Monday, November 22, 2021

Top 25 NBA 3-Year Peaks

This is a list of the top 25 three-season peak ranges for players in NBA/ABA history, with only the top 3-year period ranked for each player, and other qualifying 3-year ranges inserted in between. This is done using the same method as my Top 100 NBA Players of All Time ranking, and most of the players who make this list were also among the top 25 players of all time. (* marks awards that didn't exist at the time) 

1. LeBron James - SF/PF - CLE - 2015-18

26.4 Pts, 8.2 Reb, 8.2 Ast, 1.3 Stl, 0.7 Blk, .537 FG%, .350 3P%, .712 FT%

Finals MVP, Championship, 2 Finals losses, 3x All-NBA First Team, 3x Top 4 in MVP voting

Led league in MPG twice, total points once


1a. LeBron James - SF - CLE - 2014-17


2. Shaquille O'Neal - C - LAL - 1999-02

28.6 Pts, 12.4 Reb, 3.5 Ast, 0.6 Stl, 2.6 Blk, .575 FG%, .529 FT%

3x Finals MVP, MVP, 3x All-NBA First Team, 2x All-Defensive Second Team, 2x #3 in MVP voting

Led League in FG% three times, scoring once


3. Michael Jordan - SG - CHI - 1990-93

31.4 Pts, 6.4 Reb, 5.7 Ast, 2.6 Stl, 0.9 Blk, .517 FG%, .324 3P%, .840 FT%

3x Finals MVP, 2x MVP, 3x All-NBA First Team, 3x All-Defensive First Team, #3 in MVP voting once

Led League in scoring three times, steals once, triple-doubles once


3a. LeBron James - SF/PF - MIA/CLE - 2013-16

3b. Michael Jordan - SG - CHI - 1989-92

3c. Shaquille O'Neal - C - LAL - 1998-01

3d. LeBron James - PF/SF - MIA - 2011-14


4. Magic Johnson - PG - LAL - 1984-87

20.4 Pts, 6.1 Reb, 12.5 Ast, 1.6 Stl, 0.3 Blk, .534 FG%, .210 3P%, .853 FT%

Finals MVP, MVP, 2x Championship, Conference Finals loss, 3x All-NBA First Team, 3x top 3 in MVP voting

Led league in assists twice, triple-doubles once


4a. Magic Johnson - PG - LAL - 1986-89

4b. LeBron James - SF/PF - MIA - 2010-13

4c. Michael Jordan - SG - CHI - 1988-91


5. Hakeem Olajuwon - C - HOU - 1992-95

27.0 Pts, 12.0 Reb, 3.6 Ast, 1.8 Stl, 3.8 Blk, .525 FG%, .256 3P%, .851 FT%

2x Finals MVP, MVP, 2x All-NBA First Team, All-NBA Third Team, 2x All-Defensive First Team, 2x Defensive POY, 3x top 5 in MVP voting, Second Round loss

Led league in blocks once


5a. Michael Jordan - SG - CHI - 1995-98

5b. Magic Johnson - PG - LAL - 1985-88


6. Stephen Curry - PG - GSW - 2014-17

26.4 Pts, 4.7 Reb, 7.0 Ast, 2.0 Stl, 0.2 Blk, .487 FG%, .436 3P%, .906 FT%

2x MVP, 2x Championship, 2x All-NBA First Team, All-NBA Second Team, Finals loss

Led league in scoring twice, free throw percentage twice, steals once


6a. Shaquille O'Neal - C - LAL - 2000-03


7. Wilt Chamberlain - C - PHI - 1965-68

28.8 Pts, 24.2 Reb, 7.2 Ast, .593 FG%, .446 FT%

3x MVP, Finals MVP*, 3x All-NBA First Team, 2x Conference Finals loss

Led league in scoring once, rebounds three times, field goal percentage three times, MPG three times


7a. Wilt Chamberlain - C - SFW/PHI - 1964-67

7b. LeBron James - PF/PG/SF - CLE/LAL - 2017-20


8. George Mikan - C - MNL - 1948-51

28.0 Pts, 14.1 Reb, 3.2 Ast, .417 FG%, .785 FT%

3x MVP*, 2x Finals MVP*, 3x All-NBA First Team, Conference Finals loss

Led league in scoring three times


8a. Wilt Chamberlain - C - PHW/SFW - 1961-64

8b. Wilt Chamberlain - C - PHI - 1966-69

8c. Hakeem Olajuwon - C - HOU - 1993-96


9. Julius Erving - SF - NYN - 1973-76

28.2 Pts, 10.9 Reb, 5.2 Ast, 2.3 Stl, 2.1 Blk, .508 FG%, .343 3P%, .789 FT%

3x MVP, 2x Finals MVP, 3x All-ABA First Team, Second Round loss

Led league in scoring twice


9a. LeBron James - PF/SF - MIA/CLE - 2012-15


10. Kobe Bryant - SG - LAL - 2007-10

27.4 Pts, 5.6 Reb, 5.1 Ast, 1.6 Stl, 0.4 Blk, .461 FG%, .349 3P%, .836 FT%

2x Finals MVP, MVP, 3x All-NBA First Team, 3x All-Defensive First Team, 3x top 3 in MVP voting, Finals loss

Led league in total points once


11. Bill Russell - C - BOS - 1962-65

15.3 Pts, 24.1 Reb, 4.8 Ast, .434 FG%, .559 FT%

3x Finals MVP*, 2x MVP, 2x All-NBA First Team, All-NBA Second Team, #3 in MVP voting once

Led league in rebounding twice, minutes once


12. Giannis Antetokounmpo - PF - MIL - 2018-21

28.5 Pts, 12.4 Reb, 5.8 Ast, 1.1 Stl, 1.3 Blk, .567 FG%, .290 3P%, .684 FT%

2x MVP, Finals MVP, 3x All-NBA First Team, 3x All-Defensive First Team, Defensive POY, #4 in MVP voting once, Conference Finals loss, Second Round loss


12a. LeBron James - SF - CLE/MIA - 2009-12

12b. Shaquille O'Neal - C - LAL - 1997-00

12c. Bill Russell - C - BOS - 1963-66


13. Larry Bird - SF/PF - BOS - 1983-86

26.2 Pts, 10.1 Reb, 6.7 Ast, 1.8 Stl, 0.9 Blk, .504 FG%, .392 3P%, .889 FT%

3x MVP, 2x Finals MVP, 3x All-NBA First Team, All-Defensive Second Team, Finals loss

Led league in free throw percentage twice, MPG once, triple-doubles once, 3PM once


13a. Michael Jordan - SG - CHI - 1991-95

13b. Magic Johnson - PG - LAL - 1983-86

13c. George Mikan - C - MNL - 1949-52

13d. Wilt Chamberlain - C - PHW - 1959-62

13e. Bill Russell - C - BOS - 1961-63

13f. Wilt Chamberlain - C - SFW/PHI - 1963-66


14. Tim Duncan - PF/C - SAS - 2002-05

22.1 Pts, 12.2 Reb, 3.3 Ast, 0.8 Stl, 2.8 Blk, .504 FG%, .256 3P%, .660 FT%

2x Finals MVP, MVP, 3x All-NBA First Team, 3x All-Defensive First Team, 3x top 4 in MVP voting, Second Round loss


14a. Wilt Chamberlain - C - SFW/PHI - 1962-65

14b. Bill Russell - C - BOS - 1961-64

14c. Magic Johnson - PG - LAL - 1982-85

14d. George Mikan - C - MNL - 1951-54

14e. Michael Jordan - SG - CHI - 1992-96

14f. LeBron James - SF/PF - CLE/LAL - 2016-19

14g. Stephen Curry - PG - GSW - 2015-18

14h. Bill Russell - C - BOS - 1959-62

14i. Magic Johnson - PG - LAL - 1987-90

14j. LeBron James - SF - CLE/MIA - 2008-11


15. Bob Cousy - PG - BOS - 1956-59

19.5 Pts, 5.1 Reb, 7.7 Ast, .372 FG%, .840 FT%

2x Finals MVP*, MVP, 3x All-NBA First Team, Finals loss, #4 in MVP voting once

Led league in assists three times, triple-doubles once


15a. Wilt Chamberlain - C - PHW/SFW - 1960-63

15b. Michael Jordan - SG - CHI - 1987-90

15c. Julius Erving - SF - NYN/PHI - 1974-77

15d. Bob Cousy - PG - BOS - 1958-61

15e. Kobe Bryant - SG - LAL - 2008-11

15f. Larry Bird - SF - BOS - 1984-87

15g. LeBron James - SF - CLE - 2007-10


16. Kevin Durant - SF/PF - OKC/GSW - 2015-18

26.6 Pts, 7.8 Reb, 5.1 Ast, 0.9 Stl, 1.5 Blk, .518 FG%, .395 3P%, .888 FT%

2x Finals MVP, All-NBA First Team, 2x All-NBA Second Team, #5 in MVP voting once, Conference Finals loss


16a. Tim Duncan - PF - SAS - 2000-03

16b. Bill Russell - C - BOS - 1958-61

16c. Stephen Curry - PG - GSW - 2013-16

16d. Tim Duncan - C - SAS - 2004-07

16e. Michael Jordan - SG - CHI - 1994-97


17. Steve Nash - PG - PHX - 2004-07

17.7 Pts, 3.7 Reb, 11.2 Ast, 0.8 Stl, 0.1 Blk, .516 FG%, .443 3P%, .903 FT%

2x MVP, 3x All-NBA First Team, MVP runner-up, 2x Conference Finals loss, Second Round loss

Led league in assists three times, free throw percentage once


17a. Stephen Curry - PG - GSW - 2016-19

17b. Kevin Durant - SF - GSW - 2016-19


18. Russell Westbrook - PG - OKC - 2015-18

26.8 Pts, 9.5 Reb, 10.3 Ast, 1.8 Stl, 0.3 Blk, .441 FG%, .318 3P%, .804 FT%

MVP, 2x All-NBA First Team, All-NBA Second Team, 3x top 5 in MVP voting, Conference Finals loss, 2x First Round loss

Led league in scoring once, assists once, triple-doubles three times


18a. LeBron James - SF - CLE - 2006-09


19. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar - C - MIL - 1969-72

31.8 Pts, 15.7 Reb, 4.0 Ast, .557 FG%, .677 FT%

2x MVP, Finals MVP, Rookie of the Year, 2x All-NBA First Team, 2x All-Defensive Second Team, All-NBA Second Team, #3 in MVP voting, 2x Conference Finals loss

Led league in scoring twice, total points three times


20. Elgin Baylor - PF - LAL - 1960-63

36.1 Pts, 17.3 Reb, 4.9 Ast, .438 FG%, .794 FT%

3x All-NBA First Team, 3x Top 4 in MVP voting, 2x Finals loss, Conference Finals loss


20a. Julius Erving - SF - NYN/PHI - 1975-78

20b. Larry Bird - SF - BOS - 1985-88


21. James Harden - PG/SG - HOU - 2016-19

31.9 Pts, 6.8 Reb, 9.2 Ast, 1.8 Stl, 0.6 Blk, .443 FG%, .361 3P%, .861 FT%

MVP, 3x All-NBA First Team, 2x MVP runner-up, Conference Finals loss, 2x Second Round loss

Led league in scoring twice, assists once, 3PM twice


21a. Shaquille O'Neal - C - LAL - 2001-04

21b. Kobe Bryant - SG - LAL - 2006-09

21c. George Mikan - C - MNL - 1950-53

21d. Bob Cousy - PG - BOS - 1957-60

21e. Michael Jordan - SG/SF - CHI/WAS - 1996-02

21f. Magic Johnson - PG - LAL - 1988-91

21g. Magic Johnson - PG - LAL - 1981-84

21h. Bill Russell - C - BOS - 1964-67

21i. Tim Duncan - PF/C - SAS - 2001-04


22. Moses Malone - C - HOU/PHI - 1980-83

27.8 Pts, 14.9 Reb, 1.6 Ast, 1.0 Stl, 1.8 Blk, .515 FG%, .760 FT%

2x MVP, Finals MVP, 2x All-NBA First Team, All-NBA Second Team, All-Defensive First Team, Finals loss, First Round loss, #4 in MVP voting once

Led league in rebounding three times, MPG once


22a. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar - C - LAL - 1979-82

22b. Hakeem Olajuwon - C - HOU - 1994-97

22c. James Harden - PG/SG - HOU - 2017-20


23. Jerry West - SG/PG - LAL - 1967-70

28.1 Pts, 4.8 Reb, 6.9 Ast, .493 FG%, .820 FT%

Finals MVP, All-NBA First Team, 2x All-NBA Second Team, All-Defensive First Team, All-Defensive Second Team, 3x Finals loss, MVP runner-up

Led league in scoring once


23a. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar - C - LAL - 1978-81

23b. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar - C - MIL - 1970-73

23c. Russell Westbrook - PG - OKC - 2014-17

23d. LeBron James - PG/SF - LAL - 2018-21

23e. Julius Erving - SF - NYN - 1971-74

23f. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar - C - LAL - 1977-80


24. Oscar Robertson - PG - CIN - 1962-65

30.0 Pts, 9.8 Reb, 10.6 Ast, .493 FG%, .835 FT%

MVP, 3x All-NBA First Team, 3x Top 3 in MVP voting, 2x Conference Finals loss, Second Round loss

Led league in assists twice, free throw shooting once, MPG once, triple-doubles three times


24a. Hakeem Olajuwon - C - HOU - 1991-94

24b. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar - C - MIL - 1971-74


25. Dwyane Wade - SG - MIA - 2004-07

26.1 Pts, 5.3 Reb, 6.9 Ast, 1.8 Stl, 1.0 Blk, .488 FG%, .235 3P%, .782 FT%

Finals MVP, 2x All-NBA Second Team, All-NBA Third Team, All-Defensive Second Team, Conference Finals loss, First Round loss


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