It is simply mind-blowing how good the man is. Spin: James' final stat line wasn't eye-popping by his standards, but he was extremely efficient while also logging less than 35 minutes for the first time in the series. 1 in usage rate at 32.1%, per Basketball-Reference.com. That's not a smart way to argue against him. Omissions? Here are his numbers this postseason in clutch situations, which is designated as the last five minutes game within five points on NBA.com stats pages: 34 points on 9-for-16 shooting from the floor (56.3 percent), 2-for-5 from downtown (40 percent) and 14-for-15 at the free throw line (93.3 percent). In his first career game, the 18-year-old phenom scored 25 points, grabbed six rebounds and dished out nine assists in a losing effort to the Sacramento Kings - but it was just a taste of things to come. Jordan is the all-time playoff leader in PER and Box Plus/Minus, and he has the highest usage percentage. There isn't much precedent in the history of the sport where a player continues to be dominant at such an advanced stage of his career. The Lakers struggled in his absence and ultimately finished the 201819 season with a 3745 record, ending Jamess personal playoff streak at 13 seasons. Career Playoffs; Splits. A current star has complicated that GOAT (greatest of all time) conversation, of course. More: overtook Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's previous record, LeBron James passes Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to become NBA's all-time scoring leader, LeBron James points tracker: 'The King' has become the NBA's all-time top scorer, 2 Gatorade National Player of the Year: 2002, 2003, 2 PARADE High School Player of the Year: 2002, 2003, McDonald's National Player of the Year: 2003, McDonald's High School All-American: 2003, McDonald's Slam Dunk Contest (Powerade Jam Fest): 2003, Morgan Wootten National Player of the Year: 2003, 6x NBA All-Star (2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010), 4x All-NBA First Team (2006, 2008, 2009, 2010), 2x NBA All-Defensive First Team (2009, 2010), 4x All-NBA First Team (2011, 2012, 2013, 2014), 3x NBA All-Defensive First Team (2011, 2012, 2013), Associated Press (AP) Athlete of the Year (2013), USA Basketball Male Athlete of the Year (2012), 4x All-NBA First Team (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018), 5x NBA All-Star (2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023), Athens 2004 Olympic Games bronze medalist, FIBA 2006 World Championship bronze medalist, FIBA 2007 Americas Championship gold medalist. James and Andre Iguodala are the only other active players to have racked up more than 5,000 playoff minutes. Of course, when compared to Johnson's postseason career . Here are six stats that demonstrate just how special and singular James' postseason career has been. St. Vincent-St. Mary in Akron, Ohio, Draft: ", LeBron's first 20-20 game helps put Lakers up 3-1, 'It's going to be epic': Stephen Curry and LeBron James face off -- again, Curry sets G7 record with 50 as Dubs move on, Hobbled Butler serves as 'decoy' late in Heat win, Grizz's Brooks doesn't regret verbal jab at LeBron, 'This one's on me': Brunson self-critical after loss, Jokic on Murray's playoffs: 'We are following him', Rivers: Embiid likely doubtful for G1 vs. Celtics, How do Stephen Curry and the Warriors keep doing this?! Pair that with seven assists and a league-high four steals in those circumstances and you have . So even if his scoring slows down, the assists will be there. As fate would have it, the Cleveland Cavaliers, James hometown team, ended up winning the lottery and duly selected the Ohio native with the first overall pick - and what a selection that turned out to be. He has numerous accolades to his name, such as being an . The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. In 201617 James had arguably his best regular season by setting career highs with averages of 8.7 assists and 8.6 rebounds per game while still scoring 26.4 points per game. NAME. With a more common 2021 NBA offseason, James and his Purple and Gold side should be stronger during the upcoming campaign. There Cleveland could not overcome the team James referred to as a juggernaut, losing to the Warriors in five games despite James becoming the first player in NBA history to average a triple-double over the course of the finals (with 33.6 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists per game). Do you have a blog? Note, this is done in an automated way, so we apologize for any errors, & please. After the Cavaliers upset the favoured Detroit Pistons in the Eastern Conference finals, the Cavaliers were swept by the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA finals, but Jamess impressive postseason play led many observers to place him among the very best players in the league. December 30, James' 10 NBA Finals appearances lead franchises like the Philadelphia 76ers, New York Knicks, San Antonio Spurs and Chicago Bulls. But James tops everyone in VORPand Win Shares. Fresh off his rookie season in the NBA, James was selected to represent the United States of America (USA) at the Olympic Games Athens 2004. . Sekou Smith: If he cared about such things, it would be fun to watch LeBron try to catch Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for No. 8) puts LeBron in unbelievable company. And here's the noteworthy part: James has played 5,000 more minutes than Durant at 10,728 (and counting). It's his blend of volume and production that is truly incredible. Covered the Lakers and NBA for ESPNLosAngeles.com from 2009-14, the Cavaliers from 2014-18 for ESPN.com and the NBA for NBA.com from 2005-09. Knicks-Heat, their classic NBA rivalry There James had one of the greatest individual performances in finals history, averaging 35.8 points, 13.3 rebounds, and 8.8 assists per game while leading the undermanned Cavaliers to the franchises first two finals victories before ultimately losing a six-game series to the Golden State Warriors. And the game wouldn't have made it to overtime if not for his game-tying layup with 0.8 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, finishing his drive by lofting the ball high off the glass to elude the Grizzlies man in the middle, Defensive Player of the Year Jaren Jackson Jr. "I work on different layup packages," James explained. Here's a look back at some of the plays and on-court moments that marked James' success in each of those stops. "Tier 1 is a layup really right under the rim where you lay it off the glass. In the following off-season, James, a free agent, joined the Los Angeles Lakers. Steve Aschburner: No. Grizz weren't 'fine in the West' after all This is by no means the definitive list of all of James achievements, which are extensive. Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. 5), Oscar Robertson (No. Late in overtime, the Lakers clinging to a three-point lead against Memphis, LeBron James gathered the ball on the left side of the floor. Career Finals leaders since 1947. His game progressed over the following years. He became a national media sensation in his junior year after appearing on the cover of Sports Illustrated, where he was billed by the magazine as The Chosen One. James was the consensus national high-school player of the year in his senior season, and he was selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers with the first overall selection of the 2003 NBA draft. December 30, James does a lot more than just soak up minutes. home/away, monthly, etc. The fine results from Brooks failure to participate in team postgame media availability during the first round. At the conclusion of the 200304 season, James became the first Cavalier to receive the NBA Rookie of the Year Award, and was nominated to the All-Rookie First Team. But while a potential Los Angeles Lakers title will undoubtedly awaken the take monsters in GOAT arguments about James vs. Michael Jordan, let's leave MJ out of it for a minute. He sustained his excellence in the Eastern Conference playoffs, scoring 32.5 points per game (which included his 5,988th career postseason point, breaking Michael Jordans all-time NBA playoff scoring record) while leading the Cavaliers to a third consecutive match-up against the Warriors in the NBA finals. 3 in assists (between 10 and 11,000). James returned to play for Team USA at the 2006 FIBA World Championship in Japan, as the USA won another bronze medal. Now that James isthe NBA's all-time leading scorer, one question remains: Will heput the record out of reach? . All rights reserved. I've been a part of a lot of the games and I just love being able to make plays and be out there with my teammates to give them experiences that they maybe never had before.". All rights reserved. In the 201112 season James averaged 27.1 points per game and won his third MVP award while helping Miami advance to its second consecutive NBA finals appearance. MJ went a perfect 6-0 in the NBA Finals and never needed a Game . And he's not done yet. And I think we'll be ready for it. After falling behind 3-1 in the series, the Cavaliers were able to win the next two games thanks to a superhuman effort from James (who recorded back-to-back 41-point games in Games 5 and 6) to force a decisive Game 7 in Oakland, California. LeBron James vs Michael Jordan NBA Finals Stats . Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? St. Vincent-St. Mary in Akron, Ohio, Draft: Advanced Game Log (Error Code: 102006) Which team has the best all-time record in the playoffs? And that's what I tried to do tonight on the defensive end.". How many NBA championships has LeBron James won? While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. 1984 Small Forward, Power Forward, Point Guard, Center, and Shooting Guard James racked up 22 points (9-13 FG, 2-5 3Pt, 2-3 FT), five rebounds, six assists and one steal over 31 minutes during Friday's 125-85 victory over Memphis in Game 6 of the Western Conference Quarterfinals. James comes into Game 5 of these Finals having won 17 . Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. So, that's pretty cool, I guess.". At age 35, James is more than the elder statesman of the best basketball league in the world. James was unanimously voted the Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player with averages of 28.6 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 7.4 assists per game as he won his first career NBA title. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. Entering Game 5, James ranks first in total playoff points, second in assists and -- as if that weren't enough -- sixth in rebounds. He helped Miami reach the NBA finals in his first year with the team, but the Heat lost the championship to the Dallas Mavericks. 2 Grizzlies, Celtics-76ers first look: What could decide the battle of East heavyweights, Pregame chats, language arts and 'a lot of fines': Inside NBA player-ref dynamics, How the Lakers got one win away: LeBron, AD and key adjustments, NBA trade lists for all 30 teams: Movable contracts, draft capital and restrictions, A post shared by Kirk Goldsberry (@kirkgoldsberry), Maybe you think he's the greatest of all time, maybe you don't, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Scores from any date in BAA/NBA or ABA history, Frequently Asked Questions about the NBA, WNBA and Basketball, Basketball-Reference.com Blog and Articles, Subscribe to Stathead Basketball: Get your first month FREE. Twitter: In high school James led St. VincentSt. Do you have a blog? A guy who still has a claim as the best player in the world is doing it after he has doubled almost every single active player out there in postseason time spent. Lineups NBA.com is part of Warner Media, LLCs Turner Sports & Entertainment Digital Network, *Translations are limited to select pages, LeBron passes Kobe for Christmas Day scoring lead, Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant passes 20,000 career points, Michael Jordan: Kobe Bryant ranks ahead of LeBron James, From willing passer to league leader, LeBron James is ready to dish, Series preview: What to expect in Warriors-Lakers, 5 takeaways from Warriors' Game 7 victory, 5 takeaways from Heat's Game 1 win over Knicks, Curry sets Game 7 record with 50 points vs. Kings, Brooks fined $25K for violating interview rules. What professional basketball teams has LeBron James played for? Do you have a sports website? James holds the NBA records for most points in the playoffs, is third all-time in points scored, and eighth in career assists. The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. Undeterred by a boisterous away crowd, James became just the third player to record a triple-double in an NBA Finals Game 7 as he helped the Cavaliers simultaneously win Clevelands first professional sports title in 52 years and become the first team in NBA history to come back from a 31 series deficit in the Finals. 3 and scare Karl Malone at No. "He understands for us to get all of our other guys to do and make the right plays and sacrifice themselves, he has to be at the top of that list," Lakers coach Darvin Ham said. Here are LeBron's total clutch playoff stats compared to other players in both his second Cleveland stint and with the Lakers: Cleveland (2015-2018): 35/100 FG (35.0%), 8/24 3P (33.3%), 46.8% TS LA (2019-2022): 4/14 FG (28.6%), 0/3 3P (0.0%) Totals: 39/114 FG (34.2%), 8/27 3P (29.6%) A couple other guys: His career average of points per game (27) is the sixth-best in NBA history. 3 and No. The Lakers needed James to resume his role as a closer, and they really . LeBron James turned 33 Saturday and continues to climb the NBAs all-time leaderboards. LeBron James is just one win away from capturing a fourth career NBA Championship, and in Year 17, James is still playing some of the best basketball of his life . the official stats partner of the NBA, NHL and MLB. 1. Regular Season, Playoffs, All-Star) Awards. ET on ABC and the ESPN App. "Things aren't always going to be perfect," Davis said after going 3-for-5 from the field in the fourth quarter and OT after starting the game 1-for-8. 10 of 12. inAkron,Ohio the official stats partner of the NBA, NHL and MLB. 1 and Magic Johnson at No. Only Johnson has more. He is about 7,000 points behind No. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. Twitter: If Leonard stays with the LA Clippers, the team might be a threat to James' Lakers again. Jordan Greer is an NBA content producer for The Sporting News. Join our linker program. Despite the pressures brought on by these singular circumstances, James led the Cavaliers in scoring, steals, and minutes played over the course of the 200304 season, winning the leagues Rookie of the Year award in the process. All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. He roared with his mouth agape. "I felt like that play right there," James said, "I wouldn't say, 'closed the door,' but it sealed it. However, a lot of it had to do with Anthony Davis' injury in Game 4 of that series. Born and raised in Akron, Ohio, LeBron James was a locally known basketball prodigy. LeBron James has won three National Basketball Association (NBA) championships. 2 Karl Malone (36,928) and about 2,000 assists shy of No. GSW LeBron James is widely known as a pass-first player, but he is also an unbelievable offensive threat in all areas. Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. He continued his stellar play in the following season, even increasing his shooting percentage by .002, and he again led the Heat to an appearance in the NBA finals. Right now, he has 9,696 assists in his regular-season career, which ranks eighth in NBA history. Though James had already lived up to his potential in the first phase of his NBA career, a championship still eluded him. LeBron Raymone James Twitter: KingJames Instagram: kingjames (King James, LBJ, Chosen One, Bron-Bron, The Little Emperor, The Akron Hammer, L-Train, Benjamin Buckets) Position: Small Forward, Power Forward, Point Guard, Center, and Shooting Guard Shoots: Right 6-9, 250lb (206cm, 113kg) That just speaks volumes about the greatness of the man.
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