Ranking NBA legends by peak PER (guess who's #1?)

[WillC]

I know the season isn't over yet, but Curry's on track for the greatest single-season PER in NBA history.

01 - Stephen Curry 32.9 (2015-16)
02 - Wilt Chamberlain 31.8 (1962-63)
03 - LeBron James 31.7 (2008-09)
04 - Michael Jordan 31.7 (1987-88)
05 - Anthony Davis 30.8 (2014-15)
06 - David Robinson 30.7 (1993-94)
07 - Shaquille O'Neal 30.6 (1999-00)
08 - Dwyane Wade 30.4 (2008-09)
09 - Tracy McGrady 30.3 (2002-03)
10 - Chris Paul 30.0 (2008-09)

Nobody else has achieved 30+ PER in a season. But here's the next 10...

11 - Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 29.9 (1971-72)
12 - Kevin Durant 29.8 (2013-14)
13 - Kevin Garnett 29.4 (2003-04)
14 - Russell Westbrook 29.1 (2014-15)
15 - Charles Barkley 28.9 (1990-91)
16 - Karl Malone 28.9 (1996-97)
17 - George Mikan 28.7 (1953-54)
18 - Elgin Baylor 28.2 (1960-61)
19 - Bob Pettit 28.2 (1958-59)
20 - Dirk Nowitzki 28.1 (2005-06)

Ok, let's keep going...

21 - Kobe Bryant 28.0 (2005-06)
22 - Larry Bird 27.8 (1987-88)
23 - Oscar Robertson 27.6 (1963-64)
24 - Amare Stoudemire 27.6 (2007-08)
25 - Hakeem Olajuwon 27.3 (1992-93)
26 - Tim Duncan 27.1 (2003-04)
27 - Magic Johnson 27.0 (1986-87)
28 - Kevin Love 26.9 (2013-14)
29 - Moses Malone 26.8 (1981-82)
30 - James Harden 26.7 (2014-15)

[12th]

Kobe not even cracking top 20

[Nuff Said]

Kobe not even cracking top 20

It's not that funny when he's still higher than bird, magic, and Duncan.

[Overdrive]

Are those the players' best seasons without double entries?

[HOoopCityJones]

It's not that funny when he's still higher than bird, magic, and Duncan.

Rat poison

[WillC]

Are those the players' best seasons without double entries?

Correct, hence the title has "peak" in it. Otherwise Wilt, Jordan and LeBron would appear a lot more than once each.

[ClipperRevival]

http://www.basketball-reference.com/...er_season.html

If you are going to post numbers, at least be accurate.

[WillC]

http://www.basketball-reference.com/...er_season.html

If you are going to post numbers, at least be accurate.

Are you referring to the Jordan/LeBron ranking?

When I ran a search on basketball reference, they both came out at 31.7, but LeBron was higher (presumably alphabetically).

But yes, it appears Jordan is a fraction higher.

[Marchesk]

I do wonder if Wilt's actual PER would have been around Curry's current one, but I've never bothered to do the math with estimated blocks and steals for him.

[Gileraracer]

Kobe not even cracking top 20

Damn and still 2.5 times Lebrons rings