How many Years of Kareem over Peak Giannis?

[tsherkin]

Of course, I assume that what we've seen is peak Giannis for this thread purpose. It doesn't mean that Giannis won't improve his game though.

Of course; what else can you do but treat what we've seen of him as peak? He's in his 6th-straight All-Star season, his age-27 season. It's not inappropriate to think that he's technically peaked in terms of statistical production. He has, however, also authored his three highest-scoring seasons in each of the last three seasons, so who knows? Maybe he learns how to shoot the 3 competently and reprises his 76%+ FT shooting from a half-decade ago and we see something altogether different? Never can tell.

[Cavsfansince84]

Of course, I assume that what we've seen is peak Giannis for this thread purpose. It doesn't mean that Giannis won't improve his game though.

Of course; what else can you do but treat what we've seen of him as peak? He's in his 6th-straight All-Star season, his age-27 season. It's not inappropriate to think that he's technically peaked in terms of statistical production. He has, however, also authored his three highest-scoring seasons in each of the last three seasons, so who knows? Maybe he learns how to shoot the 3 competently and reprises his 76%+ FT shooting from a half-decade ago and we see something altogether different? Never can tell.

Even then though what are the chances that he wins another ring in that season or has a comparable playoff performance which makes people think of it as above 2021? Imo rings always get in the way of peak discussions and I also think its better to separate rs from ps peaks. I also think guys tend to not push as hard in the rs from about age 28 on while having a better understanding of how to win in the playoffs.

[tsherkin]

Even then though what are the chances that he wins another ring in that season or has a comparable playoff performance which makes people think of it as above 2021? Imo rings always get in the way of peak discussions and I also think its better to separate rs from ps peaks. I also think guys tend to not push as hard in the rs from about age 28 on while having a better understanding of how to win in the playoffs.

I don't know, and I do tend to agree that as players move closer to 30, the odds of a peak season lessen considerably. But he's still got a lot of skill gaps and that could make a major difference in his production. And ATG players do weird ATG things. Jordan's 96 season, for example. Highest TS% and WS since 91. Second-highest WS/48 of his career. Best offensive rebounding season since 90. Now, he had the pulled-in line and I'm sure that helped a little, but the principle is there, you know?

You're right, though. Guys start saving a little, or finding better team contexts where they don't have to go as hard as they start to contend, etc.

[No-more-rings]

What's peak Giannis look like?
Maybe we should wait 5-6 seasons for that.

You expect Giannis to peak at 32-33 years old?

[Cavsfansince84]

I don't know, and I do tend to agree that as players move closer to 30, the odds of a peak season lessen considerably. But he's still got a lot of skill gaps and that could make a major difference in his production. And ATG players do weird ATG things. Jordan's 96 season, for example. Highest TS% and WS since 91. Second-highest WS/48 of his career. Best offensive rebounding season since 90. Now, he had the pulled-in line and I'm sure that helped a little, but the principle is there, you know?

You're right, though. Guys start saving a little, or finding better team contexts where they don't have to go as hard as they start to contend, etc.

MJ in 96 is a bit of an outlier imo since he barely played the previous two seasons and his ws/48 is greatly influenced by playing on the first team to win >70 games with atg win differential. Bird and Hakeem also put up big numbers past 30. There's always exceptions though I do suspect we've already seen peak rs Giannis.

[tsherkin]

MJ in 96 is a bit of an outlier imo since he barely played the previous two seasons and his ws/48 is greatly influenced by playing on the first team to win >70 games with atg win differential. Bird and Hakeem also put up big numbers past 30. There's always exceptions though I do suspect we've already seen peak rs Giannis.

Well, like I said, it's quite possible we have seen his peak, but I tend not to close the door entirely on ATG talents, you know? They surprise too regularly when you do.

[SickMother]

I think Giannis still has some upside on his peak season for a few reasons.

20/21 was the weakest regular season out of his last four MVP calibre campaigns. Room for improvement there.

20/21 Finals (35/13/5 on .618 FG% with 3 combined blocks/steals per game plus 50 in the clincher, all on one healthy knee) will be hard to top, but on the whole his postseason saw an efficiency drop from the regular season & he did miss games with said injury. Still room left for a dominant start to finish playoffs Title run.

The odds are pretty long for sure, but given Giannis will be playing his age 28 season in 22/23, still has room for growth in both shooting/playmaking, and has improved his game pretty much every season of his career to this point, it would not surprise me in the least if he still had a season better than 20/21 in his future.

However long the odds are of Giannis improving on his peak season, he's already overcome far greater multiple times.