Can Lebron match Magic's 87 season?

[StrongLurk]

Magic: 24/6/12/1.7/.5 with 3.8 TOV on 52/20/85 in 36.3 mpg
Lebron: 25/8/11/1.2/.6 with 3.0 TOV on 49/34/72 in 34.8 mpg

Magic won MVP and FMVP, and 87 can be considered Magic's peak season.

Magic was 27 that season, Lebron will be 35 this season.

[Manny98]

Imagine Magic with elite defense + scoring ability.

That's current LeBron, the GOAT

[LAmbruh]

Imagine Magic with elite defense + scoring ability.

That's current LeBron, the GOAT

[SpaceJam2]

Imagine Magic with elite defense + scoring ability.

That's current LeBron, the GOAT

LeGoat

[StrongLurk]

Imagine Magic with elite defense + scoring ability.

That's current LeBron, the GOAT

We will see if Lebron can keep this up. I expect him to definitely slow down if the Lakers keep winning games. Lebron's defense has been impressive given how bad he was the last two years.

Lebron and AD need to be healthy, that is most important.

[bizil]

I've ALWAYS SAID that in Bron's backend prime years that he could EVENTUALLY run the PG more often. With AD joining the Lakers and the team they build around them, it's a great fit. Magic dominated the game with his size, positional versatility, scoring, epic passing, triple double ability, and IQ. Magic NEVER was a standout on an athletic level.


In the case of Bron's he's STILL an elite athlete. Even though he's lost some of his freak athletic ability. Due to the fact he's a physical freak WITH the ability to be the best floor general in the world, he can redefine longevity being a great player. It would have been like giving Magic and Bird the PHYSICAL TOOLS and DURABILITY that Bron has. Those three were basically THE BRIDGE between the perimeter and big man positions. It's just that Bron has the gifts to REALLY push the boundaries!

We know dominating a game scoring can be taxing year after year. So Bron can tailor his game in so many ways to MAXIMIZE the rest of his prime years. The flexibility to play PG, SG, SF, and PF while ALSO being an epic floor general who can dominate scoring when its time gives him an advantage ONLY Magic had in the past.

If Magic didn't have gaps in his career due to the controversy of his health, he would possibly have been NECK and NECK with MJ for the GOAT crown. MJ was the better player in general. BUT Magic's career resume could have been SO EPIC that it could have given him a great shot at the GOAT crown. We see he's on the Mt. Rushmore as it already!

[Uncle Drew]

Imagine Magic with elite defense + scoring ability.

That's current LeBron, the GOAT

Jep, and, unlike Magic, LeBron does not have a Hall of Fame center on his team.

[bizil]

I see some posters underrate Magic's scoring ability. Magic FLAT OUT was a great scorer! He was just a pass first PG (even more pass first than Bron) who usually played with other very good to great scorers virtually his whole career. Magic was HELLA EFFICIENT and epic from the FT line. And when it was TIME to dominate scoring, he did just that. Of course I would give Bron the edge scoring wise.

BUT among pass first players, Magic was one of the top 5 scorers EVER! Only Bron and Big O FOR SURE were better scorers from a pass first mindset. After that, U got Magic and Zeke. Remember when Kareem was past his prime and on his way out of the league, Pat Riley ASKED MAGIC to be the #1 scoring option on the team. And look for his shot more. He didn't ask Worthy to do that. IF that was a Nique, King, English, etc. on the Lakers the nod would have went to them.

[superduper]

I see some posters underrate Magic's scoring ability. Magic FLAT OUT was a great scorer! He was just a pass first PG (even more pass first than Bron) who usually played with other very good to great scorers virtually his whole career. Magic was HELLA EFFICIENT and epic from the FT line. And when it was TIME to dominate scoring, he did just that. Of course I would give Bron the edge scoring wise.

BUT among pass first players, Magic was one of the top 5 scorers EVER! Only Bron and Big O FOR SURE were better scorers from a pass first mindset. After that, U got Magic and Zeke. Remember when Kareem was past his prime and on his way out of the league, Pat Riley ASKED MAGIC to be the #1 scoring option on the team. And look for his shot more. He didn't ask Worthy to do that. IF that was a Nique, King, English, etc. on the Lakers the nod would have went to them.

The mentalities back then were also a lot different. PGs weren't thinking "I'm going to get 30ppg". They were THE set playmakers. Roles were very defined. Very different to how it is now.

[ImKobe]

Magic was a better passer and an elite FT shooter, there's no comparing the two. He actually got better with age and was nearly a 50/40/90 player in 1990. 1987 wasn't "peak" Magic either, 1989 version was much better but he got injured in the Finals. Imagine thinking Bron could ever shoot close to 90% from the FT line for a season

[bigkingsfan]

Magic was a better passer and an elite FT shooter, there's no comparing the two. He actually got better with age and was nearly a 50/40/90 player in 1990. 1987 wasn't "peak" Magic either, 1989 version was much better but he got injured in the Finals. Imagine thinking Bron could ever shoot close to 90% from the FT line for a season

When 48% 38% 89% is nearly...

[brooks_thompson]

When 48% 38% 89% is nearly...

What the hell? He said nearly in the goddamn post and its goddamn nearly

[ImKobe]

When 48% 38% 89% is nearly...

That's closer than Bran will ever be to a 50/40/90 season, heck, I'll change my name to ImLebron if he shoots 80..

[3ball]

I've ALWAYS SAID that in Bron's backend prime years that he could EVENTUALLY run the PG more often. With AD joining the Lakers and the team they build around them, it's a great fit. Magic dominated the game with his size, positional versatility, scoring, epic passing, triple double ability, and IQ. Magic NEVER was a standout on an athletic level.


In the case of Bron's he's STILL an elite athlete. Even though he's lost some of his freak athletic ability. Due to the fact he's a physical freak WITH the ability to be the best floor general in the world, he can redefine longevity being a great player. It would have been like giving Magic and Bird the PHYSICAL TOOLS and DURABILITY that Bron has. Those three were basically THE BRIDGE between the perimeter and big man positions. It's just that Bron has the gifts to REALLY push the boundaries!

We know dominating a game scoring can be taxing year after year. So Bron can tailor his game in so many ways to MAXIMIZE the rest of his prime years. The flexibility to play PG, [COLOR="Navy"]SG[/COLOR], SF, and PF while ALSO being an epic floor general who can dominate scoring when its time gives him an advantage ONLY Magic had in the past.

If Magic didn't have gaps in his career due to the controversy of his health, he would possibly have been NECK and NECK with MJ for the GOAT crown. MJ was the better player in general. BUT Magic's career resume could have been SO EPIC that it could have given him a great shot at the GOAT crown. We see he's on the Mt. Rushmore as it already!

Lebron can't play SG - that's a falsehood

I mean, he's physically capable of going out there and starting at SG, but anyone can start at any position - can they actually PLAY the position is another question - and Lebron can't play SG because he can't play off-ball.. period

[bigkingsfan]

That's closer than Bran will ever be to a 50/40/90 season, heck, I'll change my name to ImLebron if he shoots 80..

Who cares, be like saying if Magic could average 25 a game.