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. 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 was his lowest field-goal percentage (29.4 Among the 29 players, LeBron is the third-worst in field goal percentage. LeBron is already the all-time leader for points in playoffs. Its just an example for every player to put the work into his craft.. Looking at James shot charts from those seasons, its difficult to recognize them as the same player. LeBron James (Additional Stats) - NBA player profile page from WhatifSports LeBron James has deemphasized mid-range shotattempts, Cavs players also realize they were punked in the first round. Jaren Jackson Jr. added 18 points and 10 rebounds. 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. receiving yards total: seemingly unreachable. They had more than enough to do something that doesnt happen often beat LeBron when the alternative is the season ends. What is LeBron James' playoff 3-point percentage? 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. As recently as a few weeks ago, the team looked destined for a Western Conference Finals rematch with the Denver Nuggets one that looked particularly advantageous given Jamal Murrays torn ACL. Explore all Los Angeles Lakers NBA player stats - including scoring, rebounding, shooting, assists & more! Jamess made shots have been 53 percent 2-pointers, 10 percent 3-pointers and 36 percent free throws. Theres just one tiny problem with this comparison: There is no comparison. Hes already passed both by becoming the leading scorer in combined regular season and postseason history. Is LeBron James the greatest scorer of all-time? (click on chart to see every dot). Though James has leaned into 3-point shooting along with the rest of the N.B.A., part of what makes him such a fantastic offensive player is that he can score from all over, whether through dunks, relentless drives to the basket, postups or mid-range fadeaways. Last year, LeBron took 36.9 percent of his shots in the mid-range and 36.6 percent of shots at the rim. Chamberlain's video-game numbers will never be matched. All betting content is intended for an audience ages 21+. 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. Of course, clutch stats go beyond simply hitting shots with all zeros on the clock. Larry Nance.5864: 60. And should they be allocating some of these shots to the 3-point line instead? It wasnt until Scottie Pippen matured and Jordan developed his mid-range game that Chicago started reeling off NBA titles. No one should expect to make money from the picks and predictions discussed on this website. Desmond Bane, the guy the Lakers couldnt stop in Game 4, stayed hot. NAME. James has long ago passed Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant, but there are critiques of how he scores compared to those two. As much as I want to go with James and his fully evolved bucket-getting arsenal, I can't quite get there over Jordan. It all comes down to his shooting ability. Buck Williams.5872: 58. Abdul-Jabbar and James had divergent paths to setting one of basketballs most coveted records, a reflection of how the N.B.A. 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. There's never been a player with his combination of size and skill. Ive always just wanted to have a game that fits any style of play or any era, he said. In the mind of all basketball purists, this is incredibly wrong. 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. LeBron's rebuttal:There's a compelling case that James simply has more tricks in the bag. 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. 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. For the next decade, the shot was considered a novelty, a break glass in case of emergency kind of heave. If he had the ability to, nothing would stop him. While the 9-year veteran is a better shooter than this number suggests (33.0 percent a year ago), hes never proven himself to be a reliable long-range threat. LeBron James averages for the NBA season and Playoffs, including points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks and other categories, year by year and career numbers. James mid-range game particularly his fadeaway is beautiful when If they want to change things and end the series in Game 5, having a better game from long range will be the key, and LeBron James should be the one leading them. Even if these shots have been inefficient, how much damage can roughly three shots per game really do? Theres also relevance to Russell Westbrook, James teammate who has struggled with the decline of his athleticism. When they talk about the best scorers of all time, they never mention my name, James said in a recent episode of his show The Shop. Click here to skip down to our full list of the top 15 greatest scorers in NBA history. 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. Abdul-Jabbar, the former center for the Los Angeles Lakers and the Milwaukee Bucks, held the record for nearly 40 years. After the loss, Ham said hed use all options Friday to give the Lakers the best chance to end the series on their court. Lakers | Bonus issued as site credits. Irving's recent scoring exploits showcase on-ball wizardry unrivaled by anyone in league history. The 37-year-old never has a huge individual dip in his production. Could others do more? LeBron's rebuttal:If you line up their combined 16 Finals appearances, James owns the five highest-scoring averages and eight of the top nine. 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. Players like Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson have taken more 30 percent of their made shots as 3-pointers. He was selected to play in 18 All-Star games. 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 Throughout his career, he has adapted his game to become a proficient scorer from 3-point range, mid-range and at the rim. If you sort every single scoring champion in NBA history by field goal percentage, Abdul-Jabbar ranks first and second. 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. frame is something none of us has ever laid eyes on before. James finished with 15 points, 10 rebounds and five assists, shooting 5-of-17 overall and 1-of-9 from 3-point range. Im willing to play 48 [minutes], Davis said. How does the Lakers duo compare? Cavs Reacts Survey: J.B. Bickerstaff under pressure? He has five of them. The Lakers made only 10 of 39 from three-point range. 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. For more information, please read our Legal Disclaimer. It turns out that numbers can lie or, more precisely, obscure the truth. His 118 50-point games are 87 more than Jordan, who has the second-most. LeBron James and Anthony Davis are superstars for a reason. WebOverview Stats Game Log Splits Bio. 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. According to ESPN when James does hit free agency he doesnt want big elaborate pitches from teams. 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). (Credit to NBA.com and basketball-reference for statistics and House of Highlights for GIF). 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. 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. ESNYs 2023 MLB Preview: Giants are a New York rival again. 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. Ja Morant: 31 PTS 10 REB 7 AST pic.twitter.com/DhpqGMhzK2, The Athletic (@TheAthletic) April 27, 2023. James has played in 46 games this season, making 128 threes. Bryant is the closest we'll ever see to Jordan. LeBron is more of the Magic JohnsonOscar Robertson ilk, two guys who needed teammates around them so they can flourish with their dominating court vision and basketball IQ. And as he inches closer to Abdul-Jabbars record, he would like to be thought of as someone who found ways to grow to reach it. Yankees, Mets play every MLB team in 2023, but what does it mean. Davis went to the bench for a quick breather, and after Reaves missed a floater, the Grizzlies scored on their next three possessions to begin the defining stretch of the game. Impending free agent Caris LeVert has interest in remaining a Cavalier. 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. Related Articles In every year of his career since 2004, James has averaged no fewer than 25 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists. Brooks shot 3-of-15 and 2-of-10 on 3s in Game 5, continuing a disturbing trend through the series. He might be the greatest tough shot maker in NBA history not named Durant. And it shouldnt be overly surprising if one or both manages to flip a switch and improve from this area once the playoffs start for the Los Angeles Lakers. LeBron will play better, Davis said. He previously worked at The Salt Lake Tribune covering the Utah Jazz and Utah Utes. Your login session has expired. MP and PER since 1951-52. The series between the Lakers and the Grizzlies could only come down to one thing only: the dominance of LeBron James. But when these shots go in at roughly equal rates, it becomes REALLY hard to tune out the math. 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. Anthony Davis paced the Lakers on Wednesday with 31 points and 19 boards. The line for LeBron James is just past the 38,387 points scored by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Gambling problem? In the case of a scorers true performance mark field goal percentage only one is devastatingly behind the other two (Bryant). He's not for everyone but Harden's steady diet of free throws and 3s nearly toppled the 2017 Warriors. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. 21+ (18+ NH/WY). 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. James left after making only five of 17 shots and one of nine from three-point range. When he gets across, he's fed a pass inside and scores an easy two points. Chamberlain critics claim his preposterous numbers are inflated, merely a product of his generation. Jamess made shots have been 53 percent 2-pointers, 10 percent 3-pointers and 36 percent free throws. Now? LeBron James, on the other hand, has none of these mid-range qualities at his disposal. Here, Matthew Dellavedova brings up the ball and James heads off toward the left corner. Hes not doing it by scoring 12 points a night and just hanging on, said Philadelphia 76ers Coach Doc Rivers, adding, Its just an extraordinary record and its an extraordinary way that hes gone about it., Of the top 250 scorers, share of each players made shots that were , How LeBron James Outscored Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and All the N.B.A. His greatness has hurt his own cause in the eyes of many uneducated basketball onlookers. 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. Hachimura has eased their offensive burdens so far in the series against Memphis, giving the Lakers a third option. SEO: XL Media. And I kind of just relayed that same message to him tonight. Teams now structure their offenses to get 3-point shots. Over 600 players in NBA history have played in multiple Game 7s. Maybe not that much, but every shot is valuable, and there might be better alternatives. Debating the King's case amongst the NBA's all-time great bucket getters, MJ vs. LeBron career stats in G.O.A.T. Plus how many players could do this? Is this just a blip driven by small sample size, or has LeBron struggled from the mid-range the last few years as well? But when thinking about ranking Kobe ahead of LeBron in the overall scoring category, these numbers have to make you think twice. These guys definitely played with the force we were talking about before the game.. This is the mark that reveals just how efficient a player is when shooting the ball. This isn't to say that James won't stop shooting jumpers and that he won't occasionally jack up a lazy jumper. Seven of the 29 are shooting <= 2.0 percent better from the mid-range than they are from downtown. Take this play from Sunday's win against the Hornets for instance. 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. history. James and the Lakers were getting avalanched. Before you stop reading, this isnt another essay about how three is greater than two, the mid-range is dead, and the analytics are always right. No one has been able to consistently replicate his shot. 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. 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. Its just basketball.. Abdul-Jabbar took one 3-pointer in his career; 3-pointers made up a much larger share of Jamess output. It was the basketball equivalent of Cal Ripkens streak of games played in Major League Baseball or Jerry Rices N.F.L. Note: Data is through Feb. 7. 2. Why would anybody be considered a better scorer than another player who boasts a far superior shooting percentage? So, no pressure. Theyll survive in the playoffs as long as their relentless superstar does. The Cavs admitted what we all saw play out over the last week and a half. The team seems likely to end up in the play-in tournament. Tonight I was s, NBA playoff results: Jimmy Butler makes Heat history, LeBron James makes the tough shots. In four games, LeBron has played a safe game and relied heavily on the contributions of his teammates. 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. Follow Joe on Twitter @joevardon, LeBron James vows hell be better for the Lakers after Game 5 dud. But that impression of consistency might actually undersell the amount James has changed his game in 19 NBA seasons, and as he chases down the all-time regular season scoring record, hed like some credit. WebLebron James Mid Range Percentage. TRB% since 1970-71. James might meet or speak with a club official or owner at some point, but the elaborate presentations that have become common in NBA free agency over the years are unnecessary after 15 seasons in the league. They got to talk about something. Of the 29 players, only one Julius Randle is actually shooting a better percentage from three than the midrange (41.7, 40.8), but some arent too far off. MORE: MJ vs. LeBron career stats in G.O.A.T. That's not a very efficient way to distribute shots for a player Kyle has been a Lakers beat reporter since 2018, and was one of a few reporters inside the NBA bubble in 2020. By Sopan Deb,K.K. The Logo owns the third-highest scoring average in Finals history trailing only Rick Barry and Jordan. Oh, and when it comes to LeBron? Lakers | Alexander: When Anthony Davis does it, Lakers can be devastating Case in point: his back-to-back scoring titles in 1971 and 1972. James has only made five shots from beyond the arc and attempted 27 shots. It's pretty simple: nobody won more scoring titles and nobody averaged more points. 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. Host: Underdog Jets Podcast with Wayne Chrebet and Sabo Radio. Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019. SEO: XL Media. Quarter. 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. Sure they were butchers on the defensive end at times, but the hall of fame talent around them covered them up nicely. His 32 60-point games are over five times as many as anyone else. It's one thing to drop 40 in Game 5 of a 1st round series up or down 3-1. Abdul-Jabbar took at least one 3-pointer in each of his 10 seasons with the shot at his disposal. LeBron James Stats and news - NBA stats and news on Los Angeles Lakers Forward LeBron James In fact, hes a completely different player all together. The top four players off the Lakers bench Dennis Schroder, Rui Hachimura, Troy Brown Jr. and Malik Beasley struggled. Leslie described James as the most dominant point guard, two-guard, small forward and power forward all in one because of his size, speed, explosiveness and overall basketball I.Q. It didnt seem like anyone could. That's not a very efficient way to distribute shots for a player who is best playing downhill. LeBron James is shooting 36.9 percent on 3.3 mid-range shots per game this season. Where he should be placed in this Top 10 is the question. Your favorite teams, topics, and players all on your favorite mobile devices. 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. The LA Lakers are taking on the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round, and LeBron James' playoff 3-point percentage could play a huge part in determining the series. LeBron's rebuttal:Can the greatest scorer in NBA history really be someone who ranks outside the top 20 in playoff scoring average? He just needs 21 more makes to eclipse the total number of his 2011-12 attempts (149) from beyond the arc in 62 games. In Jamess rookie season, 2003-4, he took 2.7 3-pointers a game. At his best, he uses his size and speed to bully defenders, get optimal position and either score or get to the line. Jenkins changed his rotation, going away entirely from reserve forward David Roddy. 7 seed and came through the Play-In to make the playoffs. Even contemporaries like Kevin Durant and Carmelo Anthony are often considered better bucket-getters than James, who even called himself not a natural scorer. While it might be a semantics-driven discussion, it does motivate James. Thats right. LeBron was a bit better, shooting 43.1 percent in 2018-19 and 38.9 percent in 2017-18. He turned the ball over five times in 37 minutes and vowed hed be better in Game 6. history. By Half. Lisa Leslie, the retired W.N.B.A. Perhaps this shouldnt be overly surprising. 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. He does it in a variety of other ways such as playing facilitator and barraging his way to the hoop. He's never been a dead-eye shooter, but his decline this year has been notable. Call 1-800-GAMBLER (IN/MI/NJ/PA/WV/WY), 1-800-522-4700 (CO/NH), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), 1-888-532-3500 (VA), 1-800-NEXT STEP (AZ), call/text TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN), or 888-789-7777/visit ccpg.org/chat (CT). Should the Los Angeles Lakers panic over their playoff situation? Theyll have to do it twice more. 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. James really had to carry more weight this last year because of the struggles of the rest of the Cavs team. 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. A decade ago, James would hammer opponents from the left baseline with turnaround jumpers. Taking a closer look, LeBron James' version of 'The Last Dance'? NBA analyst believes 4x NBA champion has attained Athlete Nirvana. Its a simplistic notion that holds true from every angle. introduced the 3-pointer in the 1979-80 season, halfway through Abdul-Jabbars career. 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 third-best scoring average in league history, Baylor was Eurostepping long before anyone knew what the Eurostep was. In 1984, when he broke the career scoring record, then held by Wilt Chamberlain, another former Lakers star, he did so with a sky hook. Chris Paul, for instance, is shooting 50.4 percent on 5.4 mid-range attempts per game this season. By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. Do you already hate MLBs pitch clock? You might also be interested in reading this: How many game-winners has LeBron James made in his career? 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. 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 idea that LeBron doesnt possess a picturesque jump shot confuses many of the fanboys who love and adore MJ and Kobe Bryant. He just doesnt possess the right pieces around him that allow his unique and phenomenally talented skill-set to flourish 100 percent of the way. Still, its worth remembering the obvious: Davis and LeBron for that matter are both elite interior scorers. WebLatest on Los Angeles Lakers small forward LeBron James including complete game-by-game stats on ESPN Robby Sabo is a co-founder, CEO and credentialed New York Jets content creator for Jets X-Factor - Jet X, which includes Sabo's Sessions (in-depth film breakdowns) and Sabo with the Jets. He attempted 121 shots from the midrange making 59 of them. BPM and VORP not available for ET on Friday. 1 seed for Division 1 baseball playoffs, High school tennis: Southern Section playoff pairings, High school baseball: Southern Section playoff pairings, Dig this: Long Beach States Mason Briggs could be next big thing at libero, Kentucky Derby storylines: Training death puts early pall over Churchill Downs. With almost half of the season in the books, the Nets are shooting an astonishing 51.3 percent in the mid-range. Swanson: LeBron James, Lakers are much better in closeout win, as promised The footwork, the mannerisms, the mentality all of it. Were going to need even better from them in Game 6. Chart showing the share of 3-pointers, 2-pointers and free throws by Abdul-Jabbar and James over time.
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