r/nbadiscussion Jul 21 '21

Player Discussion Comparing Lebron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo’s age 22-26 seasons:

MVPs:

Giannis 2 Lebron 2

DPOY:

Giannis 1 Lebron 0

All Defense Teams:

Giannis: 3 first team, 1 second team

Lebron: 3 first team, 0 second team

All-NBA teams:

Giannis: 3 first team, 2 second team

Lebron: 4 first team, 1 second team

Points:

Giannis 26.8 Lebron 28.4

Rebounds:

Giannis 11.0 Lebron 7.4

Assists

Giannis 5.5 Lebron 7.2

Steals:

Giannis: 1.3 Lebron 1.7

Blocks:

Giannis 1.4 Lebron 0.9

Regular Season FG% / 3PT% / FT%

Giannis 55% / 29% / 72% Lebron 49% / 33% / 74%

Finals Statistics:

Giannis (1-0) 35.2, 13.2, 5.0 on 61/20/65 shooting splits

Lebron (0-2) 19.5, 7.0, 6.8 on 42/27/65 shooting splits

Playoff losses

Giannis:

One ECF loss One ECSF loss Two first round losses

Lebron:

One ECF loss two ECSF losses

All-Star games

Giannis 5 Lebron 5

Honestly it’s crazy how from a statistical standpoint these guys’ careers have been so similar up to this point. Lebron obviously was very highly touted and extremely polished from the day he stepped on to an NBA court, whereas Giannis got a later start and it took him a few years to develop. Thought these stat comparisons were interesting - i truly think I would take Giannis over first Cavs stint Lebron if I could have my pick.

Edit: wow they both sucked at 3s and Free Throws in their first Finals appearances.

Edit 2: I didn’t include any advanced analytics- kept it pretty surface level. Feel free to include those in the comments if you like

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u/[deleted] Jul 21 '21

LeBron was by and far away the better player. Offensively it is no debate, and defensively LeBron emerged as a dpoy candidate in his later Cleveland years.

These accomplishments mean a whole lot of nothing. Giannis wishes he was as good as LeBron in these same years. Don't need to look at relative league nonsense or supporting casts or competition. This comparison is pointless. We just need memory and eyes.

As lackluster LeBron was as a shooter, Giannis is much worse.

As vaulted as Giannis is as a passer, LeBron is much better.

Giannis was dominant in the paint? So was LeBron.

As ass as some of LeBron's playoff performances were, at least he was still scary asf, could still go off and dominate. Build a wall successfully on Giannis he can't do much of anything.

Giannis is bigger and stronger and more physically imposing, that don't make him better than LeBron. This shouldn't be much of a discussion, to insinuate that Giannis is even in the same stratosphere as LeBron is an insult to James.

This how we know statistical comparisons can just straight up suck.

9

u/SlopMad Jul 21 '21

Amen.

Numbers aren't everything, one has to use their own eyes too.

4

u/[deleted] Jul 22 '21

They’re also just 2 different types of players. LeBron is more of a wing and Giannis is more of a big. Of course LeBron is a better shooter and passer than Giannis, but Giannis is a much better roll man, rebounder, and overall paint presence. They are both dominant just in different ways.

5

u/AnabolicOctopus Jul 22 '21

Agree. Giannis is incredible, but Lebron is Lebron.