How Does LeBron James' Playoff Record Compare to the All-Time Greats?

Numbers don't lie.

By 
Jun 12, 2012
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If a player averages 28.5 points, 8.6 boards and 6.7 dimes for the first 110 games of his playoff career, is he a flop? What if he scores 29 of his team’s final 30, including 25 straight, to carry a bunch of nobodies to the Finals? What if his name is LeBron James, does that change your answer?

King James is 0-2 in the Finals, and much of the Heat's 2011 L is on him. But nobody's perfect right? We dug deep into the files to examine the Playoffs record of 24 NBA Hall of Famers (or future Hall of Famers). The numbers reveal some surprises. Wilt only averaged how many points? Bill Russell won how many elimination games? And did Michael Jordan really have a postseason flop? As Bron Bron’s buddy Hov said “Men lie, women lie, numbers don’t.” So you tell us, How big a Playoff flop is LeBron James, really?

RELATED: The 50 Best Series in NBA Playoff History

Bill Russell

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Team(s): Celtics
Career Playoff Games: 165
Titles (or Farthest Advanced): 11 (in 12 Finals appearances)
Playoff Averages: 16.2 PPG, 24.9 RPG, 4.7 APG, 43.0 FG%, 60.3 FT% 46.5 MPG
Record In Elimination Games: 17 - 2
Hall Of Fame Playoff Teammates: 8 (Tom Heinsohn, Bill Sharman, Bob Cousy, Frank Ramsey, Sam Jones, K.C Jones, Bailey Howell, John Havlicek)
Notable Flops: Game 5 1967 Finals vs 76ers (4 PTS to Wilt's 29 PTS, Sixers win series 4-1)
Greatest Games: Game 7 1962 Finals vs Lakers, (30 PTS, 40 REB)

Elgin Baylor

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Team(s): Lakers
Career Playoff Games: 134
Titles (or Farthest Advanced): 0 (0-8 in Finals, retired before '72 Lakers title)
Playoff Averages: 27.0 PPG, 12.9 RPG, 4.0 APG, 43.9 FG%, 76.9 FT%
Record In Elimination Games: 10 - 12
Hall Of Fame Playoff Teammates: 3 (Jerry West, Gail Goodrich, Wilt Chamberlain)
Notable Flops: Game 7 1966 Finals vs Celtics (18 PTS, 6-22 FG)
Greatest Games: Game 5 1962 Finals vs Celtics (61 PTS, 22 REB); Game 5 1961 Western Division Finals vs STL (47 PTS, 20 REB)

Oscar Robertson

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Team(s): Cincinnati Royals, Milwaukee Bucks
Career Playoff Games: 86
Titles (or Farthest Advanced): 1 (in 2 Finals appearances)
Playoff Averages: 22.2 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 8.9 APG, 46.0 FG%, 85.5 FT%
Record In Elimination Games: 6 - 9
Hall Of Fame Playoff Teammates: 1 (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar)
Notable Flops: Game 4 1967 Eastern Division Semifinals vs 76ers (12 PTS, 4-8 FT)
Greatest Games: Games 1 & 7 Eastern Division Finals 1963 vs Celtics (43 Points)

Wilt Chamberlain

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Team(s): Warriors, 76ers and Lakers
Career Playoff Games: 160
Titles (or Farthest Advanced): 2 (in 6 Finals appearances
Playoff Averages: 22.5 PPG, 24.5 RPG, 4.2 APG, 52.2 FG%, 46.5 FT%, no block or steal stats were kept
Record In Elimination Games: 11 - 11
Hall Of Fame Playoff Teammates: 9 (Paul Arizin, Tom Gola, Nate Thurmond, Hal Greer, Chet Walker, Billy Cunningham, Elgin Baylor, Jerry West, Gail Goodrich)
Notable Flops: Game 7 1962 Eastern Division Finals vs Celtics (22 PTS after averaging 50 during season); Game 7 1968 Eastern Division Finals vs Celtics (14 pts, 6-15 FTS, team blows 3-1 series lead); Game 6 1969 NBA Finals vs Celtics (8pts, 6-10 FT, only 1 FG, team blows 3-2 series lead)
Greatest Games: Game 2 1962 Eastern Division Finals vs Celtics (42 PTS to Russell's 9); Game 4 1962 Eastern Division Finals (41 PTS to Russell's 31); Game 5 1965 Eastern Division Finals vs Celtics (46 PTS despite 8-25 FTS, team loses game and series)

Jerry West

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Team(s): Lakers
Career Playoff Games: 153
Titles (or Farthest Advanced): 1 (in 9 appearances)
Playoff Averages: 29.1 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 6.3 APG, 46.9 FG%, 80.5 FT%
Record In Elimination Games: 11 - 13
Hall Of Fame Playoff Teammates: 3 (Elgin Baylor, Gail Goodrich, Wilt Chamberlain)
Notable Flops: Game 3 1961 Western Division Semifinals vs Pistons (11 PTS in 124-113 loss); Game 2 1961 Western Division Finals vs Hawks (13 PTS in 121-106 loss)
Greatest Games: Game 7 1969 Finals vs BOS (42 PTS, 13 REB, 12 AST in loss, named MVP)

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

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Team(s): Bucks, Lakers
Career Playoff Games: 237
Titles (or Farthest Advanced): 6 (in 10 Finals appearances)
Playoff Averages: 24.3 PPG, 10.5 RPG, 3.2 APG, 53.3 FG%, 74.0 FT%, 2.0 BPG, 0.8 SPG
Record In Elimination Games: 11 - 12
Hall Of Fame Playoff Teammates: 7 (Oscar Robertson, Gail Goodrich, Adrian Dantley, Jamaal Wilkes, Magic Johnson, Bob McAdoo, James Worthy)
Notable Flops: Game 5 1982 Finals vs 76ers (6 PTS, 4 REB, 4 AST, 3-6 FG, 0-2 FT)
Greatest Games: Game 6 1974 Finals vs Celtics (34 PTS, 8 REB, 16-26 FG, game-winning hook shot in double-overtime to win 102-101 in Boston)

Moses Malone

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Team(s): Buffalo Braves, Rockets, 76ers, Bullets, Hawks, Bucks, Spurs
Career Playoff Games: 94
Titles (or Farthest Advanced): 1 (in 2 Finals appearances)
Playoff Averages: 22.1 PPG, 13.8 RPG, 1.4 APG, 1.6 BPG, 47.9 FG%, 76.2 FT%
Record In Elimination Games: 14-12
Hall Of Fame Playoff Teammates: 6 (Calvin Murphy, Rick Barry, Elvin Hayes, Julius Erving, Charles Barkley, Dominique Wilkins; would be 7 if Bernard King was finally inducted)
Notable Flops: Game 1 1981 Eastern Conference Finals vs Celtics (13 PTS, team blows 8 PT lead entering 4th)
Greatest Games: Game 2 1981 Eastern Conference Finals vs Celtics (31 PTS); Game 4 1983 NBA Finals vs Lakers (24 PTS, 23 REB, averaged 25.8 pts and 16 rpg in 4 game sweep)

Julius Erving

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Team(s): Sixers
Career Playoff Games: 141
Titles (or Farthest Advanced): 1 (in 4 Finals appearances)
Playoff Averages: 21.9 PPG, 7,0 RPG, 4.2 APG, 48.6 FG%, 77.9 FT%, 1.6 SPG, 1.7 BPG
Record In Elimination Games: 13 - 9
Hall Of Fame Playoff Teammates: 2 (Moses Malone, Charles Barkley)
Notable Flops: Game 2 1981 Eastern Conference Finals vs Celtics (12 PTS)
Greatest Games: Game 6 1977 NBA Finals vs Trail Blazers (40 PTS)

Larry Bird

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Team(s): Celtics
Career Playoff Games: 164
Titles (or Farthest Advanced): 3 (in 5 Finals appearances)
Playoff Averages: 23.8 PPG, 10.3 RPG, 6.5 APG, 47.2 FG%, 89 FT%, 32.1 3P%
Record In Elimination Games: 13 - 10
Hall Of Fame Playoff Teammates: 7 (Tiny Archibald, Dave Cowens, Pete Maravich, Kevin McHale, Robert Parish, Dennis Johnson, Bill Walton)
Notable Flops: Game 6 1988 Eastern Conference Finals vs Pistons (16 PTS, 4-17 FG, 14 REB, 5 AST, 3 STL, 2 BLK)
Greatest Games: Game 6 1986 NBA Finals vs Rockets (29 PTS, 11 REB, 12 AST); Game 7 1988 vs Hawks (34 PTS, 4 REB, 6 AST, 20 PTS in 4th)

Magic Johnson

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Team(s): Lakers
Career Playoff Games: 190
Titles (or Farthest Advanced): 5 (in 9 Finals appearances)
Playoff Averages: 19.5 PPG, 7.7 RPG, 12.3 APG, 50.6 FG%, 83.8 FT%
Record In Elimination Games: 6 - 7
Hall Of Fame Playoff Teammates: 4 (James Worthy, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Jamaal Wilkes, Bob McAdoo)
Notable Flops: Game 3 1981 Western Conference First Round vs HOU (10 PTS, 6-11 FT, airballs 3 at buzzer)
Greatest Games: Game 6 1980 NBA Finals vs Sixers (42 PTS, 15 REB, Lakers Win) Game 4 1987 NBA Finals vs BOS (29 PTS, 8 REB, 5 AST, game-winning "junior" sky hook)

Michael Jordan

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Team(s): Bulls
Career Playoff Games: 179
Titles (or Farthest Advanced): 6 (in 6 Finals appearances)
Playoff Averages: 33.4 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 5.7 APG, 48.7 FG%, 33.7 3P%
Record In Elimination Games: 6 - 7
Hall Of Fame Playoff Teammates: 2 (Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman)
Notable Flops: Game 2 1989 Eastern Conference Semifinals vs Knicks (15 PTS, 8 REB, 3 AST, 7-17 FG, Bulls lose 114-97)
Greatest Games: Game 2 1986 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals at Celtics (63 PTS 6 AST 5 REB); Game 6 1998 Finals at Jazz 1998 (45 PTS, 1 Reb, 1 AST, game-winning jumper over Bryon Russell); Game 5 1997 Finals at Jazz 1997 (38 PTS, 5 AST, Flu Game)

Hakeem Olajuwon

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Team(s): Rockets
Career Playoff Games: 145
Titles (or Farthest Advanced): 2 (in 3 Finals appearances)
Playoff Averages: 25.9 PPG, 11.2 RPG, 3.2 APG, 52.8 FG%, 71.9 FT%, 3.2 BPG, 3.3 SPG
Record In Elimination Games: 19 - 13
Hall Of Fame Playoff Teammates: 4 (Charles Barkley, Scottie Pippen, Clyde Drexler, Ralph Sampson)
Notable Flops: Game 1 1996 Western Conference Semifinals vs Sonics (6 PTS, 4 REB, 1 AST, 3-9 FG)
Greatest Games: Game 3 1986 Western Conference Finals vs Lakers (40 PTS, 12 REB, 3 AST, 2 STL, 2 BLK); Game 3 1995 Western Conference Finals vs Spurs (43 PTS, 11 REB, 4 AST, 5 BLK, 19-32 FG)

Patrick Ewing

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Team(s): Knicks, Magic
Career Playoff Games: 139
Titles (or Farthest Advanced): 0 (in 1 Finals appearance)
Playoff Averages: 20.2 PPG, 10.3 RPG, 2.0 APG, 46.9 FG%, 71.8 FT%, 2.5 BPG, 0.9 SPG
Record In Elimination Games: 17 - 14
Hall Of Fame Playoff Teammates: 1 (Gary Payton)
Notable Flops: Game 7 1995 Eastern Conference Finals vs Pacers (29 PTS, 14 REB, 5 AST, 4 BLK, missed game-tying layup at buzzer)
Greatest Games: Game 4 1990 Eastern Conference First Round vs Celtics (44 PTS, 13 REB, 7 STL)

Karl Malone

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Team(s): Jazz
Career Playoff Games: 193
Titles (or Farthest Advanced): 0 (in 2 Finals appearances)
Playoff Averages: 24.7 PPG, 10.7 RPG, 3.2 APG, 46.3 FG%, 73.6 FT%
Record In Elimination Games: 15 - 19
Hall Of Fame Playoff Teammates: 5 (Adrian Dantley, John Stockton, Gary Payton, Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O'Neal)
Notable Flops: Game 1 1997 NBA Finals vs Bulls (23 PTS, 15 REB, 10-22 FG, 3-6 FT, missed two free throws with 9.2 seconds left in 82-82 tie after Pippen said, "Just remember the mailman doesn't deliver on Sundays, Karl." Jordan then made game-winning jump shot.)
Greatest Games: Game 3 1997 NBA Finals vs Bulls (37 PTS, 10 REB, 4 STL, 15-29 FG, 7-10 FT)

Shaquille O'Neal

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Team(s): Magic, Lakers, Heat, Suns, Cavaliers, Celtics
Career Playoff Games: 216
Titles (or Farthest Advanced): 4 (in 6 Finals appearances)
Playoff Averages: 24.3 PPG, 11.6 RPG, 2.7 APG, 56.3 FG%, 50.4 FT%, 2.2 BPG
Record In Elimination Games: 6 - 13
Hall Of Fame Playoff Teammates: 5 (Karl Malone, Dennis Rodman, Kobe Bryant, Gary Payton, Dwyane Wade)
Notable Flops: Game 3 2004 Finals vs Pistons (14 PTS, 8 REB, 1 AST, 7-14 FG, 0-2 FT)
Greatest Games: Game 2 2000 Finals vs Pacers (40 PTS, 24 REB); Game 2 2001 NBA Finals vs Sixers (28 PTS, 20 REB, 9 AST, 8 BLK)

Allen Iverson

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Team(s): Sixers, Nuggets
Career Playoff Games: 71
Titles (or Farthest Advanced): 0 (in 1 Finals appearance)
Playoff Averages: 29.7 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 6.0 APG, 2.1 SPG, 40.1 FG%, 32.7 3P%, 76.4 FT%
Record In Elimination Games: 7 - 9
Hall Of Fame Playoff Teammates: 3 (Dikembe Mutombo, Chris Webber, Carmelo Anthony)
Notable Flops: Game 5 2003 Eastern Conference Semifinals vs Pistons (14 PTS, 8 REB, 9 AST, 5-25 FG, 2-4 FT, 4 STL, 4 TO)
Greatest Games: Game 1 2003 Eastern Conference First Round vs Hornets (55 PTS, 8 AST 2 STL, 4 REB); Game 1 2001 NBA Finals vs Lakers (48 PTS, 5 REB, 6 AST, 18-41 FG, 9-9 FT)

Kevin Garnett

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Team(s): Timberwolves, Celtics
Career Playoff Games: 124
Titles (or Farthest Advanced): 1 (in 2 Finals appearances)
Playoff Averages: 19.5 PPG, 11.0 RPG, 3.5 APG, 1.4 BPG, 47.6 FG%, 78.6 FT%
Record In Elimination Games: 6 - 10
Hall Of Fame Playoff Teammates: 2 (Ray Allen, Paul Pierce)
Notable Flops: Game 5 1998 Western Conference First Round vs Sonics (7 PTS, 4 REB, 3 AST, 1 AST, 2 BLK, 10 TO, 3-11 FG, 1-2 FT)
Greatest Games: Game 7 2004 Western Conference Semifinals vs Kings (32 PTS, 21 REB, 4 STL, 5 BLK 2 AST)

Kobe Bryant

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Team(s): Lakers
Career Playoff Games: 175
Titles (or Farthest Advanced): 5 (in 7 Finals appearances)
Playoff Averages: 25.6 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 4.7 APG, 44.8 FG%, 81.6 FT%, 33.1 3P%
Record In Elimination Games: 8 - 10
Hall Of Fame Playoff Teammates: 4 (Shaquille O'Neal, Gary Payton, Karl Malone, Dennis Rodman)

Notable Flops: Game 5 1997 Western Conference Semifinals vs Jazz (11 PTS, 2 REB, 2 AST, 4-14 FG, three airballs in closing minutes); Game 3 2004 NBA Finals vs Pistons (11 PTS, 3 REB, 5 AST, 4-13 FG, 4 TO)

Greatest Games: Game 6 2006 Western Conference First Round vs Suns (50 PTS, 8 REB, 5 AST)

Tim Duncan

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Team(s): Spurs
Career Playoff Games: 190
Titles (or Farthest Advanced): 4 (in 4 Finals appearances)
Playoff Averages: 22.3 PPG, 12.1 RPG, 3.4 APG, 50.1 FG%, 2.3 BPG
Record In Elimination Games: 7 - 10
Hall Of Fame Playoff Teammates: 3 (David Robinson, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili)
Notable Flops: Game 3 2001 Western Conference Finals vs Lakers (9 PTS, 13 REB, 3-14 FG, 3-8 FTS, 4 STL, 4 BLK); Game 6 2008 Western Conference Quarterfinals vs Hornets (5 PTS, 3 REB, 2 AST, 3 STL, 1-9 FG, 3-6 FT)
Greatest Games: Game 1 1999 Finals vs New York (33 PTS, 16 REB); Game 6 2003 Finals vs NJ 2003 (21 PTS, 20 REB, 10 AST, 8 BLK)

Dirk Nowitzki

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Team(s): Mavericks
Career Playoff Games: 128
Titles (or Farthest Advanced): 1 (in 2 Finals appearances)
Playoff Averages: 25.9 PPG 10.3 RPG, 2.6 APG, 46.3 FG%, 38.0 3P%, 0.9 BPG, 1.1 SPG
Record In Elimination Games: 12 - 11
Hall Of Fame Playoff Teammates: 2 (Steve Nash, Jason Kidd)
Notable Flops: Game 4 2006 NBA Finals vs Heat (16 PTS, 2-14 FGS, 9 REB, 1 AST, 1 STL)
Greatest Games: Game 1 2011 Western Conference Finals vs Thunder (48 PTS, 6 REB, 4 AST, 4 BLK, 24-24 FT, 12-15 FG); Game 2 2011 Finals (24 PTS, 11 REB, 4 AST, 1 BLK, game-winning layup around Bosh)

Paul Pierce

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Team(s): Celtics
Career Playoff Games: 129
Titles (or Farthest Advanced): 1 (in 2 Finals appearances)
Playoff Averages: 21.0 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 3.9 APG, 83.2 FT%, 34.4 3PT%, 1.3 SPG
Record In Elimination Games: 6 - 8
Hall Of Fame Playoff Teammates: 2 (Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett)
Notable Flops: Game 6 2012 Eastern Conference Finals vs Heat (9 PTS, 5 REB, 1 AST, 4/18 FG)
Greatest Games: Game 7 2008 Eastern Conference Semifinals vs Cavaliers (41 PTS, 4 REB, 5 AST, 2 STL)

Dwyane Wade

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Team(s): Heat
Career Playoff Games: 104
Titles (or Farthest Advanced): 1 (in 2 Finals appearances)
Playoff Averages: 25.4 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 5.3 APG, 48.0 FG%, 32.0 3P%, 77.9 FT%, 1.7 SPG, 1.1 BPG
Record In Elimination Games: 5 - 6
Hall Of Fame Playoff Teammates: 3 (Shaquille O'Neal, Alonzo Mourning, LeBron James)
Notable Flops: Game 3 2012 Eastern Conference Semifinals vs Pacers (5 PTS, 2-13 FG, 1-2 FT) in Miami loss
Greatest Games: Game 5 2010 Eastern Conference Semifinals vs Celtics (46 Points, 5 Rebounds, 5 Assist)

Carmelo Anthony

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Team(s): Nuggets, Knicks
Career Playoff Games: 54
Titles (or Farthest Advanced): 0 (1 Conference Finals appearance)
Playoff Averages: 24.9 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 3.0 APG, 41.9 FG%, 32.7 3P%, 81.5 FT%
Record In Elimination Games: 2 - 9
Hall Of Fame Playoff Teammates: 3 (Allen Iverson, Chauncey Billups, Amar'e Stoudemire)
Notable Flops: Game 1 2012 Eastern Conference First Round vs Heat (11 PTS, 3/15 FG, 10 REB, 4 AST, 4 TO)
Greatest Games: Game 4 2009 Western Conference Semifinals vs Mavericks (41 PTS, 11 REB, 5 STL)

LeBron James

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Team(s): Cavaliers, Heat
Career Playoff Games: 109
Titles (or Farthest Advanced): 0 (in 2 Finals appearances)
Playoff Averages: 28.5 PPG, 8.6 RPG, 6.7 APG, 46.9 FG%, 74.1 FT%, 1.8 SPG, 1.0 BPG
Record In Elimination Games: 4 - 6
Hall Of Fame Playoff Teammates: 1 (Dwyane Wade)
Notable Flops: Game 5 2010 Eastern Conference Semifinals vs Boston (15 PTS, 6 REB, 7 AST); Game 4 2011 NBA Finals vs Mavericks (8 PTS, 9 REB, 7 AST, 3-11 FG, 4 TO)
Greatest Games: Game 5 2007 Eastern Conference Finals vs Pistons (48 PTS, 7 AST, 9 REB); Game 6 vs Celtics 2012 (45 PTS, 5 AST, 15 REB)

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