RealGM

Is LeBron James Clutch?

His clutchness is so inconsistent throughout his career. He's also really prone to turnovers during crunch time when he is being passive

When I think of LeBron, Clutch is not the first thing that comes to my mind. I know that statistics give him this trait of clutchness... but my brain simply can't forget MIA - DAL '10 . I feel like this is a cognitive bias I have...

Meh, I don't think his effectiveness or efficiency goes up or down much in clutch time, he seems to stay pretty much the same dude. He has some very clutch moments in his career and some not so clutch moments, same as most stars who've played for a long time. Some guys do visibly get negatively affected by the pressure though, and that's definitely not the case with him (2011 notwithstanding). It's just easier to look up clutch highlights online than it is lowlights, unless it's an extreme lowlight (JR Smith). It's not one of the first traits I associate with LeBron James, but I did vote "yes", for the record.

One of the best clutch players of all-time....Nobody is clutch everytime too but some forget that when this is the time to talk if LBJ is clutch or not

from an article in 2022



https://thesportsrush.com/nba-news-lebron-james-52-clutch-shooting-record-easily-eclipses-michael-jordans-and-is-more-than-2x-of-kobe-bryants/

make of it what you will

See my signature. I should update it since it was 14/114 more recently

NoStatsGuy wrote:from an article in 2022



https://thesportsrush.com/nba-news-lebron-james-52-clutch-shooting-record-easily-eclipses-michael-jordans-and-is-more-than-2x-of-kobe-bryants/

make of it what you will

Sure! That seems oddly specific as Lebron clutch GIFs tend to be. Let's expand and get a sincere picture, if fans are really
trying to call him as or more clutch than Jordan. We'll start with the most important; the finals!

Finals game-winners/tyers with 25 seconds or less
Jordan 4/8 (50%)
LeBron 0/7 (0%)

^^^^^^^^
This stat alone is huge. Imagine the times that Jordan tied to go and win a finals game or won it with a shot.
Lebron had those same opportunities but didn't hit a single shot. Finals games.... are important. And 0 for 7 is pretty bad! Keep in mind that Jordan had a significantly shorter career, and far fewer finals games, but he still took more of these than Lebron because he was simply that guy. This is why you don't remember iconic moments from Lebron- not many in the finals.

Playoff game-winners/tyers with 25 seconds or less
Jordan 10/19 (53%)
LeBron 10/27 (37%)
Playoff game-winners/tyers with 24 seconds or less
Jordan 9/18 (50%)
LeBron 10/27 (37%)
Playoff game-winners/tyers with 10 seconds or less
Jordan 7/15 (47%)
LeBron 9/22 (41%)
Playoff game-winners/tyers with 5 seconds or less
Jordan 5/11 (45%)
LeBron 7/17 (41%)

Career buzzer beaters
Jordan 9
LeBron 7
Playoff series ending buzzer beaters
Jordan 2
LeBron 0

And then there's my signature.

Lebron has had significantly more games so Jordan leads in efficiency and volume by a clear margin.

https://undisputedgoat.medium.com/jordan-in-the-clutch-30f6e7ed4c43

Funny how there's a thread called where I called Lebron the most overrated player of all time,
and then a thread is created that points out one of the significant qualities in which he's constantly overrated
by fans.

It's no coincidence that pro-Lebron clutch GIFs always have a tiny sample size or are oddly specific.
Here, they found the single parameter where Lebron barely edges out Jordan and makes Kobe look especially bad.
See below for Kobe/Lebron finals stats.

Should OP stop making daily threads about Lebron?

Yes

No

For the Kobe Fans Who Must Find these Threads Annoying

Someone stat check these and provide the evidence (I don't have the time),
but makes sense

https://www.reddit.com/r/nba/comments/j400ne/yes_kobe_bryant_was_clutch_especially_during_the/

Finals: Last 2 minutes, margin of 3.

Lebron

• ⁠He is 4/23 in clutch situations

• ⁠His free throw shooting is 10/14

• ⁠His true shooting is 31%

• ⁠Assists per 36: 3.7 assists

• ⁠TO per 36: 3.7 TO

Kobe

• ⁠He is 10/20 in clutch situations

• ⁠His free throw shooting is 4/5

• ⁠His true shooting is 56.4%

• ⁠Assists per 36: 7.5 assists

• ⁠TO per 36: 1.5 TO

If the last two minutes and margin of 3 is too limiting, here’s one last bit of data

Finals: Last 5 minutes, margin of 5.

Lebron

• ⁠17/62 in clutch situations in the finals.

• ⁠32% EFG

• ⁠43% TS.

• ⁠Assists per 36: 4.26

• ⁠TO per 36: 3.1

Kobe

• ⁠28/63 in clutch situations in the finals.

• ⁠46% EFG

• ⁠53% TS.

• ⁠Assists per 36: 3.6

• ⁠TO per 36: 1.08

TLDR: LeBron is clutch, but Kobe is as well

LeBron has for the most part been great in his career in the clutch, but he is even better in big games, when it's like 2-2 in a series or later, he very often has monster games in this situation with 2010 and 2011 as the only exceptions, but nobody is perfect, even Jordan had only 8 FGA on a game in a situation like that, which should never happen in crucial situation

The record and stats of James in game 7 in his career are just incredible

Middle of the road, not "clutch" all the time but not like he can't do it either. I prefer when he just puts his head down and attacks to win it, rather than dance around and brick a 3

ChiTownHero1992 wrote:Middle of the road, not "clutch" all the time but not like he can't do it either. I prefer when he just puts his head down and attacks to win it, rather than dance around and brick a 3

This is the honest answer. You don't want him taking clutch shots or freethrows, but you do want him making clutch layups, where he's dominant.




Clutch players would look something like this:

Jordan
Reggie
Bird
Melo

KD
Kobe
Lebron
Steph
Stockton

etc
I left out players, I'm sure, but you get the idea.

He’s not unclutch by any means but he’s certainly nowhere near as clutch as say Jordan or Bird.

Due to being a poor shooter he’s simply nowhere near the top of the list when it comes to answering the question “game on the line, 15 seconds to go, who do you want taking the final shot?”

Doesn’t matter how many justifications his acolytes give with obscure advanced stats that nobody cares about.

I think lbj is great but if the game is on the line - I want him getting the ball to someone in the right position and clearing out -

Why… he can’t shoot - not well enough to matter - Kobe, mj, kd, BIRD, curry etc - make the shot or make the FTs

People's perception of clutchness is highly swayed by cognitive bias.
I don't think he's super clutch but I don't think he's particularly unclutch either. People rag on him for deferring and passing the ball in big moments but a lot of times thats the right call, especially for someone with his vision.

Im not saying he is not clutch but when i think of clutch i think of Jordan and Bird. I certainly want the ball in their hands if i need a basket to tie or win and only one shot left in the game.

Sometimes he is, sometimes he isn't. It's not an all or nothing thing.

Currently the poll is 20 yes votes, 13 no votes. I think that's fairly accurate, he's clutch more often than not but he's had plenty of instances where he's also fallen short.

I also agree with ChiTownHero1992, he tends to have the best results when he attacks the basket in the clutch rather than settling for a long jumper. When he plays passively, like in the 2011 Finals or at the end of regulation in 2013 Finals Game 6, he looks vulnerable. When he lowers his head and puts pressure on the defense he is lethal no matter how many seconds are left on the clock.

bledredwine wrote:

NoStatsGuy wrote:from an article in 2022



https://thesportsrush.com/nba-news-lebron-james-52-clutch-shooting-record-easily-eclipses-michael-jordans-and-is-more-than-2x-of-kobe-bryants/

make of it what you will

Sure! That seems oddly specific as Lebron clutch GIFs tend to be. Let's expand and get a sincere picture, if fans are really
trying to call him as or more clutch than Jordan. We'll start with the most important; the finals!

Finals game-winners/tyers with 25 seconds or less
Jordan 4/8 (50%)
LeBron 0/7 (0%)

^^^^^^^^
This stat alone is huge. Imagine the times that Jordan tied to go and win a finals game or won it with a shot.
Lebron had those same opportunities but didn't hit a single shot. Finals games.... are important. And 0 for 7 is pretty bad!

Playoff game-winners/tyers with 25 seconds or less
Jordan 10/19 (53%)
LeBron 10/27 (37%)
Playoff game-winners/tyers with 24 seconds or less
Jordan 9/18 (50%)
LeBron 10/27 (37%)
Playoff game-winners/tyers with 10 seconds or less
Jordan 7/15 (47%)
LeBron 9/22 (41%)
Playoff game-winners/tyers with 5 seconds or less
Jordan 5/11 (45%)
LeBron 7/17 (41%)

Career buzzer beaters
Jordan 9
LeBron 7
Playoff series ending buzzer beaters
Jordan 2
LeBron 0

And then there's my signature.

https://undisputedgoat.medium.com/jordan-in-the-clutch-30f6e7ed4c43

Funny how there's a thread called where I called Lebron the most overrated player of all time,
and then a thread is created that points out one of the significant qualities in which he's constantly overrated
by fans.

It's no coincidence that pro-Lebron clutch GIFs always have a tiny sample size or are oddly specific.
Here, they found the single parameter where Lebron barely edges out Jordan and makes Kobe look especially bad.
See below for Kobe/Lebron finals stats.

Wow, this is huge! It seems LeBron is actually anti-clutch if that's true It might partly explain why he underachieved in his career, just doesn't have enough of the "winning" DNA...
Finals game-winners/tyers with 25 seconds or less
Jordan 4/8 (50%)
LeBron 0/7 (0%)

He is Klutch, that I know for sure.