The footwork, the mannerisms, the mentality all of it. Thats right. While people expect LeBron to take Dillon Brooks down the paint to put him on a poster, the chances of that happening is highly unlikely. Throughout his career, he has adapted his game to become a proficient scorer from 3-point range, mid-range and at the rim. history. Its a travesty among all travesties. Taking a closer look. The third-best scoring average in league history, Baylor was Eurostepping long before anyone knew what the Eurostep was. 7 seed and came through the Play-In to make the playoffs. James left after making only five of 17 shots and one of nine from three-point range. The vast array of moves is deeper than any big in league history. Los Angeles Lakers news fromFanSided Daily, Cleveland Cavaliers: Debunking 3 myths of a failed season, NBA Power Rankings Week 20: Philadelphia 76ers streak in the penultimate week, 50 Greatest Players Without a Championship, 50 Greatest Players Not In The Hall of Fame, Most Clutch Player From Each Teams History, Best Shot Blocker From Each Teams History, The Heat and Lakers threaten to throw the NBA playoffs into chaos, NBA Rumors: The Lakers are expected to target an All-Star point guard, 5 things the Lakers must do to complete an upset of the Grizzlies, The 2023 playoffs loom large for LeBron James legacy, Is Anthony Davis playing tonight? The Cavs remain committed to Bickerstaff moving forward. His blend of unique talents and quickness to go along with a beastly 68, 250 lbs. James entered play with a career record of 40-10 in games where his team could end the series with a win, according to StatMuse. He upped Luke Kennards minutes and re-inserted John Konchar, who saw court time earlier in the season. a mid-range jumper, His poor shooting the Lakers are essentially leaving him open, thus clogging the lane didnt hurt the Grizzlies on Wednesday. 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. Myles Hell be fine. But when these shots go in at roughly equal rates, it becomes REALLY hard to tune out the math. 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. His greatness has hurt his own cause in the eyes of many uneducated basketball onlookers. Gambling Problem? ESNYs 2023 MLB Preview: Giants are a New York rival again. His reliability from a long distance could be something that separates Los Angeles from Memphis. Heres how Basketball-Reference sees the seeding playing out: While things are a bit precarious, the entire basketball world knows that IF LeBron James and Anthony Davis can get back to 90-plus percent of themselves by playoff time, Los Angeles remains one of the top championship favorites. The Lakers scored only two more points over a nearly six-minute stretch in which Memphis push its lead from one to 25. He can still being up the ball and initiate the offense - and that's definitely something the Cavs should do - but he can give the Cavs some variance if he comes off the ball as a cutter. Shot Clock Range. 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. The next big decision for James is what is he going to do this offseason. Alexander: When Anthony Davis does it, Lakers can be devastating And should they be allocating some of these shots to the 3-point line instead? Now? All advice, including picks and predictions, is based on individual commentators opinions and not that of Minute Media or its related brands. This year, LeBron has flipped those numbers. has developed over the last 50 years. During Abdul-Jabbars 10 seasons with the 3-point line in use, teams averaged between 2.0 and 6.6 3-point attempts per game. And James, the player who saved the Lakers at the end of regulation and in overtime Monday, couldnt make a positive imprint in his first chance to close out the Grizzlies. Those guys were spectacular tonight, Memphis coach Taylor Jenkins said. With almost half of the season in the books, the Nets are shooting an astonishing 51.3 percent in the mid-range. 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. MORE: MJ vs. LeBron career stats in G.O.A.T. 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. At his worst, LeBron wastes possessions by dribbling away the shot clock and firing up a jump shot. Nobody during his generation came close to matching his dominance as a scorer. He set a new playoff career high in Game 4 with 36 points and followed it up with a 12-of-21 shooting effort, four 3s and 10 rebounds with his teams season on the line. Do yourself a favor and Google "Bird left-handed game.". After two NBA Titles, two Finals MVPs, four NBA MVPs, a Rookie of the Year, and 10 All-NBA first teams, Jamess place in history among the Top 10 is cemented. Where this lack of a picturesque shot really hurts James is when the game needs a hero. ClickBank is the retailer of products on this site. 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. The result has been that LeBron is shooting 51 percent from the field, although his true shooting percentage has roughly stayed the game. And on the biggest stage, Jordan always grabbed the Bulls by the horns as he led Chicago outright in scoring in 32 of his 35 NBA Finals games. Sure they were butchers on the defensive end at times, but the hall of fame talent around them covered them up nicely. Founder: Elite Sports NY - ESNY (Sold in 2020). Anthony Davis had 31 points and 19 rebounds while LeBron James had an off shooting night during the Lakers' loss at Memphis in Game 5. LeBron also has a habit of settling for long twos when teams switch a big onto him in the pick and roll. Memphis needs two more wins to become just the 14th team in NBA history to win a series after trailing, 3-1. Why would anybody be considered a better scorer than another player who boasts a far superior shooting percentage? LeBron, as a way to counteract his jump shot becoming less effective, has largely abandoned the mid-range game altogether. In some rare cases when demand is high, it could take up to 48 hours. 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. Abdul-Jabbar took one 3-pointer in his career; 3-pointers made up a much larger share of Jamess output. The four-time MVP is averaging an embarrassing 18.5% from downtown, which is the lowest in his 20-year career. We were told we wont be here in the first place, said Lakers coach Darvin Ham, whose team is the No. Why is Frank McCourt really pushing it? 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. Memphis forces a Game 6 after a dominant Game 5 performance over the Lakers. Abdul-Jabbar hit just one 3-pointer in his career. Among 219 players (min. But if your best trick in the bag is better than anyone's best trick, that's saying something. At his best, he uses his size and speed to bully defenders, get optimal position and either score or get to the line. He could be the first player to score 40,000 points. James doesnt do it the mid-range way. Shaquille O'Neal* .5858: 62. His Chicago Bulls teams really struggled against the powerhouse Boston and Detroit teams in the late 1980s. LeBron is already the all-time leader for points in playoffs. The lines on the court have had different dimensions, and referees let Abdul-Jabbar endure body blows from opponents that today would easily earn James a chance at free throws. Physically present in AZ/CO/CT/IL/IN/IA/KS/LA (select parishes)/MA/MD/MI/NH/NJ/NY/OH/OR/PA/TN/VA/WV/WY only. Irving's recent scoring exploits showcase on-ball wizardry unrivaled by anyone in league history. However, he's developed into a reliable shooter from beyond the arc as he ages. James had a head start on catching Abdul-Jabbar because he was drafted out of high school, which wasnt allowed in Abdul-Jabbars day. It was his lowest field-goal percentage (29.4 LeBron James averages for the NBA season and Playoffs, including points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks and other categories, year by year and career numbers. Maybe not that much, but every shot is valuable, and there might be better alternatives. history. Now that you've seen the cases laid out for five of the greatest ever, who is actually on top? Abdul-Jabbar accumulated many of his points by perfecting his signature shot, the sky hook. Early on he was all flash and dash while showcasing incredible athleticism near the hole. frame is something none of us has ever laid eyes on before. One reason for that is because of his inefficiency to knock down attempts from beyond the arc. Even when teams can contest James' shot, James getting inside makes the Cavs harder to defend overall. All trademarks and brand names are the property of their respective owners. By simply getting James looks inside, the Cavs' offense becomes less bogged down and harder to stop. James had acknowledged after Mondays heroics that Game 5 would be the toughest in the series, the first crack at closing out the Grizzlies coming on Memphis home floor. In the case of a scorers true performance mark field goal percentage only one is devastatingly behind the other two (Bryant). On NBA 2K23, this All-Time Version of LeBron James' 2K Rating is 96 and has a 2-Way Inside-Out Point Forward Build. He's not for everyone but Harden's steady diet of free throws and 3s nearly toppled the 2017 Warriors. The Cavs admitted what we all saw play out over the last week and a half. How many 3s has LeBron made? Players cant simply attack the basket on every possession. Last year, he shot 48.8 percent from the field while still trying to operate heavily in the middle of the floor. This model was so popular among youngsters that it spurred on an entire generation of imitators. The four-time MVP is averaging an embarrassing 18.5% from downtown, which is the lowest in his 20-year career. Jamess made shots have been 53 percent 2-pointers, 10 percent 3-pointers and 36 percent free throws. Chamberlain's video-game numbers will never be matched. Micah Adams is an Assistant Managing Editor at The Sporting News. Baylor was the first sky-walking, above-the-rim perimeter threat. In the Finals, James averages over five more points than Abdul-Jabbar with a whopping 8-1 advantage in 40-point games. What Magic Johnson and Larry Bird did in the 1980s was the idea of basketball. MP and PER since 1951-52. He shares that durability, plus creativity and talent, with Abdul-Jabbar, who played from 1969 to 1989. Fans seem frustrated by Bickerstaff more than Koby Altman. If he had the ability to, nothing would stop him. 4. -Follow ESNY - Elite Sports NY on Google News to keep up with the latest New York sports news. 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. LeBron's rebuttal:There's a compelling case that James simply has more tricks in the bag. WebLeBron James has averaged at least 25 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists in 15 different seasons. Click here to skip down to our full list of the top 15 greatest scorers in NBA history. Please logout and login again. (Well, maybe.). Luke Kennard over Dillon Brooks? Durant has averaged more points than every single one of them. Its now common to see James swishing a few 40-footers in his pregame warm-up routine, a weapon he started to put into more use after Currys long-range stroke became a league-wide craze. As Dellavedova drives to the opposite corner, LeBron cuts with the help of a sort of lazy J.R. Smith screen. One of the major trends this season for LeBron James has been the decline of his jump shot. WebLatest on Los Angeles Lakers small forward LeBron James including complete game-by-game stats on ESPN Theres also relevance to Russell Westbrook, James teammate who has struggled with the decline of his athleticism. Durant holds the edge in total points across their 35 career head-to-head matchups. This is not to diminish Bryants flat-out stud-like ability to score the basketball. And if you cannot have a growth mindset on how you can find ways to get better with the team, then youll get left behind.. WNBA all-time (since 1997) unless otherwise noted. For the Lakers this season, James isnt getting the wins he wants, but hes still third in scoring (29.4 ppg) behind only Kevin Durant and Joel Embiid while adding 8.1 rebounds and 6.2 assists per game. So, no pressure. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER. WebTRB since 1950-51. It ties his sixth-highest mark. Hachimura has eased their offensive burdens so far in the series against Memphis, giving the Lakers a third option. While Jordan perfected the mid-post fadeaway late in his career, James, too, added an unguardable step-back jumper. LeBron James has won 65.0 percent of the time in his career. 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. It all comes down to his shooting ability. The fadeaway and quick-pivots all from a mid-range post or face-up is now a mythical quality thanks to Jordan and his six NBA Championships. 10 scoring titles to one speaks for itself as does the all-time mark in both the regular season and playoffs. There's never been a player with his combination of size and skill. No other than His Airness Michael Jordan. Hes only 208 points behind Karl Malone (he should pass him in the coming month) at No. In fact, hes a completely different player all together. Overlapping James production from 10 seasons ago to now will show some common traits. Grizzlies guard Ja Morant gets past Lakers forward LeBron James for a layup in Game 5 during the first half of Game 5 on Wednesday night in Memphis. 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. Odds and lines subject to change. Abdul-Jabbar, the former center for the Los Angeles Lakers and the Milwaukee Bucks, held the record for nearly 40 years. All betting content is intended for an audience ages 21+. Its a simplistic notion that holds true from every angle. The 37-year-old never has a huge individual dip in his production. By contrast, James's career postseason scoring average is nearly two points higher than during the regular season and increased from the regular season in six of his last seven playoff appearances. Call (800) 327-5050 or visit gamblinghelpline.ma.org (MA), Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). 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. LeBron James. The reason for the ghastly confusion has nothing to do with some of his questionable off-the-court decisions, such as The Decision. It has nothing to do with flopping or his perceived whining on the court. 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. In every year of his career since 2004, James has averaged no fewer than 25 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists. I just think the biggest thing is what hes done to transition his game to this stage of his career in terms of his shooting, Coach Frank Vogel said. 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. The Lakers, faced with shutting down their best players or trying for the miracle comeback, chose the latter. Eligibility restrictions apply. Of course, clutch stats go beyond simply hitting shots with all zeros on the clock. We all know he can score the ball.. It was the basketball equivalent of Cal Ripkens streak of games played in Major League Baseball or Jerry Rices N.F.L. Not only do Durant's three career game-winning buzzer-beaters pale in comparison to the seven for James, he's never hit one in the playoffs. By Sopan Deb,K.K. James, at 38, is one of the oldest players in the league and in his 20th season. You got to be able to adjust, man, he said. Detlef Schrempf.5858: 61. I've already broken down my thoughts on the top five but here are some quick hitters on the rest of the top 15. Hachimura finished with the best plus-minus rating: a minus-18. His second best year was in 2009 where he shot 45.3 percent from midrange attempting 243 shots. What is LeBron James' playoff 3-point percentage? Last year, LeBron took 36.9 percent of his shots in the mid-range and 36.6 percent of shots at the rim. LeBron James jogged backward, lips pursed after another jumper rattled in and then bounced out. At his best, you can make a case that no scoring champion has been more efficient. A $300-million (minimum) gondola to Dodger Stadium? LeBron James Stats and news - NBA stats and news on Los Angeles Lakers Forward LeBron James. If James and Vogel were subtle about that subtext, Westbrook seemed to acknowledge directly it after Saturdays game. (click on chart to see every dot). Buck Williams.5872: 58. By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. Sure. A James team hadnt lost a closeout game since April 27, 2018, when the Pacers clobbered Cleveland in Game 6, only to lose to the Cavs in Game 7. In that MVP season, James took a career-low in 3-pointers: Only 11% of his shot attempts were threes, and nearly half (49%) were mid-range shots. But for the most part, LeBron has stopped taking so many mid-range shots and is instead doing most of work inside where he's a lot harder to defend. Also read: LeBron James' version of 'The Last Dance'? NBA analyst believes 4x NBA champion has attained Athlete Nirvana, Be the first one to comment on this story. Looking at James shot charts from those seasons, its difficult to recognize them as the same player. Subscribe to The Athletic for in-depth coverage of your favorite players, teams, leagues and clubs. 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. Jenkins changed his rotation, going away entirely from reserve forward David Roddy. Kyle Goon is a Maryland native who kept traveling west in search of stories. Ja Morant recovered from his rough Game 4 with 31 points on 13-of-26 shooting, 10 rebounds and seven assists. 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. For more information, please read our Legal Disclaimer. Concertgoer lets out a loud full body orgasm while L.A. Phil plays Tchaikovskys 5th, How Palm Springs ran out Black and Latino families to build a fantasy for rich, white people, 17 SoCal hiking trails that are blooming with wildflowers (but probably not for long! A deadly sniper from downtown, he also might be the craftiest around the rim finisher. 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). In every instance Jordan is first, James is second, and Bryant is third. 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 Last year, LeBron took 36.9 percent of his shots in the mid-range and 36.6 percent of shots at the rim. You might also be interested in reading this: How many game-winners has LeBron James made in his career? One of these copycats includes Kobe: Furthermore, just take in how eloquent the mid-range game is for both guys. Bane had 33 points and Morant scored 31, each grabbing 10 rebounds. About 70 percent of Abdul-Jabbars made shots were 2-pointers, with 30 percent free throws. Giannis Antetokounmpo: (78.0 percent, 9.6 attempts per game). LeBron James and Anthony Davis are superstars for a reason. Its an interesting time to be a Los Angeles Lakers fan. This takes a physical toll, particularly when defenses are sending help in the paint. See for yourself! In four games, LeBron has played a safe game and relied heavily on the contributions of his teammates. 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. Theyll survive in the playoffs as long as their relentless superstar does. For the next decade, the shot was considered a novelty, a break glass in case of emergency kind of heave. James isn't the best shooter from beyond the arc, but his ability to knock down 3-pointers could be one of the biggest changes in their quest to defeat Memphis. Should the Los Angeles Lakers panic over their playoff situation? Impending free agent Caris LeVert has interest in remaining a Cavalier. Takeaways from the Cavaliers season-ending Game 5 loss, James is shooting 29.2 percent from three, Cleveland Cavaliers-New York Knicks Game 5 gamethread. Chart showing the share of 3-pointers, 2-pointers and free throws by all players over time. Davis started the postseason hitting an absurd 25-41 (61.0 percent) of his mid-range attempts. He does it in a variety of other ways such as playing facilitator and barraging his way to the hoop. Theyll have to do it twice more. The Logo owns the third-highest scoring average in Finals history trailing only Rick Barry and Jordan. 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. No longer could an NBA great have their own unique style of play. The content on this site is for entertainment and educational purposes only. Kobe Bryant, on the other hand, could be argued as a one-trick pony who capitalized on what NBA fans think should be a great player the closer. The 48.8 percent from the field is a better percentage than Kobe Bryant ever shot from the midrange. 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. ET on Friday. James has only made five shots from beyond the arc and attempted 27 shots. Our team will get better and Friday is another opportunity to close the series.. debate. Like KD, Iceman won three straight scoring titles and four in five seasons. Hell get better. How does the Lakers duo compare? WebA table featuring shooting information for each player in the league based on selected filters. The team seems likely to end up in the play-in tournament. Web48.4 46.4 FG3% 39.0 36.4 FT% 88.2 78.4 eFG% 52.2 50.9 PER 19.2 15.8 WS 3.5 22.1 4/27 Pelicans guard CJ McCollum underwent successful right thumb surgery on Tuesday to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament, the team announced in a press release. All picks and predictions are suggestions only. 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. Case in point: his back-to-back scoring titles in 1971 and 1972. If you're staking your claim to be the greatest scorer of all-time, performance under playoff pressure has to factor in. It turns out that numbers can lie or, more precisely, obscure the truth. Take this play from Sunday's win against the Hornets for instance. WebLeBron James on NBA 2K23. star, said James can do some of everything. He has five of them. Perhaps this shouldnt be overly surprising. Lakers | 1. Among the 29 players, LeBron is the third-worst in field goal percentage. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. James? Table showing the scoring totals for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Lebron James, broken down by type of shot. LeBron was a bit better, shooting 43.1 percent in 2018-19 and 38.9 percent in 2017-18. 2 all-time, and 1,667 points behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. For all of Harden's playoff warts, it's tough to argue against his brutally efficient isolation scoring. 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. The NBA record is 47.4 percent by the 2021 Phoenix Suns. 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. That said, the mid-range isnt for everyone, and its worth exploring just how much LeBron James and Anthony Davis should be embracing it. The fadeaway and quick-pivots all from a mid-range post or face-up is now a mythical quality thanks to Jordan and his six NBA Championships. In 2011-12 for the Miami Heat, he averaged 27.1 points, 7.9 rebounds and 6.2 assists on his way to his third MVP award. Chamberlain critics claim his preposterous numbers are inflated, merely a product of his generation. All of those signature moments just kept adding to the legacy. Bryant is the closest we'll ever see to Jordan. No one has been able to consistently replicate his shot. For the season,James is shooting 29.2 percent from three - his lowest total since his rookie year way back when he was 19 - and he's shooting 6.2 percent worse from deep when compared to last year. This is why hasn't posted insane stats. 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 James, on the other hand, has none of these mid-range qualities at his disposal. James finished with 15 points, 10 rebounds and five assists, shooting 5-of-17 overall and 1-of-9 from 3-point range. Note: Data is through Feb. 7. James has played in 46 games this season, making 128 threes. ClickBank's role as retailer does not constitute an endorsement, approval or review of these products or any claim, statement or opinion used in promotion of these products. The Grizzlies, called out earlier this week by their coach for lacking maturity, showed some Wednesday in the familiar confines of FedEx Forum. The line for LeBron James is just past the 38,387 points scored by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.