What would 2009 version of LeBron's stat be if he were to play in 1962

[dygaction]

That was one of the craziest seasons with fast pace.
Wilt averaged 50.4p/25.7r. Second year Oscar averaged 30.8p/12.5r/11.4a over the season.

[70sFan]

I think he'd be someone between Oscar and Baylor in terms of his role, expect better than either. I'd put a guess that he'd reach 36/14/7 or something like that in 44 mpg. It would highly depend on a team he'd play in though.

[dygaction]

I think he'd be someone between Oscar and Baylor in terms of his role, expect better than either. I'd put a guess that he'd reach 36/14/7 or something like that in 44 mpg. It would highly depend on a team he'd play in though.

If he were to replace Oscar on CIN, would he be able to play PG and get comparable or higher assists?

[70sFan]

I think he'd be someone between Oscar and Baylor in terms of his role, expect better than either. I'd put a guess that he'd reach 36/14/7 or something like that in 44 mpg. It would highly depend on a team he'd play in though.

If he were to replace Oscar on CIN, would he be able to play PG and get comparable or higher assists?

Tough to say, because it would depend on a coach willingness to give him the ball. Assists numbers are lower on average back then in general. I think he'd play more inside oriented basketball than Oscar, but who knows?

One big advantage for James in that era would be transition offense - he's one of the best transition players ever and teams loved running back then.

[Matt15]

I think he’d post something like 40/12/8

[70sFan]

I think he’d post something like 40/12/8

Players had far lower usages back then, you have to keep that in mind.

[kazyv]

it's hard to say, because a lot of what 2009 lebron was doing on offense was illegal in 1962. turnover galore

[SinceGatlingWasARookie]

How quickly could 2009 LeBron change his dribbling habits to fit with 1962 rule enforcement?

After LeBron fixes his dribbling, I think he could do everything Elgin Baylor did better then Elgin Baylor and do what Oscar did about as well as Oscar did it. LeBron is a bigger man than Elgin Baylor. LeBron would be fine in a fast breaking NBA. 1962 was fine with early offense. 1962 was fine with 40% shooting so LeBron barely needs shot selection because LeBron can hit bad shots at 40%.

LeBron would put up huge numbers in 1962 but first he has to learn how to dribble without traveling.

[No-more-rings]

I would be more interested in what his stats would look like today, i might make a thread on that.

[feyki]

I think he'd be someone between Oscar and Baylor in terms of his role, expect better than either. I'd put a guess that he'd reach 36/14/7 or something like that in 44 mpg. It would highly depend on a team he'd play in though.

If he were to replace Oscar on CIN, would he be able to play PG and get comparable or higher assists?

Cavs to Royals in change of minutes with Oscar:
Lebron in 1962 - 36,9 PPG, 12,1 RPG, 9,4 APG, %48,3 TS,
Oscar in 2009 - 23,6 PPG, 7,9 RPG, 8,8 APG, %67,7 TS.

[colts18]

I would be more interested in what his stats would look like today, i might make a thread on that.

40/10/10 in today's NBA

[dygaction]

I think he'd be someone between Oscar and Baylor in terms of his role, expect better than either. I'd put a guess that he'd reach 36/14/7 or something like that in 44 mpg. It would highly depend on a team he'd play in though.

If he were to replace Oscar on CIN, would he be able to play PG and get comparable or higher assists?

Cavs to Royals in change of minutes with Oscar:
Lebron in 1962 - 36,9 PPG, 9,9 RPG, 9,4 APG, %48,3 TS,
Oscar in 2009 - 23,6 PPG, 9,6 RPG, 8,8 APG, %67,7 TS.

Hard to get less than 14rpg when you are the physical freak on the court and there are ~70 rebounds for each team to grab.

[feyki]

If he were to replace Oscar on CIN, would he be able to play PG and get comparable or higher assists?

Cavs to Royals in change of minutes with Oscar:
Lebron in 1962 - 36,9 PPG, 9,9 RPG, 9,4 APG, %48,3 TS,
Oscar in 2009 - 23,6 PPG, 9,6 RPG, 8,8 APG, %67,7 TS.

Hard to get less than 14rpg when you are the physical freak on the court and there are ~70 rebounds for each team to grab.

I would say the same thing for Heat Lebron, but 09 Lebron was too perimeter player to get high rebound numbers like Baylor did.

Edit: I calculated rebound numbers wrong. Edited it.

[dygaction]

Cavs to Royals in change of minutes with Oscar:
Lebron in 1962 - 36,9 PPG, 9,9 RPG, 9,4 APG, %48,3 TS,
Oscar in 2009 - 23,6 PPG, 9,6 RPG, 8,8 APG, %67,7 TS.

Hard to get less than 14rpg when you are the physical freak on the court and there are ~70 rebounds for each team to grab.

I would say the same thing for Heat Lebron, but 09 Lebron was too perimeter player to get high rebound numbers like Baylor did.

Edit: I calculated rebound numbers wrong. Edited it.

In 62, there was no 3pt line or hardly spacing to speak of, so he would have to play much closer to the basket.

[No-more-rings]

I would be more interested in what his stats would look like today, i might make a thread on that.

40/10/10 in today's NBA

Isn't this the kinda response that Jordan fans get mocked for though?

[70sFan]

If he were to replace Oscar on CIN, would he be able to play PG and get comparable or higher assists?

Cavs to Royals in change of minutes with Oscar:
Lebron in 1962 - 36,9 PPG, 9,9 RPG, 9,4 APG, %48,3 TS,
Oscar in 2009 - 23,6 PPG, 9,6 RPG, 8,8 APG, %67,7 TS.

Hard to get less than 14rpg when you are the physical freak on the court and there are ~70 rebounds for each team to grab.

LeBron averaged 11 rebounds per100 in 2009 and his absolute peak was below 12.

Teams averaged 45.0 rebounds per100 in 2009
Teams averaged 56.7 rebounds per100 in 1962.

Adjusting for that difference, James would average 13.7 rebounds per100 in 1962. Give him 44 mpg on average team in terms of pace and it'd give him 14.8 rpg. Again, 44 mpg is massive but not impossible.

It's possible that James would average more than 14 rpg, but it's rather unlikely. Even if you assume that he'd become a better rebounder in that era (which is not a given, athleticism doesn't mean much for rebounding), even a 10% increase in his rebounding rate wouldn't put him close to someone like Elgin Baylor. That's because Baylor was just amazing rebounder, one of the best ever at his position.

[RCM88x]

I would be more interested in what his stats would look like today, i might make a thread on that.

40/10/10 in today's NBA

Isn't this the kinda response that Jordan fans get mocked for though?

You can probably argue the game has changed more from 2016 to today than it did from 1988 to 2009. The argument was definitely laughable ten or even five years ago, but now? Maybe not.

However, personally I just don't think 40/10 is possible still. Maybe something like 34-8-10 or 37-8-7 though.

[No-more-rings]

40/10/10 in today's NBA

Isn't this the kinda response that Jordan fans get mocked for though?

You can probably argue the game has changed more from 2016 to today than it did from 1988 to 2009. The argument was definitely laughable ten or even five years ago, but now? Maybe not.

However, personally I just don't think 40/10 is possible still. Maybe something like 34-8-10 or 37-8-7 though.

It's possible but he'd really have to be playing for numbers, which is not something Lebron does.

[colts18]

I would be more interested in what his stats would look like today, i might make a thread on that.

40/10/10 in today's NBA

Isn't this the kinda response that Jordan fans get mocked for though?

Harden averaged 36/8/7 in this era. Luka averages 30/10/10 in this era and he is nowhere near as athletic or skilled as LeBron. LeBron could easily score more if he wanted to. No one in today's game has the rim protectors to stop LeBron. If he put him in Luka's role, he is getting at least 35/10/10. He gets 40 if he really wants it.

[No-more-rings]

40/10/10 in today's NBA

Isn't this the kinda response that Jordan fans get mocked for though?

Harden averaged 36/8/7 in this era. Luka averages 30/10/10 in this era and he is nowhere near as athletic or skilled as LeBron. LeBron could easily score more if he wanted to. No one in today's game has the rim protectors to stop LeBron. If he put him in Luka's role, he is getting at least 35/10/10. He gets 40 if he really wants it.

It would take unusual circumstances for him to average 40 imo.