Am I wrong for believing LeBron doesn't raise team offenses like other All-time Greats?

Moderators: bwgood77, zimpy27, infinite11285, Clav, Domejandro, ken6199, bisme37, Dirk, KingDavid, cupcakesnake

SHAQ32
Lead Assistant
Posts: 5,587
And1: 3,260
Joined: Mar 21, 2013
 

Am I wrong for believing LeBron doesn't raise team offenses like other All-time Greats? 

Post#1 » by SHAQ32 » Sat Sep 6, 2025 1:37 am

22 seasons and he's never led the #1 offense in the league, despite playing with hall of famers and talented offensive supporting casts

And when I say other all time greats, I mean guys like Magic, Nash, Shaq, Dirk, and Jordan

I feel like LeBron is great at making LeBron great offensively but not so much the team
falcolombardi
General Manager
Posts: 9,518
And1: 7,134
Joined: Apr 13, 2021
       

Re: Am I wrong for believing LeBron doesn't raise team offenses like other All-time Greats? 

Post#2 » by falcolombardi » Sat Sep 6, 2025 1:41 am

You should add (regular season) to your title cause lebron literally has 2 of the top 3 playoff offense runs ever back to back
SHAQ32
Lead Assistant
Posts: 5,587
And1: 3,260
Joined: Mar 21, 2013
 

Re: Am I wrong for believing LeBron doesn't raise team offenses like other All-time Greats? 

Post#3 » by SHAQ32 » Sat Sep 6, 2025 1:43 am

falcolombardi wrote:You should add (regular season) to your title cause lebron literally has 2 of the top 3 playoff offense runs ever back to back

Are those before or after the 2016 rule changes?
User avatar
Jcity08
RealGM
Posts: 12,937
And1: 18,020
Joined: May 06, 2018
       

Re: Am I wrong for believing LeBron doesn't raise team offenses like other All-time Greats? 

Post#4 » by Jcity08 » Sat Sep 6, 2025 1:44 am

Image
Image
Image

Signed with team T.W.O for the 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25 season.
User avatar
Maxthirty
Sixth Man
Posts: 1,580
And1: 3,280
Joined: Sep 08, 2020
   

Re: Am I wrong for believing LeBron doesn't raise team offenses like other All-time Greats? 

Post#5 » by Maxthirty » Sat Sep 6, 2025 1:47 am

Yes.
Water makes you weak.
User avatar
zimpy27
Forum Mod
Forum Mod
Posts: 45,552
And1: 43,773
Joined: Jul 13, 2014

Re: Am I wrong for believing LeBron doesn't raise team offenses like other All-time Greats? 

Post#6 » by zimpy27 » Sat Sep 6, 2025 2:04 am

Yes.


homecourtloss wrote:I was looking at the relative offensive rating (rORtg) in playoff series between six players we often discuss here on the PC board and the rORtgs spearheaded by each.

In the charts below, you can see how these players did against specific defenses. LeBron is brown circles, the red circles are Jordan, the purple is Magic, the yellow is Curry, the green are Nash, and the blue is Jokic.

Image
Image

There have been 81 playoff series between these six players that have produced a rORtg of +8 or greater.

LeBron: 22
Jordan: 18
Magic: 16
Nash and Curry: 11
Jokic: 3

There have been 25 playoff series of a rORtg of +12 or greater:

LeBron: 8
Magic: 6
Jordan: 5
Nash: 4
Curry: 2

There have been 14 playoff series of a rORtg of +15 or greater:

LeBron: 4
Magic: 3
Jordan: 3
Nash: 3
Curry: 1

There have been 6 playoff series of a rORtg of +18 or greater:

LeBron: 4
Nash: 1
Curry: 1

There have been 4 playoff series of rORtg of +20 or greater:

LeBron: 3
Nash: 1

Here we see a visualization of all the playoff series Jokic, LeBron, Curry, Jordan, Nash, and Magic have played. From left to right it is Nikola Jokić in blue LeBron in brown, curry in yellow, Jordan in red, Nash, in green, and magic in purple.

Image

And here we see the +8, +12, +15, +18, and +20 series.

Image



viewtopic.php?f=64&t=2401174&p=114693217&hilit=Jokic+lebron+nash#p114693217
"Let's play some basketball!" - Fergie
taikibansei
Lead Assistant
Posts: 5,911
And1: 11,187
Joined: Jul 17, 2008
     

Re: Am I wrong for believing LeBron doesn't raise team offenses like other All-time Greats? 

Post#7 » by taikibansei » Sat Sep 6, 2025 2:05 am

What did the man do to some of you people?
RIP magnumt--you're literally why I'm still here on these boards.
RIP The Hater--keep up the good fight in the great beyond.
SlimShady83
RealGM
Posts: 14,706
And1: 4,495
Joined: Jun 19, 2012

Re: Am I wrong for believing LeBron doesn't raise team offenses like other All-time Greats? 

Post#8 » by SlimShady83 » Sat Sep 6, 2025 2:07 am

Yes, No, call me maybe baby!
My Go Team
Magic, Jordan, Bird, Duncan, Shaq

My Counter
Stockton, Kobe, Pippen, Rodman, Dirk

Today's Team
Luka, SGA, Tatum, Giannis, Wemby
SHAQ32
Lead Assistant
Posts: 5,587
And1: 3,260
Joined: Mar 21, 2013
 

Re: Am I wrong for believing LeBron doesn't raise team offenses like other All-time Greats? 

Post#9 » by SHAQ32 » Sat Sep 6, 2025 2:13 am

zimpy27 wrote:Yes.


homecourtloss wrote:I was looking at the relative offensive rating (rORtg) in playoff series between six players we often discuss here on the PC board and the rORtgs spearheaded by each.

In the charts below, you can see how these players did against specific defenses. LeBron is good, the red circles are Jordan, the purple is Magic, the yellow is Curry, the green are Nash, and the blue is Jokic.

Image
Image

There have been 81 playoff series between these six players that have produced a rORtg of +8 or greater.

LeBron: 22
Jordan: 18
Magic: 16
Nash and Curry: 11
Jokic: 3

There have been 25 playoff series of a rORtg of +12 or greater:

LeBron: 8
Magic: 6
Jordan: 5
Nash: 4
Curry: 2

There have been 14 playoff series of a rORtg of +15 or greater:

LeBron: 4
Magic: 3
Jordan: 3
Nash: 3
Curry: 1

There have been 6 playoff series of a rORtg of +18 or greater:

LeBron: 4
Nash: 1
Curry: 1

There have been 4 playoff series of rORtg of +20 or greater:

LeBron: 3
Nash: 1

Here we see a visualization of all the playoff series Jokic, LeBron, Curry, Jordan, Nash, and Magic have played. From left to right it is Nikola Jokić in blue LeBron in brown, curry in yellow, Jordan in red, Nash, in green, and magic in purple.

Image

And here we see the +8, +12, +15, +18, and +20 series.

Image



viewtopic.php?f=64&t=2401174&p=114693217&hilit=Jokic+lebron+nash#p114693217

How many of those LeBron seasons are pre-2017?
taikibansei
Lead Assistant
Posts: 5,911
And1: 11,187
Joined: Jul 17, 2008
     

Re: Am I wrong for believing LeBron doesn't raise team offenses like other All-time Greats? 

Post#10 » by taikibansei » Sat Sep 6, 2025 2:20 am

SHAQ32 wrote:
zimpy27 wrote:Yes.


homecourtloss wrote:I was looking at the relative offensive rating (rORtg) in playoff series between six players we often discuss here on the PC board and the rORtgs spearheaded by each.

In the charts below, you can see how these players did against specific defenses. LeBron is good, the red circles are Jordan, the purple is Magic, the yellow is Curry, the green are Nash, and the blue is Jokic.

Image
Image

There have been 81 playoff series between these six players that have produced a rORtg of +8 or greater.

LeBron: 22
Jordan: 18
Magic: 16
Nash and Curry: 11
Jokic: 3

There have been 25 playoff series of a rORtg of +12 or greater:

LeBron: 8
Magic: 6
Jordan: 5
Nash: 4
Curry: 2

There have been 14 playoff series of a rORtg of +15 or greater:

LeBron: 4
Magic: 3
Jordan: 3
Nash: 3
Curry: 1

There have been 6 playoff series of a rORtg of +18 or greater:

LeBron: 4
Nash: 1
Curry: 1

There have been 4 playoff series of rORtg of +20 or greater:

LeBron: 3
Nash: 1

Here we see a visualization of all the playoff series Jokic, LeBron, Curry, Jordan, Nash, and Magic have played. From left to right it is Nikola Jokić in blue LeBron in brown, curry in yellow, Jordan in red, Nash, in green, and magic in purple.

Image

And here we see the +8, +12, +15, +18, and +20 series.

Image



viewtopic.php?f=64&t=2401174&p=114693217&hilit=Jokic+lebron+nash#p114693217

How many of those LeBron seasons are pre-2017?


Pre-2017 doesn't count then? As in nothing counts before Lebron turned 33?!
RIP magnumt--you're literally why I'm still here on these boards.
RIP The Hater--keep up the good fight in the great beyond.
User avatar
zimpy27
Forum Mod
Forum Mod
Posts: 45,552
And1: 43,773
Joined: Jul 13, 2014

Re: Am I wrong for believing LeBron doesn't raise team offenses like other All-time Greats? 

Post#11 » by zimpy27 » Sat Sep 6, 2025 2:21 am

SHAQ32 wrote:
zimpy27 wrote:Yes.


homecourtloss wrote:I was looking at the relative offensive rating (rORtg) in playoff series between six players we often discuss here on the PC board and the rORtgs spearheaded by each.

In the charts below, you can see how these players did against specific defenses. LeBron is good, the red circles are Jordan, the purple is Magic, the yellow is Curry, the green are Nash, and the blue is Jokic.

Image
Image

There have been 81 playoff series between these six players that have produced a rORtg of +8 or greater.

LeBron: 22
Jordan: 18
Magic: 16
Nash and Curry: 11
Jokic: 3

There have been 25 playoff series of a rORtg of +12 or greater:

LeBron: 8
Magic: 6
Jordan: 5
Nash: 4
Curry: 2

There have been 14 playoff series of a rORtg of +15 or greater:

LeBron: 4
Magic: 3
Jordan: 3
Nash: 3
Curry: 1

There have been 6 playoff series of a rORtg of +18 or greater:

LeBron: 4
Nash: 1
Curry: 1

There have been 4 playoff series of rORtg of +20 or greater:

LeBron: 3
Nash: 1

Here we see a visualization of all the playoff series Jokic, LeBron, Curry, Jordan, Nash, and Magic have played. From left to right it is Nikola Jokić in blue LeBron in brown, curry in yellow, Jordan in red, Nash, in green, and magic in purple.

Image

And here we see the +8, +12, +15, +18, and +20 series.

Image



viewtopic.php?f=64&t=2401174&p=114693217&hilit=Jokic+lebron+nash#p114693217

How many of those LeBron seasons are pre-2017?



Not sure, what does that matter? Are you thinking that he's not as good now as he once was? I'd agree.
"Let's play some basketball!" - Fergie
User avatar
durden_tyler
RealGM
Posts: 21,487
And1: 10,733
Joined: Jun 04, 2003
Location: 537 Paper Street, Bradford
   

Re: Am I wrong for believing LeBron doesn't raise team offenses like other All-time Greats? 

Post#12 » by durden_tyler » Sat Sep 6, 2025 2:25 am

You're wrong, he's an all-time great for a reason and that includes raising a team. Perhaps not in level of Michael Jordan but that's another story.
If there is no basketball in heaven, i am not going.
User avatar
MrBigShot
RealGM
Posts: 18,610
And1: 20,189
Joined: Dec 18, 2010
 

Re: Am I wrong for believing LeBron doesn't raise team offenses like other All-time Greats? 

Post#13 » by MrBigShot » Sat Sep 6, 2025 2:39 am

Yes. Lebron throughout his career warps the play style of the entire team (and his co stars) around him but he justifies it by putting his team in a position to contend.
"They say you miss 100% of the shots you take" - Mike James
User avatar
NO-KG-AI
Retired Mod
Retired Mod
Posts: 44,110
And1: 20,125
Joined: Jul 19, 2005
Location: The city of witch doctors, and good ol' pickpockets

Re: Am I wrong for believing LeBron doesn't raise team offenses like other All-time Greats? 

Post#14 » by NO-KG-AI » Sat Sep 6, 2025 2:41 am

I think it’s less to do with his style of play and more to do with his impatience and inability for his teams to build continuity because they are always going through roster changes.

I do think it’s a slight factor.
Doctor MJ wrote:I don't understand why people jump in a thread and say basically, "This thing you're all talking about. I'm too ignorant to know anything about it. Lollerskates!"
User avatar
NO-KG-AI
Retired Mod
Retired Mod
Posts: 44,110
And1: 20,125
Joined: Jul 19, 2005
Location: The city of witch doctors, and good ol' pickpockets

Re: Am I wrong for believing LeBron doesn't raise team offenses like other All-time Greats? 

Post#15 » by NO-KG-AI » Sat Sep 6, 2025 2:42 am

durden_tyler wrote:You're wrong, he's an all-time great for a reason and that includes raising a team. Perhaps not in level of Michael Jordan but that's another story.


I think this is his exact argument though. I think he’s a huge ceiling raiser for what it’s worth, but maybe not quite the very peak.
Doctor MJ wrote:I don't understand why people jump in a thread and say basically, "This thing you're all talking about. I'm too ignorant to know anything about it. Lollerskates!"
SHAQ32
Lead Assistant
Posts: 5,587
And1: 3,260
Joined: Mar 21, 2013
 

Re: Am I wrong for believing LeBron doesn't raise team offenses like other All-time Greats? 

Post#16 » by SHAQ32 » Sat Sep 6, 2025 2:48 am

taikibansei wrote:
SHAQ32 wrote:
zimpy27 wrote:Yes.





viewtopic.php?f=64&t=2401174&p=114693217&hilit=Jokic+lebron+nash#p114693217

How many of those LeBron seasons are pre-2017?


Pre-2017 doesn't count then? As in nothing counts before Lebron turned 33?!


I mean, do you even understand why I'm asking? Or are you just getting defensive because LeBron's your favorite player?
Ol Roy
Senior
Posts: 539
And1: 603
Joined: Dec 03, 2023

Re: Am I wrong for believing LeBron doesn't raise team offenses like other All-time Greats? 

Post#17 » by Ol Roy » Sat Sep 6, 2025 2:55 am

I think LeBron is somewhat of a victim of his own abilities. He was such a tremendous rim finisher that he couldn't really put that aside. But imagine if he played more like Magic Johnson. I think, in the end, LeBron struck a pretty good balance (manifesting in the drive-and-kick) that probably made sense based on the personnel he played with. But the idea of him as more point-oriented player on offense is intriguing.
User avatar
homecourtloss
RealGM
Posts: 11,428
And1: 18,831
Joined: Dec 29, 2012

Re: Am I wrong for believing LeBron doesn't raise team offenses like other All-time Greats? 

Post#18 » by homecourtloss » Sat Sep 6, 2025 2:55 am

taikibansei wrote:
SHAQ32 wrote:
zimpy27 wrote:Yes.



viewtopic.php?f=64&t=2401174&p=114693217&hilit=Jokic+lebron+nash#p114693217

How many of those LeBron seasons are pre-2017?


Pre-2017 doesn't count then? As in nothing counts before Lebron turned 33?!


not that it matters but if we're talking about +8 then it's...


15 of them.
lessthanjake wrote:Kyrie was extremely impactful without LeBron, and basically had zero impact whatsoever if LeBron was on the court.

lessthanjake wrote: By playing in a way that prevents Kyrie from getting much impact, LeBron ensures that controlling for Kyrie has limited effect…
User avatar
zimpy27
Forum Mod
Forum Mod
Posts: 45,552
And1: 43,773
Joined: Jul 13, 2014

Re: Am I wrong for believing LeBron doesn't raise team offenses like other All-time Greats? 

Post#19 » by zimpy27 » Sat Sep 6, 2025 3:03 am

homecourtloss wrote:
taikibansei wrote:
SHAQ32 wrote:How many of those LeBron seasons are pre-2017?


Pre-2017 doesn't count then? As in nothing counts before Lebron turned 33?!


not that it matters but if we're talking about +8 then it's...


15 of them.


15 of the 22?
"Let's play some basketball!" - Fergie
User avatar
bushybrah_
Sixth Man
Posts: 1,639
And1: 1,470
Joined: Jul 28, 2013
Location: ATL
     

Re: Am I wrong for believing LeBron doesn't raise team offenses like other All-time Greats? 

Post#20 » by bushybrah_ » Sat Sep 6, 2025 3:07 am

Yes you are.

Return to The General Board