Rank every season of LeBron's prime '09-'20

[Djoker]

First tier is GOAT-level seasons, second is all-time great seasons, third is strong MVP seasons, fourth is weak MVP seasons and fifth is All-NBA level seasons. Includes PS performance.

2009

2012
2016
2013

2017
2010
2018
2020
2014

2015
2011

2019

[Asianiac_24]

2018
2017
2009
2012
2013
2014
2016
2010
2020
2011
2019

[TheGOATRises007]

2017
2009
2016
2018
2012
2020
2013
2014
2010
2011
2015
2019

I find 2020 hard to evaluate. You can make arguments for it being in the top 3 and even bottom 3 considering the circumstances.

I'm also not that high on his 2013 season as I used to be. I truly think Lebron peaked in general during his 2nd Cleveland stint.

That 2017 Cavs team was incredible. If they didn't run into the Warriors(and took the RS seriously), they'd be one of the top 10-5 teams ever.

I've become much higher on his 2009 season the past year. The only feasible argument against that being his peak are his subsequent 2010 and 2011 season which is somewhat fair I suppose. It's interesting to think about.

3 years later and I'd have a pretty different order.

2009
2017
2012
2016
2018
2013
2010
2020
2014
2011
2015
2019

I do think his 2010 season has become really underrated. I think LeBron's peak is clearly in 2009. I do like his 2017 playoff showings a lot though. I prefer it over 2018, because I like his RS effort way more and I think the data backs that up.

[Dutchball97]

It is interesting how there are arguments for 3 seperate eras of LeBron (2009/2010, 2012/2013 and 2016/2017/2018) to be his best showing.

In the end I think this just comes down to what you prefer in player analysis. Cavs stint #1 has the bonkers impact data but not the most dominant play-off showing, Cavs stint #2 is a bit weaker in the regular season but nearly flawless in the post-season, while the Heat runs strike a balance with both the regular season and play-offs being strong MVP level.

Personally I'll always go with the more consistent 2012 and 2013 runs but hard to fault people for choosing either raw impact or post-season excellence instead.

[homecourtloss]

It is interesting how there are arguments for 3 seperate eras of LeBron (2009/2010, 2012/2013 and 2016/2017/2018) to be his best showing.

In the end I think this just comes down to what you prefer in player analysis. Cavs stint #1 has the bonkers impact data but not the most dominant play-off showing, Cavs stint #2 is a bit weaker in the regular season but nearly flawless in the post-season, while the Heat runs strike a balance with both the regular season and play-offs being strong MVP level.

Personally I'll always go with the more consistent 2012 and 2013 runs but hard to fault people for choosing either raw impact or post-season excellence instead.

If Wade stays healthy, I think 2013 would wind up being more universally accepted as his peak even though he really wasn't used optimally and 2009 inelastic impact would still be what it was and the 2016-2017 post seasons would be what they were.

In 2013 playoffs non-Wade minutes he had a wild +20.4 rORtg including a +31 rORtg vs the best team, i.e., the Spurs.

when Wade was healthy for the whole season, the pairing had a +14.4 on court and the final 40 games of the season they were +20. The way that we saw in the playoffs was diminished and was an offensive liability on court since you couldn't do his usual things and he wasn't a shooter.

[JLei]

It is interesting how there are arguments for 3 seperate eras of LeBron (2009/2010, 2012/2013 and 2016/2017/2018) to be his best showing.

In the end I think this just comes down to what you prefer in player analysis. Cavs stint #1 has the bonkers impact data but not the most dominant play-off showing, Cavs stint #2 is a bit weaker in the regular season but nearly flawless in the post-season, while the Heat runs strike a balance with both the regular season and play-offs being strong MVP level.

Personally I'll always go with the more consistent 2012 and 2013 runs but hard to fault people for choosing either raw impact or post-season excellence instead.

If Wade stays healthy, I think 2013 would wind up being more universally accepted as his peak even though he really wasn't used optimally and 2009 inelastic impact would still be what it was and the 2016-2017 post seasons would be what they were.

In 2013 playoffs non-Wade minutes he had a wild +20.4 rORtg including a +31 rORtg vs the best team, i.e., the Spurs.

when Wade was healthy for the whole season, the pairing had a +14.4 on court and the final four games of the season they were +20. The way that we saw in the playoffs was diminished and was an offensive liability on court since you couldn't do his usual things and he wasn't a shooter.

It was mostly Wade but also Battier suffering through a crisis of confidence which lead to more Haslem. Haslem on court muted Bosh a lot (all the surrounding seasons where Haslem plays less Bosh has very good impact metrics). With Wade and Haslem out there and Bosh being less effective they couldn't get a lot going until they brought Miller, Allen, Anderson and then eventually Battier in. I mean seems obvious today. Give Lebron the rim runner + a bunch of shooters and he's good to go. But back in 2013 coaching wasn't quite so advanced yet.

[homecourtloss]

It is interesting how there are arguments for 3 seperate eras of LeBron (2009/2010, 2012/2013 and 2016/2017/2018) to be his best showing.

In the end I think this just comes down to what you prefer in player analysis. Cavs stint #1 has the bonkers impact data but not the most dominant play-off showing, Cavs stint #2 is a bit weaker in the regular season but nearly flawless in the post-season, while the Heat runs strike a balance with both the regular season and play-offs being strong MVP level.

Personally I'll always go with the more consistent 2012 and 2013 runs but hard to fault people for choosing either raw impact or post-season excellence instead.

If Wade stays healthy, I think 2013 would wind up being more universally accepted as his peak even though he really wasn't used optimally and 2009 inelastic impact would still be what it was and the 2016-2017 post seasons would be what they were.

In 2013 playoffs non-Wade minutes he had a wild +20.4 rORtg including a +31 rORtg vs the best team, i.e., the Spurs.

when Wade was healthy for the whole season, the pairing had a +14.4 on court and the final four games of the season they were +20. The way that we saw in the playoffs was diminished and was an offensive liability on court since you couldn't do his usual things and he wasn't a shooter.

It was mostly Wade but also Battier suffering through a crisis of confidence which lead to more Haslem. Haslem on court muted Bosh a lot (all the surrounding seasons where Haslem plays less Bosh has very good impact metrics). With Wade and Haslem out there and Bosh being less effective they couldn't get a lot going until they brought Miller, Allen, Anderson and then eventually Battier in. I mean seems obvious today. Give Lebron the rim runner + a bunch of shooters and he's good to go. But back in 2013 coaching wasn't quite so advanced yet.

You’re right: James+Allen without Wade and Haslem were +25 per 100 in over 200 minutes with a 100 DRtg. James+Birdman+Allen were over +32 per 100 in over 165 minutesIt’s true and a bit unfortunate that likely the best version of a GOAT player wasn’t optimally actuated due to circumstances, i.e., injuries, knowledge of lineup optimization, etc. The same can be said of the 2011 team’s construction though the team’s hands were tied due to salary cap restrictions.

[McBubbles]

If Wade stays healthy, I think 2013 would wind up being more universally accepted as his peak even though he really wasn't used optimally and 2009 inelastic impact would still be what it was and the 2016-2017 post seasons would be what they were.

In 2013 playoffs non-Wade minutes he had a wild +20.4 rORtg including a +31 rORtg vs the best team, i.e., the Spurs.

when Wade was healthy for the whole season, the pairing had a +14.4 on court and the final four games of the season they were +20. The way that we saw in the playoffs was diminished and was an offensive liability on court since you couldn't do his usual things and he wasn't a shooter.

It was mostly Wade but also Battier suffering through a crisis of confidence which lead to more Haslem. Haslem on court muted Bosh a lot (all the surrounding seasons where Haslem plays less Bosh has very good impact metrics). With Wade and Haslem out there and Bosh being less effective they couldn't get a lot going until they brought Miller, Allen, Anderson and then eventually Battier in. I mean seems obvious today. Give Lebron the rim runner + a bunch of shooters and he's good to go. But back in 2013 coaching wasn't quite so advanced yet.

You’re right: James+Allen without Wade and Haslem were +25 per 100 in over 200 minutes with a 100 DRtg. James+Birdman+Allen were over +32 per 100 in over 165 minutesIt’s true and a bit unfortunate that likely the best version of a GOAT player wasn’t optimally actuated due to circumstances, i.e., injuries, knowledge of lineup optimization, etc. The same can be said of the 2011 team’s construction though the team’s hands were tied due to salary cap restrictions.

LeBron is quite possibly the best on ball player in NBA history and after being used wrong, becoming a slower, bulkier, less athletic, more mid-range heavy post up player, LeBron still had top tier all time seasons in 2012 and 2013. That's still crazy to me. Imagine 2009 to 2010 LeBron on the 2018 Houston Rockets playing off of CP3 and Capela, or even on the 2021 Bucks in place of Giannis as a super Helio in a 5-out offence with a DPOY calibre, 3&D center in Brook Lopez. Oh my giddy giddy gosh.

[EmpireFalls]

Tier by tier

GOAT: 2009
Peak level: 2012, 2013, 2016, 2010
Elite: 2017, 2014, 2018, 2006, 2020
Great: 2015, 2008, 2007, 2011
Injured: 2019

[FrodoBaggins]

Going back and watching '09 LeBron and seeing what he was doing despite the lack of space & pace was crazy. Comparing and contrasting with how open the game is today... Sometimes we forget just how difficult things were back then.

Watch on YouTube

;pp=ygURbGVicm9uIGphbWVzIDIwMDk%3D

Watch on YouTube

;pp=ygURbGVicm9uIGphbWVzIDIwMDnSBwkJCwoBhyohjO8%3D