Multiple peaks within prime years

[Gotterdammerung]

Most players' careers follow a simple trajectory, a curve that begins with the rookie year, and ends with retirement in a bell curve. In the middle of that balooning curve is an athletic prime, and at the apex of that curve is the peak.

However, some great players were fortunate health-wise to have a long career with sustained prime that contains more than a couple of peak years.

The classic example of this multiple peak within prime years is Wilt Chamberlain, who had three:
1962 athletic prime: the greatest scorer of all time who averaged 50 points
1967: peak play: the all-around dreadnought who finally broke through the Celtics juggernaut with balanced scoring, rebounding, passing and defense.
1972: wizened veteran: the dominant defender and rebounder in the Bill Russell fashion who led the Lakers to 33 straight wins and their first title.

Another example is Michael Jordan:
Air Jordan: athletic prime (1986-1990)
GOAT: GOAT of goats (1991-93)
Floor Jordan cerebral killer (1996-98)

Now, we are witnessing the tail end of another GOAT in LeBron James:
The Chosen One: athletic prime (2006-2009)
King James: peak play (2011-14)
GSW Supervillain: (2015-18)

Now, it looks like the #WashedKing is taking off in the second half of this season.

:cheers:

[DoctorP]

I would take WIzards floor Jordan over Washed King tho.

Eye test.

:lol

[Axe]

If it wasn't for Wilt Chamberlain playing for them and his scoring potential, maybe the lakers would have suffered a longer drought of 20 years or more attaining a championship for a team that kept coming back in the finals. Just imagine how many times they've been to the finals during the 60s and yet, never won at least one of them.

[ArbitraryWater]

You're getting suckered into sheepish views which don't trouble your world view too much.

LeBron's peak were easily his 2017-18 seasons.

There is no way 2011 or 2013 LeBron gets the 2018 Cavaliers to the finals.

[kuniva_dAMiGhTy]

Not a bad topic but I disagree with some of this.

Jordan's actual peak lasted from 87-93 imo. You can break that down to a macro-level though. For example, 87-89 was 'Air Jordan' and 90-93 was, while still having an aerial assault, a bit more technical and nuanced.

1996 / 1997 Jordan was still his prime, but I wouldn't consider them peak years.

Lebron is a bit tougher. And probably more in-line with your thread title. You could argue his prime started in 2006...and is still going. Lebron's peak years are scattered though. 2009 was his athletic peak, 2012-2016 are his greatest ALL AROUND years and 2018 could've been his offensive peak.

[ImKobe]

You're getting suckered into sheepish views which don't trouble your world view too much.

LeBron's peak were easily his 2017-18 seasons.

There is no way 2011 or 2013 LeBron gets the 2018 Cavaliers to the finals.

Do you actually watch games? Serious question. You think 2017-18 Lebron was better than the 2012-13 version? Really?

2013 Lebron had everything but he could also play defense at a high level and was quicker than the 2018 version. Does it change the outcome? No. They still make the Finals and maybe win 1 game instead of him looking tired in that OT and folding the rest of the series. You think peak Lebron loses to Oladipo-led Pacers, Derozan-led Raptors or rookie Tatum-led Celtics? lol.

[AirBonner]

LeBron is the inception of primes (a prime within a prime)