- Richard Jefferson says he’s only mean to former Cavs teammates after destroying Tristan Thompson on ESPN
- Donovan Mitchell says he should’ve made All-NBA First Team: ‘I don’t know what the standard is’
- Brian Windhorst thinks Cavs and Suns will be targeting a lot of the same free agents next couple years
- Report: Cavs to host Magic for preseason game in October
- Donovan Mitchell unfollows Ja Morant on Twitter amid Grizzlies guard’s troubling antics
- Cavs guard Ricky Rubio considering return to Europe in future
- Channing Frye recalls similar play to Derrick White’s game-winner vs. Miami Heat that ‘hurt’
- Former Cavs big man publicly rips United Airlines for mishandling his luggage again
- Report: Cavs intend to bring back Cedi Osman and Lamar Stevens
- Former Cavs player believes Gabe Vincent’s absence could tip Boston Celtics-Miami Heat series
These Stats Show LeBron Has Been More Clutch Than Kobe Since 2004
- Updated: May 9, 2017
Trying to determine the difference when it comes to clutch ability can often be difficult, though statistics can often provide clear evidence to make the case for one player over another. When it comes to the difference between Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James and former Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant, some key numbers give James the edge in this area.
The numbers below come from Michael Gallagher — with TS% representing career true shooting percentage and USG% representing usage rate — which narrows the focus to the final five minutes of a game in which the margin is five points or less.
Here are Kobe's clutch (last 5 mins, game within 5 points) TS% & usage rates per season. Not impressive on efficiency, CRAZY usage. pic.twitter.com/GUYnR8DDaV
— Michael Gallagher (@MikeSGallagher) May 7, 2017
Here are LeBron's clutch (last 5 mins, game within 5 points) TS% & usage rates per year (smaller sample on postseason). LeBron is amazing. pic.twitter.com/8IAKDYSdtH
— Michael Gallagher (@MikeSGallagher) May 9, 2017
While Bryant does lead James when it comes to NBA titles, that margin is just two (at five to three) and could drop to one if the Cavaliers are able to repeat as NBA champions this year. Plus, Bryant has no more opportunities to increase that number, while James is still in his prime after 14 seasons of professional basketball and could be playing in his seventh consecutive finals if the Cavs win their next series.
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