It was his lowest field-goal percentage (29.4 percent) in a playoff game since Game 5 of the 2014 Eastern Conference Finals (2-of-10, 20 percent) All five of his turnovers came before halftime an uncharacteristic performance anytime, but especially with the chance to close out a series. Plus how many players could do this? He hasnt officiallyopted out of next year with the Cavs but that is the exception. 30 games) that have averaged at least two 3-point attempts this season, only two are shooting worse from downtown than Davis 28.6 percent. Where would LeBron go if he wanted to own the mid-range a la Kobe/MJ/KD? WNBA all-time (since 1997) unless otherwise noted. Abdul-Jabbar, the former center for the Los Angeles Lakers and the Milwaukee Bucks, held the record for nearly 40 years. Founder: Elite Sports NY - ESNY (Sold in 2020). (Credit to NBA.com and basketball-reference for statistics and House of Highlights for GIF). I think everyone in our generation knows Kareem almost as a myth because we probably never watched him play, said Diana Taurasi, who holds the W.N.B.A.s career scoring record with nearly 9,700 points. James mid-range game particularly his fadeaway is beautiful when Even if they dont start hitting mid-range shots, they will still be incredibly impactful on the court. Whether he's attacking in isolation, posting up or cutting off ball, James is most effective when he's inside. 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. He has averaged 27.2 points, 7.5 rebounds and 7.3 assists in 1,421 regular-season games. For the next decade, the shot was considered a novelty, a break glass in case of emergency kind of heave. After the loss, Ham said hed use all options Friday to give the Lakers the best chance to end the series on their court. SEO: XL Media. What LeBron James Has That Stephen Curry Does Not. His jump shot might be less effective, but LeBron James is finding success by eliminating mid-range shot attempts. Why would anybody be considered a better scorer than another player who boasts a far superior shooting percentage? Joe Vardon is a senior NBA writer for The Athletic, based in Cleveland. LeBron's rebuttal:There's a compelling case that James simply has more tricks in the bag. Explore all Los Angeles Lakers NBA player stats - including scoring, rebounding, shooting, assists & more! Even when teams can contest James' shot, James getting inside makes the Cavs harder to defend overall. Washed up strong safety and 400M runner. The Lakers couldnt end it. Anthony Davis paced the Lakers on Wednesday with 31 points and 19 boards. Abdul-Jabbar accumulated many of his points by perfecting his signature shot, the sky hook. Subscribe to The Athletic for in-depth coverage of your favorite players, teams, leagues and clubs. This is what you play an entire season for.. Among 219 players (min. This year, LeBron has flipped those numbers. Hell get better. LeBron James is averaging around 30 points per game in his age-38 season; Kareem Abdul-Jabbar averaged around 23 points in that season, and he fell off sharply afterward. 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. When we saw him completely take control of high-pressure games in the 1990s, everything we knew about a great NBA player changed. See draftkings.com/sportsbook for full terms and conditions. Lakers | Caris LeVert absolutely has interest in re-signing. Lakers | 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. Void in ONT. His Chicago Bulls teams really struggled against the powerhouse Boston and Detroit teams in the late 1980s. WebTRB since 1950-51. The Lakers will only go as far as ageless wonder LeBron James takes them. 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. Hes been no Chris Paul, however. 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. history. Take this play from Sunday's win against the Hornets for instance. And I kind of just relayed that same message to him tonight. Is this just a blip driven by small sample size, or has LeBron struggled from the mid-range the last few years as well? Email: robby.sabo[at]jetsxfactor.com. Host: Underdog Jets Podcast with Wayne Chrebet and Sabo Radio. 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. Hachimura has eased their offensive burdens so far in the series against Memphis, giving the Lakers a third option. Use of these names, trademarks and brands does not imply endorsement. Players like Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson have taken more 30 percent of their made shots as 3-pointers. All advice, including picks and predictions, is based on individual commentators opinions and not that of Minute Media or its related brands. Theyll have to do it twice more. His blend of unique talents and quickness to go along with a beastly 68, 250 lbs. Its an interesting time to be a Los Angeles Lakers fan. Seven of the 29 are shooting <= 2.0 percent better from the mid-range than they are from downtown. 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. SEO: XL Media. Giannis Antetokounmpo: (78.0 percent, 9.6 attempts per game). One of the major trends this season for LeBron James has been the decline of his jump shot. The content on this site is for entertainment and educational purposes only. In the Finals, James averages over five more points than Abdul-Jabbar with a whopping 8-1 advantage in 40-point games. This is the mark that reveals just how efficient a player is when shooting the ball. It's one thing to rack up scoring titles or gaudy averages on the back of the regular-season grind. If LeBron James had the mid-range game of MJ or Kobe, hed be the best basketball player who has ever graced planet Earth. All betting content is intended for an audience ages 21+. Try a week on us. For more information, please read our Legal Disclaimer. He set the record in 1984 and finished his career five years later with 38,387 points. 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). Anthony Davis led the way with 31 points and 19 rebounds, a strong response after a quiet Game 4 but it wasnt nearly enough. 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. When he gets across, he's fed a pass inside and scores an easy two points. Abdul-Jabbar and James had divergent paths to setting one of basketballs most coveted records, a reflection of how the N.B.A. A decade ago, James would hammer opponents from the left baseline with turnaround jumpers. He just needs 21 more makes to eclipse the total number of his 2011-12 attempts (149) from beyond the arc in 62 games. LeBron James is shooting 36.9 percent on 3.3 mid-range shots per game this season. In 2019, James surpassed Jordan's career tally of 32,292 points to move into fourth place on the all-time list. 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 Lakers made only 10 of 39 from three-point range. 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. In the mind of all basketball purists, this is incredibly wrong. 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. The vast array of moves is deeper than any big in league history. 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. Member: Pro Football Writers of America. Ja Morant recovered from his rough Game 4 with 31 points on 13-of-26 shooting, 10 rebounds and seven assists. The top four players off the Lakers bench Dennis Schroder, Rui Hachimura, Troy Brown Jr. and Malik Beasley struggled. Before this, he shot only 35.5 percent in 2018-19 and 36.4 percent in 2017-18. 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. Every defender knew what was coming and nobody could do anything about it. Among the 29 players, LeBron is the third-worst in field goal percentage. The four-time MVP is averaging an embarrassing 18.5% from downtown, which is the lowest in his 20-year career. Bonus issued as site credits. 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. The answer is LeBron, remarkablybut hes less than halfway to Wilt Chamberlains total. Now, it's clear that James isn't as explosive as he once was back in his second stint with the Cleveland Cavaliers. The result has been that LeBron is shooting 51 percent from the field, although his true shooting percentage has roughly stayed the game. Tonight I was s, NBA playoff results: Jimmy Butler makes Heat history, LeBron James makes the tough shots. James has long ago passed Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant, but there are critiques of how he scores compared to those two. This idea mixed with LeBron so close to the brink of losing his fifth NBA Finals are the main reasons. ClickBank is the retailer of products on this site. Of course, clutch stats go beyond simply hitting shots with all zeros on the clock. debate. Note that All-Time Players' ratings never change on NBA 2K23. has won 65.0 percent of the time in his career. Its just an example for every player to put the work into his craft.. 3. WAIT! Kyle Goon is a Maryland native who kept traveling west in search of stories. You got to be able to adjust, man, he said. Ages given are the players ages on Feb. 1 of that season. 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. These guys dominated the game without needing to even hoist a shot up. 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. He's not for everyone but Harden's steady diet of free throws and 3s nearly toppled the 2017 Warriors. Myles CLICKBANK is a registered trademark of Click Sales, Inc., a Delaware corporation located at 1444 S. Entertainment Ave., Suite 410 Boise, ID 83709, USA and used by permission. Before there was Durant, there was Gervin. So, as long as Im in this league and the game changes again and Im still in it, hopefully Ill be able to continue to have that growth mindset and continue to adapt.. Hes only 208 points behind Karl Malone (he should pass him in the coming month) at No. Chart showing the regular-season scoring average by age for the 250 top scorers in N.B.A. Grant Williams, MarJon Beauchamp, Miles McBride and Miles McBride are all shooting 100% from long distance. Your favorite teams, topics, and players all on your favorite mobile devices. Deposit bonus requires 25x play-thru. Coach: Port Jervis (NY) High School. The same needs to be said about the mid-range game and that picturesque shot Kobe and MJ fanboys idolize. On behalf of Boot Hill Casino & resort (KS). 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. 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. We were told we wont be here in the first place, said Lakers coach Darvin Ham, whose team is the No. 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. LeBron's rebuttal: With the game on the line, Durant's reputation can't match LeBron's results. It didnt seem like anyone could. While he cooled off a bit, he still hit 49.6 percent (5.5 attempts per game) in the playoffs, a clip few players have been able to match this regular season. 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. James is averaging a team-leading 24.0 points and Davis is averaging 19.5 points going into Wednesdays potential close-out game at FedEx Forum in Memphis. Copyright 2023 Sporting News Holdings Limited. So to get to see LeBron throughout his whole career and to be able to surpass someone like Kareem, whos more of a symbol of freedom for the United States of America, I mean, its saying something.. Sadly, however, most fans need to understand that closing is only part of the game. Kobe Bryants PER is top 20 all time, but LeBron James is No. All company, product and service names used in this website are for identification purposes only. MORE: MJ vs. LeBron career stats in G.O.A.T. He upped Luke Kennards minutes and re-inserted John Konchar, who saw court time earlier in the season. That is a substantial improvement from last season, when he was thrilled to be near 43 percent on jumpers. According to ESPN when James does hit free agency he doesnt want big elaborate pitches from teams. Ive always just wanted to have a game that fits any style of play or any era, he said. Our team will get better and Friday is another opportunity to close the series.. 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. 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. 30, he'd be in the thick of the MVP discussion. edit: Okay he is talking about the playoffs, so in that case 60 is a really high sample size and most WebA table featuring shooting information for each player in the league based on selected filters. Last year, he shot 48.8 percent from the field while still trying to operate heavily in the middle of the floor. And should they be allocating some of these shots to the 3-point line instead? 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. ESNYs MLB 2023 Preview: Can the Texas Rangers take over the AL West? Click here to skip down to our full list of the top 15 greatest scorers in NBA history. Buck Williams.5872: 58. LeBron James. That said, the mid-range isnt for everyone, and its worth exploring just how much LeBron James and Anthony Davis should be embracing it. For us to relax would be asinine, Lakers coach Darvin Ham said before the game. You might also be interested in reading this: How many game-winners has LeBron James made in his career? Dan Woike is the Lakers beat writer for the Los Angeles Times after spending two seasons covering the league as a whole, with an emphasis on Los Angeles teams. Debating the King's case amongst the NBA's all-time great bucket getters, MJ vs. LeBron career stats in G.O.A.T. Throughout the entire series, the Lakers have struggled to shoot the basketball from long distance. Looking at James shot charts from those seasons, its difficult to recognize them as the same player. It's pretty simple: nobody won more scoring titles and nobody averaged more points. 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. This season, 29 players LeBron and Davis among them have averaged at three mid-range and two 3-point shot attempts per game. Table showing the scoring totals for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Lebron James, broken down by type of shot. After Game 2 when I played like crap, I had my head down and he was telling me to keep my head up. No longer could an NBA great have their own unique style of play. LeBron's rebuttal:Can the greatest scorer in NBA history really be someone who ranks outside the top 20 in playoff scoring average? In the case of a scorers true performance mark field goal percentage only one is devastatingly behind the other two (Bryant). His poor shooting the Lakers are essentially leaving him open, thus clogging the lane didnt hurt the Grizzlies on Wednesday. Is LeBron James the greatest scorer of all-time? Now, they are more likely to have smaller, faster players stand outside the 3-point arc to set screens and take deep shots. Duncan Robinson caps off the top five with 76.5%. ESNYs 2023 MLB Preview: Giants are a New York rival again. In four games, LeBron has played a safe game and relied heavily on the contributions of his teammates. His inefficiency could unlock a ton of chances for the squad to start making an impact in Game 5. When Abdul-Jabbar was 38, he was in just his 17th professional season. Im willing to play 48 [minutes], Davis said. 21+ (18+ NH/WY). No one thought LeBron James would overtake Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to become the N.B.A.s career scoring leader when he came to the league as an 18-year-old. This isn't complicated. 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. He was especially good range from hitting from the midrange during the postseason. 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. The third-best scoring average in league history, Baylor was Eurostepping long before anyone knew what the Eurostep was. About 70 percent of Abdul-Jabbars made shots were 2-pointers, with 30 percent free throws. The Lakers, faced with shutting down their best players or trying for the miracle comeback, chose the latter. For as dominant as Chamberlain was during the regular season, his scoring average went down in the playoffs in each of his 13 trips to the playoffs. 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. What Magic Johnson and Larry Bird did in the 1980s was the idea of basketball. James finished with 15 points, 10 rebounds and five assists, shooting 5-of-17 overall and 1-of-9 from 3-point range. a mid-range jumper, 1 on this list. All picks and predictions are suggestions only. Beyond simply looking at an all-time leaderboard, how does The King stack up with the legends typically in the conversation? Odds and lines subject to change. End that speculation, Koby Altman has no plans to replace J.B. Bickerstaff. No player in league history has scored more points and no player in league history has a more unstoppable shot than the skyhook. 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. With almost half of the season in the books, the Nets are shooting an astonishing 51.3 percent in the mid-range. But when these shots go in at roughly equal rates, it becomes REALLY hard to tune out the math. So, its fine. LeBron is the youngest player to reach 30,000 points at 33 years old. 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. - who might be open for a three. Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra once said of James: I just think you can book it every year 27, 8 and 7. His career averages (27.5 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 7.4 apg) closely mirror every year of his career with only minor deviations. 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. 2. A deadly sniper from downtown, he also might be the craftiest around the rim finisher. His 3-point shooting has been a massive Taking a closer look, LeBron James' version of 'The Last Dance'? NBA analyst believes 4x NBA champion has attained Athlete Nirvana. James? They got to talk about something. Sure they were butchers on the defensive end at times, but the hall of fame talent around them covered them up nicely. 7, 2023. If he had the ability to, nothing would stop him. They were the NBAs best team at home during the regular season at 35-6, setting a franchise record for wins in their building. 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. LeBron James, on the other hand, has none of these mid-range qualities at his disposal. Warriors, Steph Curry beat Kings, advance to face Lakers Last season, the number was about three times that. 3. He was especially good range from hitting from the midrange during the The area where he can do the most damage in the upcoming Game 5 will be from beyond the arc. Larry Nance.5864: 60. Few 3-pointers were taken in the N.B.A. 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. Bane had 33 points and Morant scored 31, each grabbing 10 rebounds. 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 has deemphasized mid-range shotattempts, Cavs players also realize they were punked in the first round. At theincredibly young age of 31 James has accomplished things in the NBA that many could only dream of. Overlapping James production from 10 seasons ago to now will show some common traits. He has won the Rookie of the Year award, 4 MVP awards, 4 Finals MVP awards and 4 NBA championships. 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. He's never been a dead-eye shooter, but his decline this year has been notable. Lakers | His 118 50-point games are 87 more than Jordan, who has the second-most. 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. The N.B.A. 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. Kobe is more comparable to Jordan, but it doesnt mean he ranks closer to him in terms of greatness. The best percentagefor Bryant was in 1998 where he shot 47.4 percent from the field but he only attempted 19 shots that year. 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. Line chart showing career points for the top 250 scorers in N.B.A. Despite his improvement last postseason, the forward only hit 34.9 percent over the entirety of last season (including playoffs). Perhaps this shouldnt be overly surprising. during Abdul-Jabbars career, while they have been a much larger part of the league during Jamess career. Think of MJs career. Chamberlain critics claim his preposterous numbers are inflated, merely a product of his generation. In some rare cases when demand is high, it could take up to 48 hours. 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. Theres just one tiny problem with this comparison: There is no comparison. Lisa Leslie, the retired W.N.B.A. But he never tried more than three in a single season and he made only one: in 1986-87. The line for LeBron James is just past the 38,387 points scored by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. As a team, the Lakers are shooting 31.5% from the three-point area, which isn't impressive. 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. Abdul-Jabbar took at least one 3-pointer in each of his 10 seasons with the shot at his disposal. 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. Before this? In every year of his career since 2004, James has averaged no fewer than 25 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists. Yankees, Mets play every MLB team in 2023, but what does it mean. 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. Some stats were available earlier in the ABA. star, said James can do some of everything. Where this lack of a picturesque shot really hurts James is when the game needs a hero. Oh, and when it comes to LeBron? Ja Morant, the guy the Lakers couldnt stop in Game 3, attacked and told them they were too small.. Could others do more? We use cookies and other tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience on our site, show personalized content and targeted ads, analyze site traffic, and understand where our audiences come from. 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. They had more than enough to do something that doesnt happen often beat LeBron when the alternative is the season ends. 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. 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. Shot Clock Range. Do you already hate MLBs pitch clock? WebLatest on Los Angeles Lakers small forward LeBron James including complete game-by-game stats on ESPN See for yourself! Memphis needs two more wins to become just the 14th team in NBA history to win a series after trailing, 3-1. Kyle has been a Lakers beat reporter since 2018, and was one of a few reporters inside the NBA bubble in 2020. 2023 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved. Why is Frank McCourt really pushing it? 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. It's one thing to drop 40 in Game 5 of a 1st round series up or down 3-1. AZ/CO/CT/IL/IN/IA/MI/NH/NJ/PA/TN/VA/WV/WY only. James has only made five shots from beyond the arc and attempted 27 shots. Please logout and login again. The series shifts back to Los Angeles for Game 6, which is set for 10:30 p.m. 7 seed and came through the Play-In to make the playoffs. There's never been a player with his combination of size and skill. No other than His Airness Michael Jordan. 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..