Lebron's Peak in 2009

[StrongLurk]

Why do people not realize that his peak was in the 2008-2009 season?

All the raw numbers and advanced numbers say so, as well as the eye test imo.

Was his peak athletic season combined with finally having a solid jump shot.

It's dumb how people say he became more versatile later on in Miami and therefore was better than he was in 2009.

Not only that, but he was insanely clutch all year AND had the most dominant playoff run for a perimeter player since Jordan.

[ShawkFactory]

I don't think he could have done what he did in 2012 in 2009

[StrongLurk]

I don't think he could have done what he did in 2012 in 2009

2012 was an incredible run, highly underrated, but Lebron in the 2009 playoffs was for sure on another level.

[feyki]

Cause dumbs wants team accomplishments .

His 2010 would be better but he did choke last 2 games of Celtics series .

He slowed down when he gone to Miami .

[Legends66NBA7]

I don't think he could have done what he did in 2012 in 2009

Disagree. The biggest difference was cast. Wade was stepping up like a second option would and then some. If Bosh doesn't get injured, they would have cruised to the Finals out East.

Both are my favourite versions of LeBron too.

[WayOfWade]

Regular season-wise, 2010 was better. Playoffs wise, 2009 without a doubt. It's a shame all that effort and talent went to waste both years, cheating us out of epic finals. For sure he was more mature though in 2012 and 2013, as well as more methodical, but early Cavs LeBron was ferocious all over the court, did a lot more chase-downs in that time

[Zach LaVine]

I don't think he could have done what he did in 2012 in 2009
Agreed. 2009 may have been his physical peak, but 2012 was when he mentally and physically was able to put it all together.

[FreezingTsmoove]

Raw numbers dont tell the whole story because Lebron took it easy and coasted through portions of his time in Miami

Peak Bran is still Miami Bran

[StrongLurk]

Agreed. 2009 may have been his physical peak, but 2012 was when he mentally and physically was able to put it all together.

I can understand the mental part of what your saying considering 2011, but in 2009 he didn't have a single moment of weakness in those playoffs.

I fully believe he would've continued that in the Finals that year and put up monster stats against the Lakers.

[StrongLurk]

Raw numbers dont tell the whole story because Lebron took it easy and coasted through portions of his time in Miami

Peak Bran is still Miami Bran
I also included advanced numbers, and all measurements of clutch play.

So yeah...ALL those numbers do tell a story, that he was at his best in 2009.

[StrongLurk]

Regular season-wise, 2010 was better. Playoffs wise, 2009 without a doubt. It's a shame all that effort and talent went to waste both years, cheating us out of epic finals. For sure he was more mature though in 2012 and 2013, as well as more methodical, but early Cavs LeBron was ferocious all over the court, did a lot more chase-downs in that time

I think it's debatable saying 2010 regular season is better than 2009.

2008-2009 regular season actually has slightly better advanced stats than 2009-2010.

[lilteapot]

2009 Lebron is his 2nd best year.
2012 was the best. 2nd in DPOTY voting, MVP, Finals MVP, had a spectacular playoff run even though he wasnt averaging like 35ppg like in 09. But the fact that he sustained great play throughout the playoffs in 12 to win a title was more than enough to put him over his 09 playoff run.

[StrongLurk]

2009 Lebron is his 2nd best year.
2012 was the best. 2nd in DPOTY voting, MVP, Finals MVP, had a spectacular playoff run even though he wasnt averaging like 35ppg like in 09. But the fact that he sustained great play throughout the playoffs in 12 to win a title was more than enough to put him over his 09 playoff run.

He won a title because the 2012 Miami Heat are worlds better than the 2009 Cavaliers.

2012 is Lebron's best defensive year, but 2009 is his second according to advanced stats. DPOY voting is fine, but we know that those votes are based on reputation mostly.

However Lebron was much better on offense in 2009.

[lilteapot]

He won a title because the 2012 Miami Heat are worlds better than the 2009 Cavaliers.

2012 is Lebron's best defensive year, but 2009 is his second according to advanced stats. DPOY voting is fine, but we know that those votes are based on reputation mostly.

However Lebron was much better on offense in 2009.
How do you surmise he was "much" better?

09:
28.4ppg on 48.9%/34.4%/78%

'12:
27.1ppg on 53.4%/36.2%/77.1%

[StrongLurk]

How do you surmise he was "much" better?

09:
28.4ppg on 48.9%/34.4%/78%

'12:
27.1ppg on 53.4%/36.2%/77.1%

Per 100 possessions has 2008-2009 at 41/11/10.4
Per 100 possessions has 2011-2012 at 38/11/9

The playoffs gap is much more significant. The biggest thing is that Lebron couldn't hit a jumpshot at all in the 2012 playoffs, whereas he posted career highs on jumpshots in the 2009 playoffs (along with career highs in pretty much everything else)

Also, the eye test - Just go back and look at those highlights from 2009 playoffs, they are absurd.

[feyki]

Op has great vision :applause: .

[Hey Yo]

Cause dumbs wants team accomplishments .

His 2010 would be better but he did choke last 2 games of Celtics series .

He slowed down when he gone to Miami .
27-19-10 in a must win game 6 = choking?

[ShawkFactory]

27-19-10 in a must win game 6 = choking?
Game 5 dude. The damage was done

[feyki]

Game 5 dude. The damage was done


He also forgot 9 TO's , %51 TS , 92 Ortg in game six .

Game 5 was really terrible ;

15 points in 41 min , %39 TS , 86 Ortg ..

[StrongLurk]

Op has great vision :applause: .

Eye test says Lasik.

[Hey Yo]

Game 5 dude. The damage was done
I agree with game 5 but certainly not game 6. Dude said last two games, which was 5 and 6.

You don't exert that much energy (game 6) to have allegedly quit

[ArbitraryWater]

2010 is his peak, I remember, suguru was it? Acting like the only difference between that and 2012 was a 'minor' decline in athleticism.. lol

[CuterThanRubio]

2007

Carried one of the worst rosters ever to the finals.

[StrongLurk]

2010 is his peak, I remember, suguru was it? Acting like the only difference between that and 2012 was a 'minor' decline in athleticism.. lol

What makes you think 2010 over 2009? He was so much better in the 2009 playoffs.

[Ranked 12th]

What makes you think 2010 over 2009? He was so much better in the 2009 playoffs.

lol LeBron averaged 30/9 in 2010


Think about that, how many players do you know averaged 30 points and 9 assists in a season?


Thats some Oscar Robertson stuff, except Oscar had an extra 30-40 possessions a game, playing a faster pace


Unreal.

[warriorfan]

2009 LeBron was at his physical prime and it was his best year. 2016 Curry has played better so far though.

[Ranked 12th]

2009 LeBron was at his physical prime and it was his best year. 2016 Curry has played better so far though.

But 2016 Curry has no chance in matching LeBron's playoffs

35/9/7 on 37.4 PER (Highest in NBA History)



Overall (reg season + playoffs) 2009 LeBron is comfortably ahead of Curry

[StrongLurk]

Hell, Lebron even had his career high in Free throw percentage too in 2008-2009.

By all combined measures this was his best year in the League.

[Gone_Fishin]

Same reason Jordan's peak is 1991 and not 1988.

[Bigsmoke]

Lebron peaked from 2012-2014.

U can argue that 2014 was lebron's best year just everybody else sucked

[StrongLurk]

Same reason Jordan's peak is 1991 and not 1988.

Actually Jordan's numbers ARE better in 1991. PER is roughly the same in regular season, although his raw numbers are higher due to more minutes. But his 1991 playoffs is his best run, and best finals as well. His offensive rating is also higher in the 1990-1991 year.

But it's still a moot point, since we aren't talking about Jordan. Lebron's numbers in 2008-2009 overall are much better than the numbers in his other years. 2009 is for sure his peak.

[Kobe_6/8]

LeBron was a beast in 2008-2009! Everybody knew he was going to win his first MVP of many. That version of LeBron easily wins with Miami in '12/'13.

[Prime_Shaq]

2009 LeBron was so fun to watch, relentlessly attacking the rim and always going at full speed.

2012 was much more controlled and dictated the game better. 2012 was the best version of LeBron IMO but 2009 was more fun to watch.