Greatest Scorers series: 4-1

The finale is here and this is hardest part of the list. Choosing 4-2. I will start by saying 4-2 is a wash and there is a very strong argument for any of the 3 at 2 but 1 is a clear answer.

4. Kobe Bryant (01-10)

• 39.2 IA PTS/100 (37.4 PO)

• 59.5 IA TS% (58.5 PO)

• +2.8 rTS%

• 34.2 3PT% (5.2 3s/100)

• 84.3 FT% (11.3 FTA/100)

On Paper it looks like Kobe was a Playoff dropper but this is inflation adjusted for LA not defenses faced in the PO and This unfair to kobe who was constantly facing All Time and GOAT tier defenses in the PO (FE: 2003 2004 and 2008 spurs, 2009 magic, 2008 Celtics, 2004 Pistons, etc.). The LA ORTG in the PO from 01-10 was 105.7. Kobe faced average DRTGs of 102.3. If you IA his PO stats for PO defenses faced he averages 38.7 IA PTS/100 on 60.2 IA TS%. This looks much better than what we see when adjusting for LA. Here are Some other GOAT tier scorers PO stats IA for Defense faced while we're on the topic along with the LA DRTG they faced

MJ: 105.4 DRTG (-2.1 rDRTG) 45.6 PTS/100

LBJ: 104.8 DRTG (-2.6 rDRTG) 39.2 PTS/100

Kobe 102.3 DRTG (-3.4 rDRTG) 38.7 PTS/100 KAJ: 101.2 DRTG (-1.2 rDRTG) 35.7 PTS/100 Shaq: 102.1 DRTG (-3 rDRTG) 38.7 PTS/100

KD: 105.3 DRTG (-2 rDRTG) 38.7 PTS/100

This still doesn't do true justice to the defenses Kobe faced as IA adjusted for DRTGs Faced not rDRTGs faced. Now that we have addressed Kobe's playoffs We can get into why I gave Kobe the edge over Kareem. Firstly i think he has slightly better longevity, Although that like most things between Kobe and Kareem is a wash. There are many aspects of their scoring that are extremely close like their gravity and offensive help. Kareem's Case around Kobe is his insane PO scoring with the Lakers (especially from 77-79) along with him having All time Efficiency. Kobe's argument over Kareem is his Volume is much higher and that he has by far the greatest bag of all time. I think Kobe had higher gravity but again that is a wash. I think the determining Factor here is comparing Peaks. Kareem has 2 stretches you can look at for his peak (71-73 and 77-79) so I'll compare both to kobe's peak (06-09) (PO IA is for defenses faced)

06-09 Kobe: 41.2 IA PTS/100 59.5 IA TS% (39.8 IA PTS/100 61 IA TS%)

71-73 KAJ: 37.6 IA PTS/100 67.3 IA TS% (36.7 to 36.6 IA PPG 55.2 IA TS%)

77-79 KAJ: 33.2 IA PTS/100 65.9 IA TS% (37.2 IA PTS/100 68.5 IA TS%)

I just think Kareem peaked better as a scorer although it is close but Kareem's PO rise from 77-79 is just Stupid. Kobe's 08 PO were All time especially when adjusted for opponents. When IA for Defenses Faced 08 kobe averaged 40.6 PTS/100 on 61.7 IA TS% compared to 77 Kareem's 42.3 on 69.7 TS%. 09 Kobe was 41 on 60.3 TS%.

3. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (70-83)

• 34.6 IA PTS/100 (27.3 ppg to 28.8 PO ppg, from 74-83 33.2 to 35.4 IA PTS/100)

• 64.7 IA TS% (63.6 PO)

• +7.5 rTS

• 71.7 FT% (7.3 FTA/100)

I basically covered everything i could when talking about kobe but i will mention Kareem has GOAT tier bag for a Big and top fringe top 5 gravity along with Kobe MJ Steph Lebron and Shaq. He Was a crazy RS scorer that Dropped in the PO when he played with the bucks and was the exact opposite with the Lakers and 1977 kareem is arguably the best scoring season of all time due to his PO.

2. LeBron James (06-20)

• 38.5 IA PTS/100 (38.2 PO)

• 61.9 IA TS% (60.9 PO)

• +5.2 rTS%

• 34.6 3PT% (6.1 3s/100)

• 73.2 FT% (11 FTA/100)

LeBron gets the number 2 spot because he has the GOAT Scoring longevity imo with top 5 Scoring peak. He's a PO riser and he had GOAT tier Volume unlike Kareem but he has All time efficiency unlike Kobe. LeBron's biggest holding factor is his "lack" of bag. He is a GOAT tier finisher and has a good 3 ball so he is still able to sustain play in the PO but He is inconsistent as a shooter on a year to year scale.

1. Michael Jordan (87-98)

• 43.3 IA PTS/100 (44.1 PO)

• 61 IA TS% (59.5 PO)

• +4.3 rTS%

• 33.9 3PT% (2.5 3s/100)

• 83.7 FT% (11.5 FTA/100)

Undebatable. He has basically nothing holding him back. He's an All Time Finisher, The GOAT Mid range shooter, Has great post moves tons of counters, Is resilient in the PO, Has the best Scoring peak, By far the highest Scoring Volume (2nd All time in Prime IA PTS/100 is Harden at 40), He has pretty good longevity. He has GOAT tier gravity. Literally anything you could want from a scorer MJ has, which is why I think MJ is the GOAT Scorer by a very wide margin.

Now that the list is complete here is the full list in one place (gaps represent tiers)

HM: Paul Pierce

25. Larry Bird

24. Elgin Baylor

23. Allen Iverson

22. Julius Erving

21. Carmelo Anthony

20. Oscar Robertson

19. Kawhi Leonard

18. George Gervin

17. Tracy McGrady

16. Bob McAdoo

15. Karl Malone

14. Hakeem Olajuwon

13. Reggie Miller

12. Dwyane Wade

11. James Harden

10. Wilt Chamberlain

9. Steph Curry

8. Jerry West

7. Dirk Nowitzki

6. Kevin Durant

5. Shaquille O'Neal

4. Kobe Bryant

3. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

2. Lebron James

1. Michael Jordan