New Research Finds LeBron James is Top Playoff Performer in NBA History

Analysts know that LeBron James is one of the best playoff performers in the league history. We all know that he has been the dominant player in more playoff series than anyone in the NBA.

A research by Hoopshype.com confirms that LeBron has had the highest Game Score than any other player in 45 playoff series. Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan stands right behind him, at 35.

Game Score measures players’ in-game productivity, while focusing on points scored, shooting accuracy, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks, fouls and turnovers.

“A Game Score of 40 would indicate that the player had a fantastic game, while a Game Score of 10 would reflect an average performance by a player,” explains a Thunder Stat Lab.

LeBron James is a playoff star

MJ has Game Scores of 40-plus seven times in his career. LeBron did it six times.

Hoopshype measured the number of playoff series in which the Lakers superstar was the best player. LeBron leads in this very category. MJ has better percentage of series in which he was the dominant player. LeBron was the best player in 84% of the games he has played in. Jordan’s percentage goes at 95%.

The Bulls legend averaged 30.1 points (with 6.2 rebounds and 5.3 assists) in the regular season but went up to 33.4 points in the playoffs (with 6.4 rebounds and 5.7 assists).

LeBron went from 27.1 points (with 7.4 rebounds and 7.4 assists) in the regular season to 28.9 points (with 8.9 rebounds and 7.1 assists) in the playoffs.

LeBron and Jordan lead the NBA, and Karl Malone comes right after them.

The difference between LeBron and Jordan is evident. Denver coach Michael Malone knows it really well.

“I coached LeBron James for five years and have a great relationship with him. LeBron did not have the same mindset or killer mentality that Michael Jordan is supposed to have had. But LeBron James is arguably the greatest of all time as well. Michael Jordan was not just a great player. He would reach into your chest and pull your heart out if he had to win a game. You don’t see that really often. He had that killer mindset and brought it every single night. That’s why all of these many years later, he’s the greatest of all time.”