive in the playoffs as long as their relentless superstar does. LeBron James jogged backward, lips pursed after another jumper rattled in and then bounced out. Looking at top 5 behind-the-arc shooters in 2023 NBA playoffs, How many game-winners has LeBron James made in his career? In the Finals, James averages over five more points than Abdul-Jabbar with a whopping 8-1 advantage in 40-point games. ), At Willie Nelson 90, country, rock and rap stars pay tribute, but Willie and Trigger steal the show, Sherman Oaks Notre Dame receives No. Lebron James Mid Range Percentage Reven Sports His second best year was in 2009 where he shot 45.3 percent from midrange attempting 243 shots. About 70 percent of Abdul-Jabbars made shots were 2-pointers, with 30 percent free throws. He was especially good range from hitting from the midrange during the Seven of the 29 are shooting <= 2.0 percent better from the mid-range than they are from downtown. Their basketball eras have looked so different that they might as well have been playing different sports. LeBron James