RealGM

Some relevant all in one metric numbers...

EPM / LEBRON / BPM // Playoff BPM

2021: 7.9 / 6.83 / 12.1 // 9.0
2022: 9.3 / 7.80 / 13.7 // 10.7
2023: 7.9 / 7.31 / 13.0 // 12.8
2024: 7.0 / 6.77 / 13.2 // 12.8

I went with 2021 because he played in every game, whereas in his championship season he missed 13 games for reasons I don't remember. Both seasons were also the only years in his current prime where he shot threes at above league average efficiency.

I think its 23 due to the playoff run but I prefer the idea of peaks using rs and ps from different seasons when necessary.

It has to be 2023 if ur talking how good the season was I think

2021 he was bad on defense, great in 2022 but his playoff defense was rough and team wasn’t world beating offensively with him there vs golden state despite gaudy numbers, 2024 didn’t have the greatest overall series vs the wolves despite gaudy box scores and defensively was rough through the playoffs

2022 and 2023 are pretty similar in terms of how good of a player he was.

2023 will often be the default answer for his best season' because of the longer playoff run that lead to a championship.

In 2024, he was good, but considering the support he had in 2024 compared to 2022, I thought his scoring lagged behind by a decent bit. 2023 had more support than 2022 as well, but Jokic's efficiency was much more outlier. His 3-ball was great in 2023.

I also thought his RS defense was a bit worse in 2024 compared to 2022 and 2023. 2021 isn't even in the discussion for me.

I don't think defining a single peak season is very relevant. If I was drafting someone I care way more about their best 3-4 year stretch than their best season.

2023. Though I think you could argue he had a better/more impressive regular season campaign in 2022, where he had arguably better production and was lifting a far inferior cast to actually somewhat comparable results (48 wins and 2.2 SRS in 2022, versus 53 wins and 3.0 SRS in 2023). 2022 was his best scoring campaign -- 30pts/75 on +9.5 rTS, and had a great scoring series vs the Warriors -- but his playoff run in 2023 was obviously overall an all-time one.

Other than the fact that we got an actual sizable great playoff sample in 2023, I think he was maybe a little bit better as a passer/decision-maker/off-ball player in 2023, though this may simply be influenced by having better teammates. I'd say he maybe improved a little bit defensively in 2023, but honestly I think both would be about neutral-ish for me.

2023 >= 2022 > 2024 > 2021, imo.

I think one common problem I have is that I’m not impressed with his defense in the majority of his “Prime”. He was pretty decent in 2023 so I’d pick that year.

Seems like his scoring slightly fell off this season

He had by far his best defense in 2022. It's tough to say how good he was. By some metrics he was an elite defender. By others, well above average.

Statistically the best pick and roll defending big, box out guy, and defensive rebounder all simultaneously. Rudy Gobert peaked defensively that season. And what I said is still true. It's an insane two-way season.


It was his 2009 LeBron. Compazzo, Jeff Green, and Monte Morris were his support offensively so we never got to see him tested in the playoffs.

Bigs motor usually peak when they're young. 25 or younger. It was a true peak of all Jokic's improvements on skill, weight loss and conditioning, and confidence/fit/role. Crazy season.