Kareem's Last Great Season 1980-1981

[dankok8]

Kareem was 34 years old, a time by which most players are in severe decline especially those with 35k minutes under their belt. Not Kareem...

Season averages:

26.2 ppg, 10.3 rpg, 3.4 apg, 2.9 bpg on 57.4 %FG/61.6 %TS with 3.1 topg

Good for 4th in scoring, 7th in rebounding, 3rd in blocks, and 5th in FG%. Still #1 in both PER and WS.

Impressive but meh...

Now consider his numbers in the games that Magic missed that year and he had to put the team on his back.

28.8 ppg, 11.3 rpg, 3.4 apg on 57.7 %FG/62.2 %TS (45 games)

In the 10 games in this stretch that we have his shot-blocking numbers he also averaged 4.5 bpg. It's safe to say he averaged well over 3 bpg. Those numbers would put him #2 in scoring, #4 in rebounding, and either #1 or #2 in blocks.

By the way the team also went 28-17 in those games good for 51 wins extrapolated to the entire season.

[Marchesk]

34 yo Kareem > peak Lebron

[G.O.A.T]

Kareem was such a phenomenally consistent and durable player. I'm not sure what year is the cut off for his "great" seasons, but 1980-81 was the postseason the team was "his" team. 1981 to me parallels 2004 in terms of Lakers history. In 2004, Shaq was still arguably the most dominant force in the league but his "great years" were numbered. Same with Kareem. In both instances friction between the team's young star guards (Magic and Kobe) and their aforementioned star 30+ centers and coaches (Paul Westhead and Phil Jackson) needed resolution. Both times Dr. Buss sided with the younger guard; in 2004 Jackson and Shaq were gone and the Lakers did not win another title for five seasons. In 1981 Westhead was gone but Kareem swallowed his pride and remained an elite player even if Magic was getting the ink and had an in with the owner. The Lakers won 4 titles in the next seven years.

I'm not sure I'll ever come around the camp that ranks Kareem first all-time on account of his lack on intangibles and leadership that championship teams need, but as far as pure methodical dominance, he is unmatched in any team sport. Russell always seemed to have what it took but 1967 demonstrated clearly that a more talented player with quality teammates following his blueprint could beat him. Wilt dominated his competition like No one else when he was dialed in, but he was so frequently distracted it sometimes didn't matter how good he was because he could be beat in the critical moments. Jordan was limited by his size, Magic and Bird by their physical gifts, Shaq by his lack of discipline, Lebron by his passivity, Duncan and Kobe have come as close to any star in terms of matching Kareems impossible longevity but at their age today Jabbar was still an all-NBA first teamer, I'm not sure those guys still have that in them.

Gotta love the Cap

[dankok8]

@G.O.A.T.

Great post!! However Kareem's longevity is still far greater than Shaq's and up until the 1986-1987 season Kareem was every bit as important as Magic. Shaq by his 2nd year in Miami and their 2006 title was already a clear #2 guy. But the parallels are there...

After the 45-game stretch in the OP, Magic came back and Kareem kept on his tear for another 13 games. Then he rested and played reduced minutes for the last 4 games before the postseason.

Basically for 58 straight games or almost the last 3 quarters of the season a 34-year old Kareem put up about 29/11/3/3 on 58% shooting. :bowdown: