1979-80 Julius Erving vs 2008-09 LeBron James

[1987_Lakers]

1980 Julius Erving: 26.9 PPG . 7.4 RPG . 4.6 APG . 51.9 FG% . 2.2 SPG . 1.8 BPG . 25.4 PER

2009 LeBron James: 28.4 PPG . 7.6 RPG . 7.2 APG . 48.9 FG% . 1.7 SPG . 1.1 BPG . 31.7 PER

Who is the better player?

[lukeridnour08]

who do you tihnk/?

If bron played in that era he would average like 33 9 and 9.

Put Julius Erving in this era and he's lie a Deshawn Stevenson

[nbastatus]

King James

[KenneBell]

I think a better comparison might be Kobe since he and Dr.J would be a similar age and operating almost in the same roles on their team.

I'd take LeBron though.

[Samurai Swoosh]

LeBron plays defense now ... so ...

[sportsfan76]

Dr. J was always overrated to me. He was overhyped because of his FRO and wild dunking STYLE

[branslowski]

who do you tihnk/?

If bron played in that era he would average like 33 9 and 9.

Put Julius Erving in this era and he's lie a Deshawn Stevenson

You shouldn't not say such word's around the trolling Masa's, expect a whip to your back boy....:oldlol:

[Lebron23]

LeBron James

He's the 2009 NBA Regular Season MVP

2nd in the 2009 NBA DPOY Voting.

[Samurai Swoosh]

Dr. J was always overrated to me. He was overhyped because of his FRO and wild dunking STYLE
He was influential, but overrated as a player. On the Nets in the ABA he was a beast, though.

But compared to Bron?

:roll:

[Sir Charles]

Leborn has the Better Floor Game and Passing Game Il give you that but Dr J was the Better Scorer, Rebounder and Shot BLocker . People keep underrating Julius Erving constantly :oldlol:

A 1971 to 1983 Dr J was simply amazing in his Prime 12 years...

He was by far the Most Unstoppable Player to Stop in the Open For before the James Worthies, Karl Malone`s and Sir Charles. He Could Glide like Clyde and Could also Vertical Leap almost like Jordan Right Off the Ground with No Run except Dr J had longe Arms than MK aswell!. His hands where Aslo Bigger than Michaels! which made it almost impossible to stop his accurate layups, dunks or finger rolls. Was also one of the best finger rollers of all time (people rarely mention this), was a solid jump shooter a great clutch player al the way, amazing shot blocker for a 6`7 er (he would be everywhere sometimes!), great rebounder! and good passer.

For people who keep saying that Dr J is not as athletic to today`s players...i just laugh out loud...

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/17/20039865_84aec0d05f.jpg

Dont`go by the fro but the Dr J here is looking down in the rim like nothing :bowdown:

He also could use both hands unlike todays unfundamentally sound players :bowdown:

A Mix

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7oTEWuvOzhI

A Typical Dr J Coast to Coast

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jntTcORFBic&feature=related

[L.Kizzle]

He was influential, but overrated as a player. On the Nets in the ABA he was a beast, though.

But compared to Bron?

:roll:
The reason Docs numbers went down once he got to the NBA was not cause of the comp, it was cause his team was already stacked once he got their. Who was he playing with on those Nets teams, Larry Kennon! On the 6ers, he already had three all-stars in George McGinniss (former ABA MVP) Bobby Jones, World B Free and Daryl Dawkins.

[KenneBell]

Now if you had said a 24 year old Julius I might have to reconsider.

[Younggrease]

Lebron is playing at a level that few have every reached right now...In a couple of years people will realize it. I cant stand watching him play but you have to recognize what he doing.

[Tainted Sword]

He was influential, but overrated as a player. On the Nets in the ABA he was a beast, though.

But compared to Bron?

:roll:
ABA Erving is just as good as current Lebron in my opinion.

If you count what he did there in addition to what he did in the NBA he has total of 3 titles and 4 MVPs in his career. His career season average in the ABA is 28/12/5 on 50% shooting and 31/12/5 on 51% shooting in the playoffs. Really, what at this point seperates Lebron from him?

I'll give you current Bron over 79-80 DrJ, but to say Drj's overrated is crazy.

[The Chosen One]

Lebron is playing at a level that few have every reached right now...In a couple of years people will realize it. I cant stand watching him play but you have to recognize what he doing.

Who exactly has ever reached this level?

[KeylessEntry]

who do you tihnk/?

If bron played in that era he would average like 33 9 and 9.

Put Julius Erving in this era and he's lie a Deshawn Stevenson
:roll:

[OldSchoolBBall]

Who exactly has ever reached this level?

Are you suggesting that Lebron is currently on a level no one has ever reached?

[imdaman99]

Are you suggesting that Lebron is currently on a level no one has ever reached?
Come on man, read his forum screen name. What do you want him to say?

[inclinerator]

Lebron, he has a better overall feel of the game like the greats. Also lebron is crazy efficient this year

[Showtime]

Lebron folded under the defense of SA. Erving torched Bobby Jones' ass in the playoffs, and he was one of the top defenders of that era.

[inclinerator]

noticed what you said "defense of SA" compared to "Bobby Jones"

[Al Thornton]

who do you tihnk/?

If bron played in that era he would average like 33 9 and 9.

Put Julius Erving in this era and he's lie a Deshawn Stevenson
:roll: :roll: :roll: :roll:

[Mdog1]

Come on man, read his forum screen name. What do you want him to say?
I think he is on drugs lol. LeBron is on a level VERY few have ever and can ever reach, but he certainly is not on his own level yet (give it a couple seasons).

[stephanieg]

The Good Doctor has performed better in the playoffs than Lebron but LBJ is basically a bigger version of Dr. J who can shoot threes and pass better, so...

[SAKOTXA]

is this a trick question?:hammerhead: :hammerhead: :hammerhead:

[gxL]

Who exactly has ever reached this level?
jordan
magic
bird
wilt
kareem
russell
hakeem
shaq
duncan
kobe

[The Chosen One]

jordan
magic
bird
wilt
kareem
russell
hakeem
shaq
duncan
kobe

:roll:

I'm not on drugs. I am not saying that LeBron is the best player ever, you need to win a bunch of ships to get that.

But the only other wing player in history that can have a case against LeBron's kind of current domination is Jordan (and still think there's not even a case). I really love Magic (my favorite player ever), Bird, (KOBE?!!! :oldlol: :oldlol: :oldlol: ) and they should still be over him in the best players ever list. But c'mon, does really someone truly believe that they dominated this way? That they could control the game better than this kid LeBron James? I don't think anyone does, and if they do, they should stop lying to themselves.

Just watch the kid play. History is being made in basketball right now. We are all witnesses :bowdown:

[OldSchoolBBall]

:roll:

I'm not on drugs. I am not saying that LeBron is the best player ever, you need to win a bunch of ships to get that.

But the only other wing player in history that can have a case against LeBron's kind of current domination is Jordan (and still think there's not even a case). I really love Magic (my favorite player ever), Bird, (KOBE?!!! :oldlol: :oldlol: :oldlol: ) and they should still be over him in the best players ever list. But c'mon, does really someone truly believe that they dominated this way? That they could control the game better than this kid LeBron James? I don't think anyone does, and if they do, they should stop lying to themselves.

Just watch the kid play. History is being made in basketball right now. We are all witnesses :bowdown:

:roll:

[TryToBeUnbias]

:roll:

I'm not on drugs. I am not saying that LeBron is the best player ever, you need to win a bunch of ships to get that.

But the only other wing player in history that can have a case against LeBron's kind of current domination is Jordan (and still think there's not even a case). I really love Magic (my favorite player ever), Bird, (KOBE?!!! :oldlol: :oldlol: :oldlol: ) and they should still be over him in the best players ever list. But c'mon, does really someone truly believe that they dominated this way? That they could control the game better than this kid LeBron James? I don't think anyone does, and if they do, they should stop lying to themselves.

Just watch the kid play. History is being made in basketball right now. We are all witnesses :bowdown:

:banghead:

[Juges8932]

:roll:

I'm not on drugs. I am not saying that LeBron is the best player ever, you need to win a bunch of ships to get that.

But the only other wing player in history that can have a case against LeBron's kind of current domination is Jordan (and still think there's not even a case). I really love Magic (my favorite player ever), Bird, (KOBE?!!! :oldlol: :oldlol: :oldlol: ) and they should still be over him in the best players ever list. But c'mon, does really someone truly believe that they dominated this way? That they could control the game better than this kid LeBron James? I don't think anyone does, and if they do, they should stop lying to themselves.

Just watch the kid play. History is being made in basketball right now. We are all witnesses :bowdown:

:roll:

[NotYetGreat]

I think Erving' ABA stats are better, although the most he ever averaged in assists whilst in the ABA was 5.5. Not bad considering he's doing already a lot in scoring and rebounding. I'm going to go with LeBron though. I find this era a bit tougher than before. With the talent nowadays, I think it's much harder to be as all-around now. LeBron's making it look effortless.

[Manute for Ever!]

:roll:

I'm not on drugs. I am not saying that LeBron is the best player ever, you need to win a bunch of ships to get that.

But the only other wing player in history that can have a case against LeBron's kind of current domination is Jordan (and still think there's not even a case). I really love Magic (my favorite player ever), Bird, (KOBE?!!! :oldlol: :oldlol: :oldlol: ) and they should still be over him in the best players ever list. But c'mon, does really someone truly believe that they dominated this way? That they could control the game better than this kid LeBron James? I don't think anyone does, and if they do, they should stop lying to themselves.

Just watch the kid play. History is being made in basketball right now. We are all witnesses :bowdown:

Holy ****, you're stupid (or really, really young)!

[Shepseskaf]

Its hard to dispute that LBJ is a superior player, just based on physical capabilities alone. The Doc is being serious underrated here, though. He was a transcendent figure in league history and for years carried the weight of being the signature player. That's something that LeBron never has had to do, given that he's played second-fiddle to Kobe for his entire career.

[Roundball_Rock]

1980 Julius Erving: 26.9 PPG . 7.4 RPG . 4.6 APG . 51.9 FG% . 2.2 SPG . 1.8 BPG . 25.4 PER

2009 LeBron James: 28.4 PPG . 7.6 RPG . 7.2 APG . 48.9 FG% . 1.7 SPG . 1.1 BPG . 31.7 PER

Who is the better player?

Erving benefited from the fast pace of that era. Even though his team was 11th out of 22 in pace, he had 103 possessions per game while Lebron only has 89. Here are Lebron's stats at Dr. J's 1980 pace:

32.9 ppg, 8.8 rpg, 8.4 apg, 2.0 spg, and 1.3 bpg. Once you take the pace factor advantage Dr. J had Lebron's 2009 season trumps Erving's 1980 campaign.

[oh the horror]

Im sorry but when referring to Lebron, and then using the line:


"WE ARE ALL WITNESS"....


Can the brainwashing effect be anymore obvious?


http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e131/BluNWhiteH8Tribe/Witness.jpg



jesus christ dude.....whats next? You'll tell me to JUST DO IT? Or shall I drink Gatoraid?



Massive tool

[allball]

who do you tihnk/?

If bron played in that era he would average like 33 9 and 9.

Put Julius Erving in this era and he's lie a Deshawn Stevenson

Lebron would not have already seen Bird, Magic, Erving and Jordan so....not so sure about that.

[Abraham Lincoln]

Arguable, however 1975-76 Erving was superior.

http://bermansports.com/images/500-drj078a.jpg

[Lebron23]

King James by a slight margin.

[josh99]

Leborn has the Better Floor Game and Passing Game Il give you that but Dr J was the Better Scorer, Rebounder and Shot BLocker . People keep underrating Julius Erving constantly :oldlol:

A 1971 to 1983 Dr J was simply amazing in his Prime 12 years...

He was by far the Most Unstoppable Player to Stop in the Open For before the James Worthies, Karl Malone`s and Sir Charles. He Could Glide like Clyde and Could also Vertical Leap almost like Jordan Right Off the Ground with No Run except Dr J had longe Arms than MK aswell!. His hands where Aslo Bigger than Michaels! which made it almost impossible to stop his accurate layups, dunks or finger rolls. Was also one of the best finger rollers of all time (people rarely mention this), was a solid jump shooter a great clutch player al the way, amazing shot blocker for a 6`7 er (he would be everywhere sometimes!), great rebounder! and good passer.

For people who keep saying that Dr J is not as athletic to today`s players...i just laugh out loud...

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/17/20039865_84aec0d05f.jpg

Dont`go by the fro but the Dr J here is looking down in the rim like nothing :bowdown:

He also could use both hands unlike todays unfundamentally sound players :bowdown:

A Mix

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7oTEWuvOzhI

A Typical Dr J Coast to Coast

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jntTcORFBic&feature=related
:bowdown: Somebody has to keep these homers in line...

[ShaqAttack3234]

Erving benefited from the fast pace of that era. Even though his team was 11th out of 22 in pace, he had 103 possessions per game while Lebron only has 89. Here are Lebron's stats at Dr. J's 1980 pace:

32.9 ppg, 8.8 rpg, 8.4 apg, 2.0 spg, and 1.3 bpg. Once you take the pace factor advantage Dr. J had Lebron's 2009 season trumps Erving's 1980 campaign.

Yeah, but Erving also played in a much more physical era so that's a factor as well. Plus I'm not convinced that pace plays a huge factor in individual scoring. It's not like Erving's shot attempts were a ridiculous amount(20.7 FGA and 6.8 FTA). I'm sure that Erving gets a lot more than 6.8 FTA in todays era considering his style.

But back to the question I have to go with Lebron. He was superhuman in the playoffs, even in the loss to Orlando. You got that the feeling that every shot he took was going in. I remember a near halfcourt shot he took at the end of the game for the win and even though he missed even the announcers thought it was going in.

[Lebron23]

Yeah, but Erving also played in a much more physical era so that's a factor as well. Plus I'm not convinced that pace plays a huge factor in individual scoring. It's not like Erving's shot attempts were a ridiculous amount(20.7 FGA and 6.8 FTA). I'm sure that Erving gets a lot more than 6.8 FTA in todays era considering his style.

But back to the question I have to go with Lebron. He was superhuman in the playoffs, even in the loss to Orlando. You got that the feeling that every shot he took was going in. I remember a near halfcourt shot he took at the end of the game for the win and even though he missed even the announcers thought it was going in.


35.3 ppg on 51 FG%, 9.1 rpg, and 7.3 apg in the 2009 NBA Playoffs.

:bowdown: :bowdown: :bowdown:

[lilgodfather1]

Sorry Julius, you are not worthy.

[Revelation]

I am usually under the impression that players from the past get underrated by the majority of fans. However, Julius Erving is, I believe, an exception. When Erving’s athleticism left he was a mere shadow of his former self. Great players do not rely only on their athleticism.

Here is some video footage of a 42 year old Dr. J playing against an even older Kareem. Dr. J has no shooting ability, no good offensive moves, and looks like an old and busted YMCA baller. I’m sorry but if you put a 42 year old Michael Jordan out there you would see a broad array of effective post moves, pump fakes, and jumpers.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WagLsOTNlF8

[Bigsmoke]

Lebron in 2009 > Julius Erving in any year

[RaininTwos]

I will take the Doctor.

[FinalCountdown]

LeBron James.

[bizil]

Well this is closer than what some think. I know one thing, in terms of taking over a game down the stretch and closing out a team, I would take Doc. Rebounding wise is a tie in my book. Defense I will give Bron the edge, but for a while I would have taken Doc's defense over Bron's. Bron has really stepped up the D in the past 2-3 years. Passing of course goes to Lebron.

What makes Bron special is that he's of the cloth of Doc, Baylor, Hawkins, and Nique in terms of being a freak athlete scoring machine at the SF. But he blends the great all around game of a Pippen with it. I actually thought Grant Hill was gonna be the guy before Bron to do this, but Grant didn't do it long enough. And Bron is doing it in a 6'8 260 pound package. Which is insane, dude is the size of Karl Malone! lol But WHOEVER says its not a close battle between Bron and Doc are nuts. And in GOAT terms, Doc STILL has a case for GOAT SF of all time if u factor ABA and NBA shit together:

4 MVPs
4 Championships
Over 30,000 points
Career Stats: 24.2 points, 8.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 2 steals, and 1.7 blocks

I would still say Bird in GOAT terms, but Doc still has a case. People always say Bird and Bron are on a collision course for the GOAT SF. However, u just can't skip Dr.J. It's no given Bron will pass Dr.J on the GOAT SF list either. He could very well end up number three GOAT SF wise. Now peak value wise, Bron is arguably the best. But GOAT wise, he still has Bird and Doc. Even Hondo is a tough nut to crack GOAT wise as well.

[305Baller]

Erving would be a shooting guard in todays game.

[bizil]

Erving would be a shooting guard in todays game.

Great point! I could see Doc playing that swingman role who plays both spots. And Doc switched to SG late in his career once Andrew Toney started having those severe injuries. But SF's have indeed gotten bigger these days. Doc was like 6'6 or 6'7 and 210 pounds. It seems most guys around that size are often SG's. The top SF's of today are all at least 20 pounds bigger than Dr. J. Look at Bron, Melo, Durant, and Pierce for example. However, Doc would be one of the premier players in the L at either spot. SG and SF is often interchangable as it is.

[Jan95]

Erving, Lebron is playing in much weaker era.

[bwink23]

Erving benefited from the fast pace of that era. Even though his team was 11th out of 22 in pace, he had 103 possessions per game while Lebron only has 89. Here are Lebron's stats at Dr. J's 1980 pace:

32.9 ppg, 8.8 rpg, 8.4 apg, 2.0 spg, and 1.3 bpg. Once you take the pace factor advantage Dr. J had Lebron's 2009 season trumps Erving's 1980 campaign.


Pace don't mean crap...what's their usage rates?? Pace doesn't automatically mean that a certain players get more touches...the scoring back then was more balanced across the team than it is now...Usage rate would give you a better idea....Lebron play in a slower-paced game but that doesnt' mean his hands aren't on the ball more.

[Lebron23]

LeBron James

[Doctor Rivers]

LeBron James

agree

[jlauber]

Leborn has the Better Floor Game and Passing Game Il give you that but Dr J was the Better Scorer, Rebounder and Shot BLocker . People keep underrating Julius Erving constantly :oldlol:

A 1971 to 1983 Dr J was simply amazing in his Prime 12 years...

He was by far the Most Unstoppable Player to Stop in the Open For before the James Worthies, Karl Malone`s and Sir Charles. He Could Glide like Clyde and Could also Vertical Leap almost like Jordan Right Off the Ground with No Run except Dr J had longe Arms than MK aswell!. His hands where Aslo Bigger than Michaels! which made it almost impossible to stop his accurate layups, dunks or finger rolls. Was also one of the best finger rollers of all time (people rarely mention this), was a solid jump shooter a great clutch player al the way, amazing shot blocker for a 6`7 er (he would be everywhere sometimes!), great rebounder! and good passer.

For people who keep saying that Dr J is not as athletic to today`s players...i just laugh out loud...

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/17/20039865_84aec0d05f.jpg

Dont`go by the fro but the Dr J here is looking down in the rim like nothing :bowdown:

He also could use both hands unlike todays unfundamentally sound players :bowdown:

A Mix

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7oTEWuvOzhI

A Typical Dr J Coast to Coast

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jntTcORFBic&feature=related

That pic could not possibly be Dr. J. Players back in the 60's and 70's were incapable of dunking.

[JellyBean]

Dr. J was always overrated to me. He was overhyped because of his FRO and wild dunking STYLE

:facepalm I need to go get a drink after reading this comment.

[HB40TheNextStar]

The only thing keeping Ammo from being the GOAT is a fro to go with his stache.

[Asukal]

Hmmmmm, I'd take Lebron but only by a slight margin. :cheers:

[D-Wade316]

This isn't a fair argument. 08-09 was Lebron's prime. Dr. J's prime was in the ABA.

[Duncan21formvp]

Lebron lost with HCA that year to an inferior team.

[72-10]

as you can see Dr. J played more defense

and in the playoffs that year, he "ran circles around" the best SF of all time, Larry Bird: https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1980/04/26/sixers-create-3-1-margin-as-erving-stars-celtics-one-loss-away/64b74509-953d-4e67-bd7c-9962e52faa8c/

[Lebron23]

LeBron James. 4x NBA mvp, 3x finals mvp better than 1x mvp, 1x NBA champion.

[Duncan21formvp]

LeBron James. 4x NBA mvp, 3x finals mvp better than 1x mvp, 1x NBA champion.
Not in 2009.

[HylianNightmare]

I was playing pick up with an older white guy in his early fifties the other day sweet looking jumper and a heck of an athlete at his age he had been watching basketball since the ABA days and when I eventually rolled around to who's the greatest he said doctor J

[Duncan21formvp]

1980 Julius Erving: 26.9 PPG . 7.4 RPG . 4.6 APG . 51.9 FG% . 2.2 SPG . 1.8 BPG . 25.4 PER

2009 LeBron James: 28.4 PPG . 7.6 RPG . 7.2 APG . 48.9 FG% . 1.7 SPG . 1.1 BPG . 31.7 PER

Who is the better player?

Too tough to call. Dr J was losing to Kareem and Magic. Lebron was losing to Dwight Howard.

[light]

1980 Julius Erving: 26.9 PPG . 7.4 RPG . 4.6 APG . 51.9 FG% . 2.2 SPG . 1.8 BPG . 25.4 PER

2009 LeBron James: 28.4 PPG . 7.6 RPG . 7.2 APG . 48.9 FG% . 1.7 SPG . 1.1 BPG . 31.7 PER

Who is the better player?

2009 LeBron is probably the best basketball player that ever lived from a talent standpoint. That was when people started calling him the greatest of all time. That was also the first time anyone put up a PER that high since Jordan's career high in 1988. He was also 1st Team All-Defensive and finished 2nd in DPOY voting.

Dr. J couldn't f-ck with that.

[RogueBorg]

Arguable, however 1975-76 Erving was superior.

http://bermansports.com/images/500-drj078a.jpg

7' tall with the afro...6'-6" without it

[ImKobe]

Erving. Beat a higher seed (Boston) in the ECF to lead his team to the Finals, whereas Lebron choked as the higher seed against Orlando.

[Turbo Slayer]

Erving. Beat a higher seed (Boston) in the ECF to lead his team to the Finals, whereas Lebron choked as the higher seed against Orlando. LeBron performed better than Kobe in the postseason against Magic in 2009. Let that sink in.

[ImKobe]

LeBron performed better than Kobe in the postseason against Magic in 2009. Let that sink in.

Losing isn't performing better. Kobe averaged 32/6/7 against Magic, and that's with him playing off-ball a lot and scoring from 3/mid-range, Lebron OTOH dominated the ball and put up empty stats in single coverage while getting destroyed on defense.

[Turbo Slayer]

Losing isn't performing better. Kobe averaged 32/6/7 on worse efficiency against Magic and LeBron actually scored more with greater efficiency than Kobe., and that's with him playing off-ball a lot and scoring from 3/mid-range, Lebron OTOH dominated the ball and put up empty stats in single coverage while getting destroyed on defense. Also my Kobe put up empty $tat$ in 2006 but I'm too naive to recognize it and I'm dumb for saying empty stats but shit, it doesn't mean anything when regarding 2006 Kobe.

Why didn't you show efficiency? Kobe underperformed relative to league average in the POs while LeBron maintained great efficiency.


scoring from 3/mid-range LeBron actually attempted more threes and made more threes total than Kobe Bryant. Hmmm? Stfu.


Lebron OTOH dominated the ball and put up empty stats in single coverage while getting destroyed on defense. Kobe put up empty $tat$ in 2006 too. Lost on his own until Pau Gasol came to save his ass.

[Manny98]

09 Lebron was a top 5 season ever

He took a cast of scrubs and won nearly 70 games with them and proceeded to post highest PER ever in the playoffs and hung 38/8/8 against the defensive juggernaut Magic

If only he had a half decent second option that year he would have gotten to the finals

[Axe]

Reasons :oldlol:

[ELITEpower23]

Lebron is playing at a level that few have every reached right now...In a couple of years people will realize it. I cant stand watching him play but you have to recognize what he doing.

Called it

[ELITEpower23]

2009 LeBron is probably the best basketball player that ever lived from a talent standpoint. That was when people started calling him the greatest of all time. That was also the first time anyone put up a PER that high since Jordan's career high in 1988. He was also 1st Team All-Defensive and finished 2nd in DPOY voting.

Dr. J couldn't f-ck with that.

His 2009 WS/48 is insane as well to add. Man was just skck nasty that year.

[Duncan21formvp]

Erving. Beat a higher seed (Boston) in the ECF to lead his team to the Finals, whereas Lebron choked as the higher seed against Orlando.

Good point!

[HylianNightmare]

I asked a 65 year old who the goat was and he said Dr J

[Turbo Slayer]

Playoffs only - Per 75 (Playoffs)

LeBron James- 35.7 points / 75 on a rTS of +7.4

Julius Erving- 23.0 points / 75 on a rTS of +2.2

BPM

LeBron- 17.5 BPM
Erving- 6.9

LeBron is my pick.

[DoctorP]

who do you tihnk/?

If bron played in that era he would average like 33 9 and 9.

Put Julius Erving in this era and he's lie a Deshawn Stevenson

whos going to convert LeBrons lame bailout passes in that era? no one

[light]

1980 Julius Erving: 26.9 PPG . 7.4 RPG . 4.6 APG . 51.9 FG% . 2.2 SPG . 1.8 BPG . 25.4 PER

2009 LeBron James: 28.4 PPG . 7.6 RPG . 7.2 APG . 48.9 FG% . 1.7 SPG . 1.1 BPG . 31.7 PER

Who is the better player?

1980 Julius Erving

1st All-NBA

2009 LeBron James

1st All-NBA
1st All-Defensive
MVP

https://s4.gifyu.com/images/separator-2-superthinline8d1eaf09c61e89fc.png

Dr. J will always come up short against LeBron because he couldn't shoot, he didn't have the same lethal passing ability and he was never recognized as an elite defender.

[RRR3]

Playoffs only - Per 75 (Playoffs)

LeBron James- 35.7 points / 75 on a rTS of +7.4

Julius Erving- 23.0 points / 75 on a rTS of +2.2

BPM

LeBron- 17.5 BPM
Erving- 6.9

LeBron is my pick.
Jesus Christ that's not even remotely close :oldlol:

[light]

Jesus Christ that's not even remotely close :oldlol:

All of that was made obvious in the original post - that's what the 25.4 PER vs the 31.7 PER is all about.

[Duncan21formvp]

Jesus Christ that's not even remotely close :oldlol:

Yeah but Dr J lost to Magic and Kareem and Lebron lost to Dwight and Rafer Alston.

[kawhileonard2]

Yeah but Dr J lost to Magic and Kareem and Lebron lost to Dwight and Rafer Alston.

Good post! This is really good logic here.

[72-10]

I see someone had the gall to change the post date of the most recent post...

[SouBeachTalents]

Good post! This is really good logic here.
Lol at this fakkit bumping this thread to agree with his own post :lol

[Thenameless]

Dr. J was a great player, and much more aesthetically pleasing to watch than Lebron. But, Lebron is just a better basketball player. He does more things better, and being quite a bit bigger never hurts in basketball.

[72-10]

80 Erving took dumps all season long on two of the three best teams in the league, Boston and Houston, so I'd take Erving.

[72-10]

2009 Lebron had no jumper outside of a few games (and couldn't shoot free throws well) and just drove each time to the rim, while Erving was close to peaking in skill that season, so I'd say those seasons are about tied as far as skill is concerned.

[warriorfan]

1976 Julius and 2009 Bron is a much better comparison.

[Lebron23]

Lebron James

[TheCorporation]

Lol at this fakkit bumping this thread to agree with his own post :lol

:lol Wrekt

[RRR3]

:roll:

I'm not on drugs. I am not saying that LeBron is the best player ever, you need to win a bunch of ships to get that.

But the only other wing player in history that can have a case against LeBron's kind of current domination is Jordan (and still think there's not even a case). I really love Magic (my favorite player ever), Bird, (KOBE?!!! :oldlol: :oldlol: :oldlol: ) and they should still be over him in the best players ever list. But c'mon, does really someone truly believe that they dominated this way? That they could control the game better than this kid LeBron James? I don't think anyone does, and if they do, they should stop lying to themselves.

Just watch the kid play. History is being made in basketball right now. We are all witnesses :bowdown:
They hated this man for telling them the truth.

[Lebron23]

Good post! This is really good logic here.

Are you psychotic? Why did you agreed with your gimmick account??

[2much_knowledge]

They hated this man for telling them the truth.

They didn't hate him. They just making fun of him lol

[kawhileonard2]

Both lost with HCA, but Dr J lost to the MVP and two top 5 players all time. Lebron lost to a guy with HCA who isn't top 75 all time officially.

[3ba11]

1980 wasn't Dr. J's peak year

Furthermore, Lebron was a loser the prior year (45 wins) and needed an elite-shooting sidekick to add 21 wins in 09'.. Then his ball-dominant brand was exposed for the first time in the playoffs (first of many)... He's never been able to beat good teams with high scoring - it's just too abnormally-ball-dominant (big man ball-dominance, aka the worst kind of ball-dominance)

[La Frescobaldi]

Lot of great commenters on this old thread not around anymore.

Charlie Scott was smooth man did he have the highest release of anybody’s jumper ever and legs so powerful he would just hang time glide before shooting. Jordan could hang like Charlie, maybe, but not many others. That vertical leap is why, more power, higher.
He was on Squiers with Erving won with Celtics him and old@ss Havlicek who was still running the league straight into the ground

[GimmeThat]

If I assisted the ball for 20 times without scoring a point, then scores the final basket to win the game. Does that make me the clutchest player

[bizil]

What sets MJ and Bron apart is that they have that RARE BLEND of great scoring ability, great floor game (scoring, passing, rebounding their position, defense), great positional versatility, and freak athletic ability. So you gotta go Bron. BUT no disrespect to the Doc. On a peak and GOAT level, he's still a top 4-5 SF of all time. IF u throw in his ABA stuff though, on a GOAT level he could rank as high as #2 among the SF's. Only behind Bron. Because that would give Doc over 30,000 points, he would have 3 rings, 16 All Star Games, and 12 All League teams.

Plus he was the face of the ABA and later the NBA. Magic and Bird saved the league. MJ took it to the next level. But Doc was the MEASURING STICK for all those guys in his own way. He had a swagger that was TRULY presidential MIXED with city cool! Every bit as marketable as the other 3. Just didn't have the machine in place to take advantage of it in his prime.

And he was positioned (along with Kareem) as the Babe Ruth of the NBA when Stern took over the league. Doc's floor game in also very underrated. When u look at Doc's 79-80 season, there aren't 10 SF's IN NBA HISTORY who had that blend of scoring, passing, boards, steals, and blocks in a season. I would say he's still one of the top 10 BIGGEST STARS of all time still. By that I mean guys who TRULY transcend basketball. He's in that mix with MJ, Magic, Bron, Bird, Wilt, Shaq, Barkley, AI, Kareem, etc.

[kawhileonard2]

Dr J and Lebron were virtually the same players.

[kawhileonard2]

Lebron lost to Dwight Howard this year with HCA and Dr J lost to Magic and Kareem without HCA.