Rank the 5 LeBron prime seasons

[colts18]

2009
2010
2012
2013
2014

Rank these 5 LeBron seasons.

[The Infamous1]

So you think lebrons prime started in 08-09?

[PaulieWal]

I'll go with:

09
12?
13?
14
10?

Brief explanations: He won the first MVP on 09 and had a spectacular playoff run. This was the first year I thought LeBron could be argued as the best player in the game.

The 13/12 question is always something I struggle with. I know some people here aren't as high on his 2012 season as I am (especially the RS) but I think the combination of his offense (marginal improvements in the post) + DPOY level consistent defense throughout the season was amazing to watch.

The 13 season was even better offensively and he was still good defensively. The playoffs took a bit of shine off the incredible RS with an up and down Finals (similar to KD this year).

14 is easily his offensive peak and I know some criticize him for not taking enough shots but regardless of that it was a good RS. Defense slipped in the RS but in the PS he was playing like a two-way force again and for the most part the defense was pretty good.

The 10 season is usually the most perplexing for me. Had an up and down PS but his RS was pretty good as well. In some ways that was one of his best seasons as a playmaker and he won his second MVP.

I am open to changing my mind on 10/12/13.

[PaulieWal]

So you think lebrons prime started in 08-09?

When do you think it started?

[Basketballefan]

I think his prime started in 2009 as well he started playing more defense and upped his efficiency.

Best to Worst:
2012( MVP+FMVP both)
2013(Same as 2012)
2009(Won his first MVP, had a legendary playoff run even though his team lost(35 9 8 59 ts%)
2010(MVP monster regular season, pretty good playoffs)
2014(Had a below average regular season for his standards, great playoff run not enough help)

[GSP]

13
09
10
12
14

[Greatness]

#1: 2009

Arguably the greatest playoff run in the history of the game, dominant regular season as well. Became an elite defensive player and anchor on that end this season.

#2: 2012

The more thought I've given this, the more I think 2012 LeBron > 2013 LeBron. Great MVP regular season, albeit he was better in 2013 in the regular season. However I'm putting 2012 as #2 because he was considerably better in the playoffs compared to 2013, and I'm valuing that pretty highly. His best defensive season, all-time great playoff run.

#3: 2013

Arguably the greatest regular season performance since 2000 Shaq, could easily make the argument that this is his peak. MVP, 27 game win streak, yadi yadi yada. The reason I put this at #3 and not #1 or #2 is because the above two seasons had more dominant playoff runs. There was also a tiny bit of defensive slippage from 2012 to 2013, mostly evident in the first half of the regular season (although he was dominant second half and playoffs on that end). Overall, I've gone back and forth on this and 2012 and I could be swayed either way.

#4: 2014

Statistically his best playoff run since 2009, but I prefer 2012 because of defense. And that's the key word here: defense. His worst defensive season by far since 2009, and ultimately that is why I can't put this any higher than #4, even though this was arguably his peak offensive season. Incredibly efficient all the way until and including the finals.

#5: 2010

A better playoff run makes this #1. However I have to be consistent and I did state that the playoffs is highly valued to me in year-to-year comparisons. Might be an even more dominant regular season performance than 2013, considering his playmaking ability. SSB has posted the insane numbers when he had to play point guard, absolutely carried the team. Playoffs were obviously a failure, although he was incredible against Chicago. Whether it was the elbow injury or something else, no excuse for losing the Boston series. That ultimately puts this season at #5 for me.

[PaulieWal]

13
09
10
12
14

Why do you have 12 so low? I have 12 #2, you have at it #4. That was an incredible PS and the RS was pretty good. Are you one of those who aren't that high on the 12 RS? That was probably his best defensive year as well.

[PaulieWal]

snip...

Way to copy my rankings .

I think you and I are in the minority with 12 over 13. Most people aren't that high on his 12 season.

Funny thing is I was reading the first LeBron thread which was started in 12 and I was shocked to read it. I wasn't on RealGM at the time and didn't really lurk either. People in that thread were so down on that season and just shows you different your perception can be at times when you watch the game without any online interference.

[GSP]

13
09
10
12
14

Why do you have 12 so low? I have 12 #2, you have at it #4. That was an incredible PS and the RS was pretty good. Are you one of those who aren't that high on the 12 RS? That was probably his best defensive year as well.

I still think he had some same problems offensively as he did in 11. 13 his post passing was at its best just saw the floor better, 2nd best offball work behind 14. 10 was his best playmaking season IMO and his production those last 2 Cleveland years were insane his athleticism and drives were impossible to defend. He had big performances in 12 but i dont believe his offense was as good as any of the other years here

As for defense i have 13 as his best

[PaulieWal]

13
09
10
12
14

Why do you have 12 so low? I have 12 #2, you have at it #4. That was an incredible PS and the RS was pretty good. Are you one of those who aren't that high on the 12 RS? That was probably his best defensive year as well.

I still think he had some same problems offensively as he did in 11. 13 his post passing was at its best just saw the floor better, 2nd best offball work behind 14. 10 was his best playmaking season IMO and his production those last 2 Cleveland years were insane his athleticism and drives were impossible to defend. He had big performances in 12 but i dont believe his offense was as good as any of the other years here

As for defense i have 13 as his best

Interesting. The 12 RS offensively wasn't his best but he still carried the team and Wade missed about 15-17 games I think. He was still putting up great numbers + the MVP + DPOY level defense make me put 12 over 13. In 13 his defense wasn't as consistent in the first half but it was otherworldly once they went on the streak and just as good in the playoffs.

[Greatness]

snip...

Way to copy my rankings .

I think you and I are in the minority with 12 over 13. Most people aren't that high on his 12 season.

Funny thing is I was reading the first LeBron thread which was started in 12 and I was shocked to read it. I wasn't on RealGM at the time and didn't really lurk either. People in that thread were so down on that season and just shows you different your perception can be at times when you watch the game without any online interference.

Yeah we'll be in the minority and that's understandable, I too thought 2013 LeBron was his peak (even above 2009) at a point. Maybe I'm putting too much of an emphasis on playoff play, maybe not. I also think LeBron was the DPOY in 2012 and got robbed.

It's also laughable some of the players the 2012 Heat were trotting out there when Bosh was out. Turiaf starting, Juwan Howard, Dexter Pittman, Joel Anthony, Terrel Harris, a rookie Norris Cole.

[PaulieWal]

snip...

Way to copy my rankings .

I think you and I are in the minority with 12 over 13. Most people aren't that high on his 12 season.

Funny thing is I was reading the first LeBron thread which was started in 12 and I was shocked to read it. I wasn't on RealGM at the time and didn't really lurk either. People in that thread were so down on that season and just shows you different your perception can be at times when you watch the game without any online interference.

Yeah we'll be in the minority and that's understandable, I too thought 2013 LeBron was his peak (even above 2009) at a point. Maybe I'm putting too much of an emphasis on playoff play, maybe not. I also think LeBron was the DPOY in 2012 and got robbed.

Pretty much. I think Chandler was the DPOY that year and the Knicks' defense did improve but LeBron was the better defender that season. LeBron should have campaigned for DPOY in 12 instead of this year but truth be told, he wasn't in a position to campaign for anything after 2011 until he won his first ring .

I don't think we (I) are putting that much emphasis on the playoff run. The fact that Wade missed 15-17 games in a 66 game season (close to 25%), he was playing DPOY level defense throughout, and he was still putting up great numbers make it a great RS for me. His offense (the post game) did improve marginally though his jumper was bad for the most part. Then you add in the playoffs with injuries to Bosh and Wade, it's safe to say it was a little bit more impressive than 13 which is saying something once you factor in the 27 game win streak. Again, if other posters want to make a better case for 13>12, I am all ears.

[trex_8063]

2013
2012
2009
2014
2010

[Quotatious]

2013
2012
2009
2014
2010

My order would be exactly the same. Nice to see that we're on the same page yet again.

Anyway, it's extremely difficult to rank definitively - these seasons are all so damn close. I used to have 2012 as his peak for quite some time, but honestly, I see a pretty good case for 2009, too. I just think that Miami LeBron (especially from 2012 onward) is a bit more complete player than he was in Cleveland, although in 2009 and 2010 he was really a 94 feet monster, just such an athletic force all over the court, with incredible motor, court vision and bball IQ.

[The Infamous1]

So you think lebrons prime started in 08-09?

When do you think it started?

That year.

[toodles23]

09
10
13
14
12

I could easily be swayed to change the order of the top 3, the only thing I'm fairly convinced of is that '12 was the weakest of these seasons. It might have been his best season defensively (and clearly his best as a member of the Heat), but it was a clear tier behind the rest offensively - he had a number of limitations that year that weren't present in the other prime seasons, as was discussed in the 2012 Lebron threads.

'14 is that low only because his defense slipped so much in the regular season, but I think it was his offensive peak, and it was the 2nd best playoff run of his career only behind '09.

'09 is ahead of '10 only because of his incredible playoff run. I think he was a little more complete as a player in '10, but I can't ignore a playoff run that insanely dominant.

I'm also not totally sure that he was a better defender on the Heat - in Cleveland, he was just an athletic monster, playing awesome help defense with his quickness (that he didn't have as much of in Miami), and he was blowing up fast breaks on a nightly basis (the threat of his chasedown block was enough to get players to pull out and set up their halfcourt offense).

[PCProductions]

13
10
09
14
12

[ardee]

2013
2009
2010
2012
2014

His Playoff numbers may have been down, but 2013 was the most complete and effective he ever was as a player on both ends of the floor.

His offense was 95% of what it was this year and defense just as good as 2012.

2009 IMO is the only year that comes close.

[Joao Saraiva]

2009
2012
(can be changed both were awesome, but 2009 ended up with a ring somehow I'd probably see it as the greatest season ever by any player, that's how great it was)
2013
2014
2010
(can be changed as well LeBron was great during both seasons)
2011

Hard to tank but by tiers it's easier:

2009/2012

2013

2014/2010

2011