Which player has the two closest single Peak Seasons of All Time

[mdonnelly1989]

Example:

I think its probably Stephen Curry between 2015 and this season. They are so close that its almost impossible for me to choose.

2015 was the greatest regular season I've ever seen, but his playoffs were Meh in comparison. This regular season one of his weaker seasons since 2014, but the best body of work he's done in the playoffs (Given that he wasn't supported by KD, not statistically speaking.)

The other one is probably Lebron James 2013 Lebron James who not only had almost a 60% FG%, but also came in 2 in Defensive MVP. This is the comfortably the most balanced Lebron. However in 2016 the sheer amount of production from an all around stand point in the playoffs/finals 30 PPG, 11 rebounds, 9 Assists, 2 1/2 steals and 2 1/2 blocks is better than anything he did in the 2013 Playoffs on the biggest stage. Very difficult to choose that peak.

So which player do you have the hardest time choosing a 1 year Peak for?

[falcolombardi]

Kobe 2008/2009 before even getting into the darkhorse argument for 2001 peak as his best playoff run

Harden 2018/2019 were in very different situations so is not an apple to apple comparusion

2018 was his best team success wise but 2019 may have been the most impressive regular season in context and better in the playoffs

[Colbinii]

Kobe 2008/2009 before even getting into the darkhorse argument for 2001 peak as his best playoff run

Harden 2018/2019 were in very different situations so is not an apple to apple comparusion

2018 was his best team success wise but 2019 may have been the most impressive regular season in context and better in the playoffs

What about 2020?

[penbeast0]

Russell and Stockton were amazingly consistent over a long course of years. Russell did have some serious step up playoff runs though with 11 titles, you have to expect that. Stockton had a couple of good ones too though he wasn't in Russell's class as a playoff performer. That would probably be the differentiating factor in each.

[falcolombardi]

Kobe 2008/2009 before even getting into the darkhorse argument for 2001 peak as his best playoff run

Harden 2018/2019 were in very different situations so is not an apple to apple comparusion

2018 was his best team success wise but 2019 may have been the most impressive regular season in context and better in the playoffs

What about 2020?

I think 19 had the better playoffs and reg season so albeit close, i cannot see the case for 2020 over 2019

I can see a case for 19>20>18 or for 18>19>20. But not 20 on top

[CharityStripe34]

I would think a lot of the pantheon, top 20 types would have multiple incredible seasons, no?

[Jaivl]

Kareem (71, 74, 77) and Jordan (90, 91) are the first that come to mind.

And I don't think this year's Curry is even close to his peak.

[capfan33]

Jordan and Russell are 2 guys who I think have multiple seasons that are very close and I can't really differentiate. Most other ATGs honestly have pretty clear seasons to me, even Lebron.

[falcolombardi]

Jordan and Russell are 2 guys who I think have multiple seasons that are very close and I can't really differentiate. Most other ATGs honestly have pretty clear seasons to me, even Lebron.

91 jordan stands out of the pack efficiency wise in the postseason which is why he is my usual pick for peak although subconscious ring bias may be part of it tbh

[No-more-rings]

If you’re asking who has the most seasons debatable as their peak, Kobe and Lebron probably take it for modern players.

Lebron has cases for 09, 10, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, and 18 basically.

Kobe: 01, 03, 06, 07, 08, 09 maybe even 2010 given his playoff performance.

Cp3 is a dude without a clear peak really, that’s partly because of injuries but still. Can probably argue 08, 09, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 really depending how you weigh injuries. Don’t think it’s clear he peaked in New Orleans despite those being his best box scores. Though I feel like if it wasn’t for the torn meniscus and other constant injuries he had, it’s probable we would’ve seen a clear peak for him somewhere around 2011 or 2012 where his IQ and defense caught up with his athleticism so to speak.

[Lost92Bricks]

If you’re asking who has the most seasons debatable as their peak, Kobe and Lebron probably take it for modern players.

Lebron has cases for 09, 10, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, and 18 basically.

Kobe: 01, 03, 06, 07, 08, 09 maybe even 2010 given his playoff performance.

Cp3 is a dude without a clear peak really, that’s partly because of injuries but still. Can probably argue 08, 09, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 really depending how you weigh injuries. Don’t think it’s clear he peaked in New Orleans despite those being his best box scores. Though I feel like if it wasn’t for the torn meniscus and other constant injuries he had, it’s probable we would’ve seen a clear peak for him somewhere around 2011 or 2012 where his IQ and defense caught up with his athleticism so to speak.

There is no argument for any CP3 season after 2010. He was nowhere near the same level of dominant player. He couldn't handle the offensive load or play the amount of minutes.

In 2008 and 2009 he was competing with prime Kobe and Wade for MVP and All-NBA 1st teams and statistically.

[LukaTheGOAT]

02 and 03 Tim Duncan

03 and 04 KG (maybe more my personal opinion)

84 and 86 Bird (also my personal opinion)

62-64 Bill Russell

93 and 94 Hakeem

05 and 07 Nash

[SickMother]

And I don't think this year's Curry is even close to his peak.

Yeah, I've got 21-22 Curry as his 9th best RS / 3rd best PS, which clocks in as something like his 5th best combined effort for me, a clear notch behind his three season peak of...

14-15 (28.0 rPER | .638 rTS% | 309 rTS Add | 15.7 rWS | .288 rWS/48 | 24.5 pPER | .607 pTS% | 3.9 pWS | .228 pWS/48)
15-16 (31.5 rPER | .669 rTS% | 455 rTS Add | 17.9 rWS | .318 rWS/48 | 22.3 pPER | .603 pTS% | 1.9 pWS | .152 pWS/48)
16-17 (24.6 rPER | .624 rTS% | 229 rTS Add | 12.6 rWS | .229 rWS/48 | 27.1 pPER | .659 pTS% | 3.4 pWS | .272 pWS/48)

I'd probably order the second tier of Curry prime seasons like this...

17-18 (28.2 rPER | .675 rTS% | 237 rTS Add | 9.1 rWS | .267 rWS/48 | 22.3 pPER | .590 pTS% | 2.1 pWS | .182 pWS/48)
21-22 (21.4 rPER | .601 rTS% | 96 rTS Add | 8.0 rWS | .173 rWS/48 | 24.4 pPER | .606 pTS% | 3.2 pWS | .203 pWS/48)
18-19 (24.4 rPER | .641 rTS% | 240 rTS Add | 9.7 rWS | .199 rWS/48 | 22.6 pPER | .620 pTS% | 3.3 pWS | .185 pWS/48)
20-21 (26.3 rPER | .655 rTS% | 255 rTS Add | 9.0 rWS | .201 rWS/48 | ----- pPER | ----- pTS% | ---- pWS | ----- pWS/48)
13-14 (24.1 rPER | .610 rTS% | 211 rTS Add | 13.4 rWS | .225 rWS/48 | 18.8 pPER | .599 pTS% | 0.8 pWS | .131 pWS/48)
12-13 (21.3 rPER | .589 rTS% | 165 rTS Add | 11.2 rWS | .180 rWS/48 | 20.5 pPER | .558 pTS% | 1.7 pWS | .161 pWS/48)

[Franco]

09 and 12/13 LeBron are consistently getting multiple votes whenever the peaks project happen.

[falcolombardi]

09 and 12/13 LeBron are consistently getting multiple votes whenever the peaks project happen.

2016 and to a lesser degree 17/18 do too

[coastalmarker99]

1964 and 1967 Wilt are the closest peak seasons for me.

Here is Wilt Chamberlain's incredible 1963-1964 Season

Regular Season
-36.9 PPG (League leader)
-22.3 RPG
-5.0 APG
-52.4% FG
-31.6 PER
-.325 WS/48 (Career-high and league leader)
-14.4 OWS
-10.6 DWS (Career high) *For reference, Olajuwon's career high was 8.7



Also in the playoffs for Wilt

Playoffs
-34.7 PPG (playoff leader)
-25.2 RPG
-3.3 APG
-54.3% FG (playoff leader)
-31.3 PER (Career high and playoff leader)
-.323 WS/48 (Career high and playoff leader)
-2.3 OWS (playoff leader)
-1.5 DWS


Finals (Against the greatest defender ever, Bill Russell)
-29.2 PPG
-27.6 RPG
-2.4 APG
-51.4% FG

His teammates shot a combined 34.8% and the Warriors lost in 5 through to his credit Wilt did make the games close.


Now as for Wilt's 1966-1967 Season.


Regular Season
-24.1 PPG
-24.2 RPG (League leader)
-7.8 APG
-68.3% FG (League leader)
-26.5 PER (League leader)
-.285 WS/48 (league leader)
-14.8 OWS (League leader)
-7.0 DWS


Playoffs

-21.7 PPG
-29.1 RPG (playoff leader)
-9.0 APG
-9.2 BPG
-57.9% FG
-25.3 PER (playoff leader)
-.253 WS/48 (playoff leader)
-1.8 OWS (playoff leader)
-2.0 DWS (playoff leader)


1967 Finals (Against Nate.

-17.7 PPG
-28.5 RPG
-6.8 APG
-56.0 % FG

[Dutchball97]

There are a couple of guys with multiple arguable peak seasons but the one I go back and forth on the most is 2008 and 2009 for Kobe.

[tsherkin]

Kobe 2008/2009 before even getting into the darkhorse argument for 2001 peak as his best playoff run

Mmm. I dunno about that, his Finals performance brings down his overall postseason performance for me, leastwise when we start talking about best peaks and matching up to others and stuff. He stank terribly in game one, then had a good game 2. Ugly but effective game 3. Solid game 4, then a crap game 5 outside of his rebounding. Not really a staggering overall performance. Relevant to the ease of LA's victory, of course, but again, in the context of this discussion, that sort of takes the shine off his 2001 playoffs IMHO.

[Dr Positivity]

Paul 08 and 09 are similar seasons outside of being more injured in the playoffs in the latter

Whatever Jordan's two best are, I'd argue 90 and 91, they are pretty close.

[CharityStripe34]

Jordan's 96 & 97 seasons were also literally almost identical, as was the Bulls' record (72 wins and 69 wins).