Career-high single-season PER (Anthony Davis vs Wilt, LeBron, Jordan, etc)

[WillC]

Player Efficiency Rating (PER) is one of the best advanced statistics. I know we're only 11 games into the season, so Davis's PER is subject to change, but here are the career-high single-season PERs by players averaging 30+ mpg:

1. Anthony Davis 34.2 (2014-15)
2. Wilt Chamberlain 31.8 (1962-63)
3. LeBron James 31.7 (2008-09)
4. Michael Jordan 31.7 (1987-88)
5. David Robinson 30.7 (1993-94)
6. Shaquille O'Neal 30.6 (1999-00)
7. Dwyane Wade 30.4 (2008-09)
8. Tracy McGrady 30.3 (2002-03)
9. Chris Paul 30.0 (2008-09)
10. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 29.9 (1971-72)
11. Kevin Durant 29.8 (2013-14)
12. Kevin Garnett 29.4 (2003-04)
13. Charles Barkley 28.9 (1990-91)
14. Karl Malone 28.9 (1996-97)
15. George Mikan 28.7 (1953-54)
16. Elgin Baylor 28.2 (1960-61)
17. Bob Pettit 28.2 (1958-59)
18. Dirk Nowitzki 28.1 (2005-06)
19. Kobe Bryant 28.0 (2005-06)
20. Larry Bird 27.8 (1987-88)
21. Oscar Robertson 27.6 (1963-64)
22. Amare Stoudemire 27.6 (2007-08)
23. Hakeem Olajuwon 27.3 (1992-93)
24. Tim Duncan 27.1 (2003-04)
25. Magic Johnson 27.0 (1986-87)

[Nowitness]

This goes to prove Davis is already better than Wilt.

[Magic 32]

Player Efficiency Rating (PER) is one of the best advanced statistics.

[LAZERUSS]

This topic was discussed here about a week ago, as well.

http://www.insidehoops.com/forum/sho...d.php?t=359261

BTW, it is likely higher at the moment following last night's 43 point game.

First of all, AD is having a great season. If he can sustain this for an entire season, it would be remarkable.

But as other's have pointed out, PER tends to hurt the players from the 60's because blocks and steals were not officially recorded. Secondly, it tends to reward scoring over all else.

For instance, and IMHO, Chamberlain's three most dominating seasons were '65-66, '66-67, and '67-68. Here were his PER's... 28.3, 26.5, and 24.7. His two highest seasons were his two highest scoring seasons, and they came in at 31.8 and 31.7 (BTW, you missed his 61-62 season above.) Oh, and Wilt also had another 31.6 season, too.

Just look at his '65-66 season for a moment. He LED the NBA in scoring, at 33.5 ppg. He LED the NBA in rpg, at 24.6 rpg. He LED the NBA in FG% at .540 (in a league that shot an eFG% of .433.) In fact, he LED the NBA in 13 of their 22 major statistical categories, including Win-Shares, and was top five in five more. And, he was top-ten (#7) in apg. Of course, Harvey Pollack would tell you that Chamberlain likely blocked 8+ shots per game, which probably led the NBA. And if other advanced stats, like Offensive rebounds, Defensive rebounds, and TRB% were recorded, he likely would have led in those, as well.

And again, AD's current overall stats, are not much more impressive than what Kevin Garnett's were in '03-04 (a season in which he was at 29.4.)

In any case, I seriously doubt AD's PER will break the record by the time the year is over.

Nor do I believe that Brandon Wright will continue to shoot at a .785 clip from the field, either.

[Sarcastic]

How many threads on Davis' PER do we need?

This happens in baseball all the time, when a player starts the season on pace for 90 home runs in April. Till this day, no one has kept up with that pace.

Demarco Murray was on pace for like 2,200 yards rushing for the Cowboys this year. Now he is on pace for like 1,900. It's still an amazing season, but comparing to all time records so early in the year is foolish.

[LAZERUSS]

BTW...let's compare KAJ's 71-72 season, with AD's 14-15 season (this does not include last night's game.)

AD: 34.2
KAJ: 29.4

AD: 24.8 ppg, 11.2 rpg, 2.0 apg, 2.2 spg, 3.7 bpg, .564 FG%, and .779 FT%.
KAJ: 34.8 ppg, 16.6 rpg, 4.6 apg, .574 FG%, and a .689 FT%.

Obviously, KAJ is missing bpg and spg. And, his rpg is slightly inflated due to pace. But, then again, his FG% of .574 came in a league that shot .455, too, while AD's .564 is in a league that is currently shooting .498.

Davis playing less, at 36.4 mpg, compared to KAJ's 44.2. But then again, in theory, playing more mpg should actually hurt overall efficiencies.

BTW, how about KAJ's 70-71 season?

40.3 mpg, 31.7 ppg, 16.0 rpg, 3.3 apg, .577 FG% (league shot .449), and a .690 FT%.

Incidently, the NBA started officially recording bpg and spg, in the 73-74 season. In that year, KAJ averaged 3.5 bpg and 1.4 spg. His career high's were 4.1 bpg, and 1.7 spg. I think it is a safe bet that KAJ would have bn around those numbers in either 71-72 or 70-71, as well.

[sbw19]

[COLOR=Teal]Deflections, shots altered, double-teams drawn, picks set. Talk to me when PER takes into account stuff like that.
[/COLOR]

[LAZERUSS]

[COLOR=Teal]Deflections, shots altered, double-teams drawn, picks set. Talk to me when PER takes into account stuff like that.
[/COLOR]

Excellent points.

BTW, Russell's career high PER season... 22.8.

[WillC]

Nowhere in my opening post did I say that PER is faultless or that this means Davis is better than every player in history.

It's just an interesting observation, that's all.

If you don't like it, no problem. No need for people to get angry

[LAZERUSS]

This goes to prove Davis is already better than Wilt.

And everyone else who has ever played the game, too. So, do you then rank him ahead of MJ, KAJ, Shaq, Magic, Bird, Russell, Hakeem, Duncan, Lebron, etc...and at their PEAKS?

[Im Still Ballin]

Wilt's PER should be lowered due to era competition.

His PER would be closer to 28 when adjusted.

[LAZERUSS]

Nowhere in my opening post did I say that PER is faultless or that this means Davis is better than every player in history.

It's just an interesting observation, that's all.

If you don't like it, no problem. No need for people to get angry

I'm not "angry" at all.

It's just that, even if he would finish the year with the exact same averages, and with the exact same PER (which of course might change based on how other player's performed)...his overall numbers are not really any better than KG's 03-04 season (which was a great season BTW, but just not a monumental one.)

[LAZERUSS]

Wilt's PER should be lowered due to era competition.

His PER would be closer to 28 when adjusted.

Had Chamberlain played in "watered down" 30 team leagues, maybe. But he played in leagues with between nine to 17 teams.

There were teams, like the 66-67 Lakers who were STACKED with GREAT players, and still could only go 36-45, at the time.

[LAZERUSS]

Wilt's PER should be lowered due to era competition.

His PER would be closer to 28 when adjusted.

BTW, a prime Chamberlain just CRUSHED players like Willis Reed, Nate Thurmond, Walt Bellamy, and yes, even Russell in their H2H's. I could post his numbers, but no need. Most everyone here SHOULD know that by now.

[LAZERUSS]

Nowhere in my opening post did I say that PER is faultless or that this means Davis is better than every player in history.

It's just an interesting observation, that's all.

If you don't like it, no problem. No need for people to get angry

Incidently, do you rank AD's current season over Oscar's greatest seasons? The Big-O's highest PER season was 27.6 in 63-64, and his "triple-double" season in 61-62 was good for a 26.0 .