LeBron--NBA Career Points Lead Watch

[aaronk]

117 points to go!!!!!
4 more games???

[Big Tusk]

One knock on Lebron compared to Jordan and Jabbar is defense. Lebron has made the NBA's All-Defense team 6 times, the last time when he was 29. Jabbar made the All-Defense team 11 times including 5 times pass the age of 30. Jordan made the All-Defense team 9 times including 3 times pass the age of 30, and in 1988 he won the NBA's Defensive WVP. award while leading the league in scoring.

The all-defense team is a popularity contest to some extent. Jabbar has more appearances than James, yet his career defensive box +/- is lower. Statistically, Lebron is a better defender. I think Kobe made something like 12 all-defense teams, yet his career defensive BPM is negative. That means that the Lakers gave up more points when he was on the floor than when he was not.

[proofs in the pudd'in]

He subtracted points scored during years the player would have been in college, not the NBA, had they played four years of NCAA ball. Lebron and Kobe went straight to the NBA from HS. Jordan left UNC with one year of eligibility left. Etc. Trying to level the statistical playing field, in a way.

Would it be easier/better to just pick a number of years (Best 10, 15) and compare? Obviously the more years you play the more point potential you have.

[Davidokun]

The "peak" in the mid 80s; one is certain that Mark Eaton, as well as Kareem, had something to do with that. But, that's another discussion.

Leaders over 328:

Player	Team	Season	Blocks
Elmore Smith	Los Angeles Lakers	1973-74	393
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar	Los Angeles Lakers	1975-76	338
Tree Rollins	Atlanta Hawks	1982-83	343
Mark Eaton	Utah Jazz	1983-84	351
Mark Eaton	Utah Jazz	1984-85	456
Manute Bol	Washington Bullets	1985-86	397
Manute Bol	Golden State Warriors	1988-89	345
Hakeem Olajuwon	Houston Rockets	1989-90	376
Hakeem Olajuwon	Houston Rockets	1992-93	342
Dikembe Mutombo	Denver Nuggets	1993-94	336
Dikembe Mutombo	Denver Nuggets	1995-96	332

[bambam1729]

My theory: Lebron will play two more seasons. He has stated he wants to play with his son Bronny. Bronny is a high school senior who will be a "one and done" next year. He could be an NBA rookie in 24-25, which happens to be Lebron's final year of his contract with the Lakers. Bronny won't be a lottery pick in the '24 draft but I wouldn't be surprised if he is drafted late by the Lakers or signs a summer league/two-way deal with the Lakers, so that at some point in the 24-25 season he can be on the court with his Dad. There's never been a "Griffey Jr./Griffey Sr" moment in the NBA, closest was Kobe playing 4 years after his dad retired. Father/Son James on the court (or better in the same line-up) at the same time will be one of sports all-time "feel good" moments.

There has been in hockey with Gordie Howe playing with both of his sons, Mark Howe and I don't know the other ones name.

From what I've heard Bronny James is not anywhere near a lottery pick as a one-and-done. He likely only made the McDonald's All-American game because of his last name.

[einnod23]

Season leaders since the NBA started keeping track of blocks (three-point field goal introduced in 1978-79):

Screen Shot 2023-01-25 at 9.06.55 PM.png

The "peak" in the mid 80s; one is certain that Mark Eaton, as well as Kareem, had something to do with that. But, that's another discussion.

[Davidokun]

I haven't looked at any trends over the past 20-25 years but I suspect the pervasiveness of the 3 pointer has reduced blocks as a stat.

Season leaders since the NBA started keeping track of blocks (three-point field goal introduced in 1978-79):

Screen Shot 2023-01-25 at 9.06.55 PM.png

[NotDutra5]

Blocks list would be much different if kept in Chamberlain and Russell's era. On 18 March 1968 in a game against the Lakers, Chamberlain had an official triple-double with 53 points, 32 boards, and 14 assists. The film analysis of the game, done much later, credits him with 24 blocks and 11 steals, for a quintuple double. I suspect the 24 blocks is an over-estimate but it was still likely over 10. There have been 4 quadruple-doubles in NBA history - official ones, that is.

Nate Thurmond - 22/14/13 - 12 blocks - 18 Oct 1974
Alvin Robertson - 20/11/10 - 10 steals - 18 Feb 1986
David Robinson - 34/10/10 - 10 blocks - 29 Mar 1990
Hakeem Olajuwon - 18/16/10 - 11 blocks - 17 Feb 1994

I haven't looked at any trends over the past 20-25 years but I suspect the pervasiveness of the 3 pointer has reduced blocks as a stat.

[DET59]

I wonder how much longer LeBron plans on playing!
Anyone know?
If he goes another 2 or 3 seasons AFTER this one (2 would be the 24-25, 3 would be 25-26, making him 41-plus at its end), he could be FIRST in several of the categories I listed in my first post!
In total scoring, he could surpass 45,000 points if he plays 3 more years, and about 43,000 if he plays two more!!

My theory: Lebron will play two more seasons. He has stated he wants to play with his son Bronny. Bronny is a high school senior who will be a "one and done" next year. He could be an NBA rookie in 24-25, which happens to be Lebron's final year of his contract with the Lakers. Bronny won't be a lottery pick in the '24 draft but I wouldn't be surprised if he is drafted late by the Lakers or signs a summer league/two-way deal with the Lakers, so that at some point in the 24-25 season he can be on the court with his Dad. There's never been a "Griffey Jr./Griffey Sr" moment in the NBA, closest was Kobe playing 4 years after his dad retired. Father/Son James on the court (or better in the same line-up) at the same time will be one of sports all-time "feel good" moments.

[Davidokun]

This video of "old" Wilt blocking young Kareem's Skyhook -twice! - says it all: Wilt is a top-5 athlete in US History and even today would dominate quite nicely.

Indeed, Chamberlain would be dominant in any era.

For what it's worth, my observation, upon seeing Wilt up close at the Mt. SAC Relays, is that the only thing out-of-proportion was his lower legs, which seemed to be slightly long when compared to the rest of his towering frame. Clearly not a hindrance to this great athlete.

In contrast, while in college I met George Bell. In George's case, it was his upper legs that appeared to be out-of-proportion. Unfortunately, those long levers slowed him down significantly. He would come out to the track and run sprints to try to improve his speed, but it always looked like he was running in slow motion.

[scottmitchell74]

This video of "old" Wilt blocking young Kareem's Skyhook -twice! - says it all: Wilt is a top-5 athlete in US History and even today would dominate quite nicely.

[bambam1729]

Blocks list would be much different if kept in Chamberlain and Russell's era. On 18 March 1968 in a game against the Lakers, Chamberlain had an official triple-double with 53 points, 32 boards, and 14 assists. The film analysis of the game, done much later, credits him with 24 blocks and 11 steals, for a quintuple double. I suspect the 24 blocks is an over-estimate but it was still likely over 10. There have been 4 quadruple-doubles in NBA history - official ones, that is.

Nate Thurmond - 22/14/13 - 12 blocks - 18 Oct 1974
Alvin Robertson - 20/11/10 - 10 steals - 18 Feb 1986
David Robinson - 34/10/10 - 10 blocks - 29 Mar 1990
Hakeem Olajuwon - 18/16/10 - 11 blocks - 17 Feb 1994

[aaronk]

He's on fire!!!
Scored 46 points yesterday, even though the Lakers lost!!
Now needs just 178 more to be number one!!!
Having his best season since the 2017-18 season!
At this rate, could score well over 2000 this season!!!

[Davidokun]

Another alternative perspective:

Career Minutes per Game

1. Wilt Chamberlain 45.8
2. Bill Russell 42.3
3. Oscar Robertson 42.8
4. Allen Iverson 41.1
5. Elgin Baylor 40.0
15. LeBron James 38.1
31. Magic Johnson 36.7

Career Points per Game

1. Michael Jordan 30.1
2. Wilt Chamberlain 30.1
3. Elgin Baylor 27.4
4. Kevin Durant 27.3
5. LeBron James 27.2
10. Oscar Robertson 25.7
74. Magic Johnson 19.5

Career Rebounds per Game

1. Wilt Chamberlain 22.9
2. Bill Russell 22.5
3. Bob Pettit 16.2
4. Jerry Lucas 15.6
5. Nate Thurmond 15.0
180. Oscar Robertson 7.5
181. LeBron James 7.5
203. Magic Johnson 7.2

Career Assists per Game

1. Magic Johnson 11.2
2. John Stockton 10.5
3. Oscar Robertson 9.5
4. Chris Paul 9.5
5. Isiah Thomas 9.3
24. LeBron James 7.3

Career Steals per Game

1. Alvin Robertson 2.7
2. Michael Ray Richardson 2.6
3. Michael Jordan 2.4
4. Mookie Blaylock 2.3
5. Fat Lever 2.2
19. Magic Johnson 1.9
72. LeBron James 1.6

Career Blocks per Game

1. Mark Eaton 3.5
2. Manute Bol 3.3
3. Hakeem Olajuwon 3.1
4. David Robinson 3.0
5. Elmore Smith 2.9
244. LeBron James 0.8
>250. Magic Johnson 0.4

(The NBA began compiling statistics on steals and blocks in 1973-74, which was Robertson's last season.)

[aaronk]

I wonder how much longer LeBron plans on playing!
Anyone know?
If he goes another 2 or 3 seasons AFTER this one (2 would be the 24-25, 3 would be 25-26, making him 41-plus at its end), he could be FIRST in several of the categories I listed in my first post!
In total scoring, he could surpass 45,000 points if he plays 3 more years, and about 43,000 if he plays two more!!