Did LeBron have the greatest season ever for a 38 year old?

Taj FTW · Post #1 » by **Taj FTW** » Mon Apr 10, 2023 5:05 am

LeBron finished the season with 28.8 ppg, 8.4 reb, 6.8 ast on a 58.1% TS% in 54 games. It's truly remarkable to me that a 38-year-old player can put up those stats in the NBA. It's a testament to how well he takes care of his body.

However, let's look at other greats at 38 years old. I think Kareem has the best case against LeBron, and a big part of that is how many games he played. Let me know if there are any other players who are great at 38 that I forgot. I'm sure there are some.

LeBron: 28.8 ppg, 8.4 reb, 6.8 ast on a 58.1% TS% in 54 games
Kareem: 23.4 PPG, 6.1 reb, 3.5 ast, 60.3% TS% in 79 games.
MJ: 22.9 PPG, 5.7 reb, 5.2 ast, 46.8% TS% in 60 games
Karl Malone: 22.4 PPG, 8.6 reb, 4.3 ast 53.2% TS% in 80 games

I think LeBron and Kareem are clearly the best two, Ben Karl Malone, then Michael Jordan. MJ is clearly the worst of the bunch. His production isn't particularly impressive considering all the breaks he had compared to the others.

LeBron stats are more impressive than Kareem's, but Kareem obviously has played many more games than LeBron. Who do you think had the best season at 38?

LikeABosh · Post #2 » by **LikeABosh** » Mon Apr 10, 2023 5:11 am

I think I'd give it to Kareem because of availability

Post #3 » by **jazzfan1971** » Mon Apr 10, 2023 5:15 am

For your consideration:

John Stockton 11.5ppg, 8.7apg (to 2.5tog) 1.6spg TS% .610 (yes, that's higher than Kareem) 82 games played. Also had the highest VORP of any of the 5.

Kobe187 · Post #4 » by **Kobe187** » Mon Apr 10, 2023 5:17 am

MJ cause we got to witness greatness at age 38. Out of shape MJ was still lighting up the league. Just too skilled.

Edrees · Post #5 » by **Edrees** » Mon Apr 10, 2023 5:19 am

Depends how far lebron makes it in the playoffs. If you just mean regular season I'm gonna a say Kareem.

Kingdibs19 · Post #6 » by **Kingdibs19** » Mon Apr 10, 2023 5:20 am

Lebron and it’s not even close.

Post #7 » by **jazzfan1971** » Mon Apr 10, 2023 5:24 am

Kingdibs19 wrote:Lebron and it’s not even close.

Lebron's offensive rating 114. Defensive rating 113. A positive 1.

John stockton's offensive rating 120. Defensive rating 103. A positive 17.

Jordan 99 to 105. a Negative 6.
Kareem 118 to 106 a positive 12.
Malone 107 to 101 a positive 6.

dhsilv2 · Post #8 » by **dhsilv2** » Mon Apr 10, 2023 5:26 am

Kobe187 wrote:MJ cause we got to witness greatness at age 38. Out of shape MJ was still lighting up the league. Just too skilled.

He wasn't out of shape at all...he made a very clear decision on his EXACT body weight that year. Old school world maybe but he came into the year with an exact weight and nailed it.

dhsilv2 · Post #9 » by **dhsilv2** » Mon Apr 10, 2023 5:27 am

Given the 54 games, even with this being the most difficult era ever to play in, without any debate. He wasn't there when he was needed to a degree that it was an issue. But I guess we'll decide from the playoffs which shockingly the lakers after trades are going to make.

kbitboc · Post #10 » by **kbitboc** » Mon Apr 10, 2023 5:31 am

Kobe187 wrote:MJ cause we got to witness greatness at age 38. Out of shape MJ was still lighting up the league. Just too skilled.

MJ had like the 9th worst TS% in the whole nba. He was terrible.

The High Cyde · Post #11 » by **The High Cyde** » Mon Apr 10, 2023 5:38 am

Just looking at their stats, Kareem was just a basketball god, what a beast. Idk who I’d pick between Kareem and LBJ, maybe LeBron with how the game is played today. I don’t think Kareem’s body would handle it any better than James’ did this season. No worries if you pick El Capitan.

NoDopeOnSundays · Post #12 » by **NoDopeOnSundays** » Mon Apr 10, 2023 5:41 am

This video is 2 months old

Watch on YouTube

It makes absolutely no sense how athletic he still is, everyone on that list looked like a diminished version of themselves at 38, where as LeBron has lost a step but still is one of the most athletic forwards in the league.

AussieBuck · Post #13 » by **AussieBuck** » Mon Apr 10, 2023 5:43 am

38 year old Tim Duncan was less than a decade ago and he was still a damn good player.

Salieri · Post #14 » by **Salieri** » Mon Apr 10, 2023 5:44 am

kbitboc wrote:
Kobe187 wrote:MJ cause we got to witness greatness at age 38. Out of shape MJ was still lighting up the league. Just too skilled.

MJ had like the 9th worst TS% in the whole nba. He was terrible.

That's how far the infatuation with MJ goes. For many posters, he wasn't a basketball player, he was a demigod.

Truth is, MJ kinda sucked at age 38. That's nothing to be ashamed of, by the way. 99% of players are retired at that age, sipping margaritas from their homes. He's just being compared to true titans of longevity.

If you were to post those boxscore stats without saying to whom they belong to, that scoring volume with that efficiency, everyone would be calling the mystery player a chucker.

There wasn't any greatness to witness. But nothing beats a good narrative, apparently. Oh well.

As for the topic at hand, I'm divided between LeBron for his raw stats and Kareem for his impact. Leaning on Kareem, I think.

Post #15 » by **NO-KG-AI** » Mon Apr 10, 2023 5:45 am

NoDopeOnSundays wrote:This video is 2 months old

Watch on YouTube

It makes absolutely no sense how athletic he still is, everyone on that list looked like a diminished version of themselves at 38, where as LeBron has lost a step but still is one of the most athletic forwards in the league.

He still looks really fast to me. He doesn't have the leaping he did in the past(still high level), and his first step and short area explosion or lateral mobility(also still high level) isn't what it was, but when he gets his wheels rolling, he still has elite speed at his size. A physical marvel, man.

Taj FTW · Post #16 » by **Taj FTW** » Mon Apr 10, 2023 5:53 am

jazzfan1971 wrote:For your consideration:

John Stockton 11.5ppg, 8.7apg (to 2.5tog) 1.6spg TS% .610 (yes, that's higher than Kareem) 82 games played. Also had the highest VORP of any of the 5.

He was the other guy I considered adding to the list.

LFAHFN22 · Post #17 » by **LFAHFN22** » Mon Apr 10, 2023 7:03 am

LeBron's athleticism is quite remarkable for his age. In terms of his season being the greatest season ever at this age. . . It's a silly debate. There is simply no way to account for playing in vastly different eras.

cam24thomas · Post #18 » by **cam24thomas** » Mon Apr 10, 2023 7:11 am

38/39-year-old Michael Jordan led the league in 40-point games in 2001-02, despite only playing 60 games.
And that included scoring 45 vs. the Eastern-champion New Jersey Nets! And a scored a season-high 51, 2 nights before that 8-)

Also scored 43 vs. the Nets again in 2002-03 and played all 82 games.... and this was when the NBA allowed hand-checking AND zone.

thelead · Post #19 » by **thelead** » Mon Apr 10, 2023 7:27 am

MJ is the GOAT but shouldn’t be on this list. I’m too young to have watched Kareem live, but the 79 games played is phenomenal with those stats and efficiency. Him or LeBron. Coin toss.

iggymcfrack · Post #20 » by **iggymcfrack** » Mon Apr 10, 2023 8:47 am

Wouldn't mind seeing Stockton as an option on this list. Led the league in TS% and AST% and the Jazz had a NetRtg of +12.2 with him on the floor compared to -6.3 with him off. He played somewhat limited minutes, but he also played all 82 games, leading to him playing 443 more total minutes than LeBron. I actually think he'd be my pick here.

Who had the best season as a 38-year-old?