Official List of Primes (Best Seasons)

[REACTION]

I'm impressed by your effort and accuracy for this thread. One of my favorite threads in quite a while.

Thanks.

I'm keeping an excel file with more detailed info that's a lot easier to look at. But I'm not sure how I'll translate it to the original post in this thread.



(Click for larger view)

I guess I could just have one big ass image instead of trying to format it into text.

[DFish]

Elgin Baylor is the scoring leader

38.3 points, 18.6 rebounds

[TheFan]

I disagree... Kobe mvp season wasn't his best season... heck it wasn't even his second best season...

its either 02-03 or 05-06...

[REACTION]

Elgin Baylor is the scoring leader

38.3 points, 18.6 rebounds

Yep. Leaders for each category:

Points: Baylor (38.3 PPG)
Rebounds: Wilt (24.2 RPG)
Assists: Stockton (14.2 APG)
Steals: Barry/Pippen/Stockton (2.9 SPG)
Blocks: Ewing (4.0 BPG)

I disagree... Kobe mvp season wasn't his best season... heck it wasn't even his second best season...

its either 02-03 or 05-06...

I don't agree about 2002-03 being much in the mix for Kobe's best season, but it did come down to 2005-06 and 2007-08 for me. I originally had his 2006 season listed, but decided to ultimately go with 2008. '06 was admittedly his scoring peak, but I feel like Kobe was a better defender in '08 while still being a major scoring threat. He also did much better in the '08 playoffs, getting to the finals and putting up 30/5.7/5.6 in 21 games. He was a more efficient scorer in 2008 too. Those reasons plus him making MVP led me to choose 2007-08 as his best season. But I don't disagree with anybody who chooses 2005-06.

[DFish]

An asterisk should truthfully be next to LeBron's though. It should read LeBron: 2011-12 MVP* FMVP*

[REACTION]

I added statistical leader columns.

[Kobr]

Some more ones to add: Shawn Marion, Caron Butler, Shawn Kemp, Anthony Mason, Toni Kukoc, Horace Grant, Mark Eaton, Maurice Cheeks, Lenny Wilkens, Artis Gilmore, Maurice Stokes, Adrian Dantley, Gail Goodrich, Michael Finley, Rashard Lewis, Drew Gooden, Stephen Jackson, Gerald Wallace, Norm Nixon, Jamaal Wilkes, Kurt Rambis, Robert Horry, Eddie Jones.

[WockaVodka]

Hedo Turkoglu - 2007-08
Shawn Marion - 2005-06
Rashard Lewis - 2004-05
Gerald Wallace - 2009-10

[Kobr]

Also Iguodala.

[REACTION]

I haven't look into these yet, but does anyone disagree with any of them?

Bruce Bowen: 2004-05
Maurice Cheeks: 1985-86
Adrian Dantley: 1983-84
Dave DeBusschere: 1967-68
Mark Eaton: 1984-85
Artis Gilmore: 1978-79
Connie Hawkins: 1969-70
Dennis Johnson: 1981-82
Bobby Jones: 1982-83
Sam Jones: 1964-65
Shawn Kemp: 1995-96
Jerry Lucas: 1964-65
Shawn Marion: 2005-06
Sidney Moncrief: 1982-83
Terry Porter: 1991-92
Mark Price: 1988-89
Glen Rice: 1996-97
Alvin Robertson: 1985-86
Arvydas Sabonis: 1995-96
Ralph Sampson: 1985-86
David Thompson: 1977-78
Otis Thorpe: 1987-88
Wes Unseld: 1974-75

[REACTION]

or should these be:

Artis Gilmore: 1977-78 (23/13/3 with All-Defensive 2nd team)
Dennis Johnson: 1978-79 (FMVP)
Terry Porter: 1987-88 (10 APG and 51.9% FG)
Arvydas Sabonis: 1997-98 (16/10/3)
Ralph Sampson: 1984-85 (All-NBA 2nd team)
Wes Unseld: 1968-69 (MVP, ROTY and ALL-NBA 1st team)

?

[LikeABosh]

Lebron's best season was 08-09 IMO. Basketball is a team sports and thats why he won a ring in 12' he was better in 08-09

[StateOfMind12]

Lebron's best season was 08-09 IMO. Basketball is a team sports and thats why he won a ring in 12' he was better in 08-09

His prime was 11-12 to me. He was more flashy and exciting to watch in 09 and 10 though but it's hard to argue that he was more effective because most evidence indicates that his 2012 version is better and more effective.

I would also change Manu Ginobili's best season to '04-'05 instead of '07-'08. I say this mainly because Manu performed better in the 2005 post-season and he was also a starter. 6th men who shouldn't be 6th men like Manu can produce better stats in the regular season in this situation because they are going up against opponent's 2nd unit.

[REACTION]

Lebron's best season was 08-09 IMO. Basketball is a team sports and thats why he won a ring in 12' he was better in 08-09

True, that's why I'm not listing championships on this chart. But I do take Finals MVP into consideration. Comparing the two seasons:

2008-09
Regular Season: 28.4 / 7.6 / 7.2 / 1.7 / 1.1 on ( .489 / .344 / .780 ) winning MVP
Playoffs: 35.3 / 9.1 / 7.3 on ( .510 / .333 / .749 ) in 14 games

2011-12
Regular Season: 27.1 / 7.9 / 6.2 / 1.9 / 0.8 on ( .531 / .362 / .771 ) winning MVP
Playoffs: 30.3 / 9.7 / 5.6 on ( .500 / .259 / .739 ) in 23 games, winning Finals MVP

LeBron did have some really nice triple-double games in 2009, but I feel like his 2012 FMVP and playoff performance gives the nod to 2012. He also appeared to be a more efficient scorer (53.1% from the field on the season) and a bit more versatile.

I'm okay with leaving it open to a vote though. Anyone else vote for 2009 over 2012?

[jlauber]

True, that's why I'm not listing championships on this chart. But I do take Finals MVP into consideration. Comparing the two seasons:

2008-09
Regular Season: 28.4 / 7.6 / 7.2 / 1.7 / 1.1 on ( .489 / .344 / .780 ) winning MVP
Playoffs: 35.3 / 9.1 / 7.3 on ( .510 / .333 / .749 ) in 14 games

2011-12
Regular Season: 27.1 / 7.9 / 6.2 / 1.9 / 0.8 on ( .531 / .362 / .771 ) winning MVP
Playoffs: 30.3 / 9.7 / 5.6 on ( .500 / .259 / .739 ) in 23 games, winning Finals MVP

LeBron did have some really nice triple-double games in 2009, but I feel like his 2012 FMVP and playoff performance gives the nod to 2012. He also appeared to be a more efficient scorer (53.1% from the field on the season) and a bit more versatile.

I'm okay with leaving it open to a vote though. Anyone else vote for 2009 over 2012?

Using your "formulas", Kareem's prime came in '71. Which, I have long maintained was a PEAK Kareem.