Hes been no Chris Paul, however. One of the major trends this season for LeBron James has been the decline of his jump shot. At his best, he uses his size and speed to bully defenders, get optimal position and either score or get to the line. Despite his improvement last postseason, the forward only hit 34.9 percent over the entirety of last season (including playoffs). LeBron James has played 20 seasons for the Cavaliers, Lakers and Heat. How far this ultimately goes depends on how committed Tyronn Lue is with using James in different ways. ClickBank is the retailer of products on this site. His midrange shots now account for just 23% of his field goal attempts, and he even gets a slightly higher percentage of looks at the rim as a 37-year-old (43%) than he 21+ (18+ NH/WY). 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. 3. 2 all-time, and 1,667 points behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Here, Matthew Dellavedova brings up the ball and James heads off toward the left corner. James torched the nets in a 56-point game against Golden State, the team that has arguably forced him to evolve the most in his career. 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. This idea mixed with LeBron so close to the brink of losing his fifth NBA Finals are the main reasons. 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. 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). Debating the King's case amongst the NBA's all-time great bucket getters, MJ vs. LeBron career stats in G.O.A.T. Sure they were butchers on the defensive end at times, but the hall of fame talent around them covered them up nicely. All betting content is intended for an audience ages 21+. 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. James has long ago passed Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant, but there are critiques of how he scores compared to those two. James is hitting just under 48 percent of his jump shots. He's still taking 30.9 percent of his shots in the mid-range, but he's taken 49.3 percent of his shots at the rim. In the mind of all basketball purists, this is incredibly wrong. This is not to diminish Bryants flat-out stud-like ability to score the basketball. It's one thing to drop 40 in Game 5 of a 1st round series up or down 3-1. 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. Then known as Lew Alcindor, Abdul-Jabbar first spent four years at U.C.L.A., where he was one of the most dominant college basketball players in the country across three varsity seasons. Durant has averaged more points than every single one of them. 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. Even when teams can contest James' shot, James getting inside makes the Cavs harder to defend overall. Yeah, it pisses me off.. It turns out that numbers can lie or, more precisely, obscure the truth. Theyll survive in the playoffs as long as their relentless superstar does. Lakers | 10 scoring titles (most all-time) 30.1 PPG in regular season (most all-time) 33.5 PPG in postseason (most all-time) It's pretty simple: nobody won more scoring They had to have that closers mentality or ultimately pay the consequences as LBJ does to this very day. LeBron is the youngest player to reach 30,000 points at 33 years old. With almost half of the season in the books, the Nets are shooting an astonishing 51.3 percent in the mid-range. Ja Morant, the guy the Lakers couldnt stop in Game 3, attacked and told them they were too small.. Memphis needs two more wins to become just the 14th team in NBA history to win a series after trailing, 3-1. LeBron will play better, Davis said. This is what you play an entire season for.. The Lakers didnt fold despite being down by 14 at the end of the first quarter and 17 deep into the second. It didnt seem like anyone could. WebOverview Stats Game Log Splits Bio. Shaquille O'Neal* .5858: 62. 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. They were the NBAs best team at home during the regular season at 35-6, setting a franchise record for wins in their building. Detlef Schrempf.5858: 61. Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra once said of James: I just think you can book it every year 27, 8 and 7. Myles Field-goal percentage: 52% LeBron is attempting 20.1 shots per game and is making 52% of them. Now, they are more likely to have smaller, faster players stand outside the 3-point arc to set screens and take deep shots. LeBron James and Anthony Davis are superstars for a reason. WebLeBron James on NBA 2K23. 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. Hachimura finished with the best plus-minus rating: a minus-18. However, he's developed into a reliable shooter from beyond the arc as he ages. Hes one of the best of all time, and hes showing exactly why hes that.. history. 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. 2. 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. The series between the Lakers and the Grizzlies could only come down to one thing only: the dominance of LeBron James. Gambling Problem? While James might not have his version of the skyhook, he's a more well-rounded scorer with more answers to increasingly complex defenses. The 37-year-old never has a huge individual dip in his production. Hell adjust. Last year, LeBron took 36.9 percent of his shots in the mid-range and 36.6 percent of shots at the rim. While it makes sense for many players struggling from the mid-range like LeBron to simply reallocate some shots to the 3-point line, but its not clear this is the optimal solution for Davis. LeBron James: 35.5 percent from three, 36.9 percent from mid-range. His reliability from a long distance could be something that separates Los Angeles from Memphis. history. WebLeBron James.5877: 57. has developed over the last 50 years. When he gets across, he's fed a pass inside and scores an easy two points. The content on this site is for entertainment and educational purposes only. End that speculation, Koby Altman has no plans to replace J.B. Bickerstaff. Note: Data is through Feb. 7. 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. He hasnt officiallyopted out of next year with the Cavs but that is the exception. How many players could just decide to play with their off-hand and still drop 47? Back in 2018, favorite toy estimated that LeBron would finish with an average career total of 39,847 points, with a 48 percent chance to reach 40,000. James mid-range game particularly his fadeaway is beautiful when To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. Your favorite teams, topics, and players all on your favorite mobile devices. 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. James, at 38, is one of the oldest players in the league and in his 20th season. 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. Impending free agent Caris LeVert has interest in remaining a Cavalier. At his worst, LeBron wastes possessions by dribbling away the shot clock and firing up a jump shot. Brooks shot 3-of-15 and 2-of-10 on 3s in Game 5, continuing a disturbing trend through the series. Jamess brilliance put three Cavs teams in the position to play in the NBA Finals when they had no business being there. WebFind detailed LeBron James Stats on FOXSports.com. The same needs to be said about the mid-range game and that picturesque shot Kobe and MJ fanboys idolize. But since returning to the Lakers (he spent his first two seasons with them), Russell may have become a better version of himself. a mid-range jumper, Early on he was all flash and dash while showcasing incredible athleticism near the hole. The Lakers, faced with shutting down their best players or trying for the miracle comeback, chose the latter. Swanson: LeBron James, Lakers are much better in closeout win, as promised The Lakers made only 10 of 39 from three-point range. GS since 1981-82. Its a simplistic notion that holds true from every angle. He could be the first player to score 40,000 points. And yet, James feels that he has not received the reputation of being a great scorer. LeBron James is better than those two guys. Last season, the number was about three times that. All advice, including picks and predictions, is based on individual commentators opinions and not that of Minute Media or its related brands. 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. Jenkins changed his rotation, going away entirely from reserve forward David Roddy. Bryant is the closest we'll ever see to Jordan. At theincredibly young age of 31 James has accomplished things in the NBA that many could only dream of. Where this lack of a picturesque shot really hurts James is when the game needs a hero. 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. Now that you've seen the cases laid out for five of the greatest ever, who is actually on top? Hell get better. Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019. Its an interesting time to be a Los Angeles Lakers fan. Then this definitely wont help, ESNYs 2023 MLB Preview: Pirates are a continually sinking ship, Mets, Yankees games on Apple TV+ wont be free, but there are loopholes, Dont get your hopes up about MLB making changes to new rules, City of Philadelphia perpetrates another Santa Claus-related sin, Heres how pitch clock, shift ban have impacted MLB spring training games. Career 2022-23 Player News. And when he's harder to defend, so are the Cavs. 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. James adapting as a long-range shooter late in his career may inform Westbrooks path to aging more gracefully in the game. And finally Iverson. They got to talk about something. The 2021-22 version of James is one who has fully adapted to modern analytic thinking: Stat site Cleaning the Glass has charted his 3-point attempt percentage growing for six straight seasons, now at a career high of 34% of his attempts. 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. LeBron's rebuttal: With the game on the line, Durant's reputation can't match LeBron's results. One of these copycats includes Kobe: Furthermore, just take in how eloquent the mid-range game is for both guys. That includes the stars, who are the ones supposed to take the lead and make an impact on their teammates. If he had the ability to, nothing would stop him. It was the basketball equivalent of Cal Ripkens streak of games played in Major League Baseball or Jerry Rices N.F.L. 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. In every year of his career since 2004, James has averaged no fewer than 25 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists. These guys definitely played with the force we were talking about before the game.. A player who operates in isolation as much as James does is going to take bad jumpers from time to time. With the game on the line, James outshines even Durant. Please logout and login again. By Half. His 118 50-point games are 87 more than Jordan, who has the second-most. No one has been able to consistently replicate his shot. 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. Before there was Durant, there was Gervin. 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. 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. debate. His jump shot might be less effective, but LeBron James is finding success by eliminating mid-range shot attempts. This isn't complicated. Lebron James is one of the most prolific scorers in the NBA. 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. This is why hasn't posted insane stats. 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. In 2019, James surpassed Jordan's career tally of 32,292 points to move into fourth place on the all-time list. His 3-point shooting has been a massive Brad Davis.5870: 59. They got within 12 with four minutes to go, but by then, James was on the bench and the rest of the Lakers were gassed. James has played in 46 games this season, making 128 threes. MP and PER since 1951-52. See for yourself! Jaren Jackson Jr. added 18 points and 10 rebounds. They used to focus on getting the ball to tall players like Abdul-Jabbar or Shaquille ONeal near the basket for a dunk or layup. He couldnt stop it. Over 600 players in NBA history have played in multiple Game 7s. WebLatest on Los Angeles Lakers small forward LeBron James including complete game-by-game stats on ESPN 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. 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 OK. Say it with me, this is OK. James doesnt have to be the beautiful shooter you believe an NBA great needs to be. 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. We all know he can score the ball.. 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. LeBron James averages for the NBA season and Playoffs, including points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks and other categories, year by year and career numbers. 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. The series shifts back to Los Angeles for Game 6, which is set for 10:30 p.m. Abdul-Jabbar and James had divergent paths to setting one of basketballs most coveted records, a reflection of how the N.B.A. 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. Your high quality sketch and reading will be delivered to you via email within 8 hours. He does it in a variety of other ways such as playing facilitator and barraging his way to the hoop. By this point, everyone knows the shortcomings of the mid-range when it comes to efficiency, but for some players, they actually are efficient shots. These guys dominated the game without needing to even hoist a shot up. Reaves hit a three, James got an easy basket and Davis had a three-point play to start the comeback. In 2020-21, Davis has been subpar from this area of the floor, making only 36.3 percent the 2nd-worst rate of the 29. That's not a very efficient way to distribute shots for a player who is best playing downhill. As much as I want to go with James and his fully evolved bucket-getting arsenal, I can't quite get there over Jordan. Desmond Bane, the guy the Lakers couldnt stop in Game 4, stayed hot. What Magic Johnson and Larry Bird did in the 1980s was the idea of basketball. 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. 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. 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.. You have the most points scored ever, youre the best basketball player to ever touch the court.. Even if these shots have been inefficient, how much damage can roughly three shots per game really do? Every defender knew what was coming and nobody could do anything about it. It is what it is. Whether he's attacking in isolation, posting up or cutting off ball, James is most effective when he's inside. Of course, clutch stats go beyond simply hitting shots with all zeros on the clock.