LeBron had an insane run as measured by these metrics starting with his sophomore season in 2004-05 and ending in his age 39 season in 2023-24.

His xRAPM in 2005 was 4.6 good for 11th in the league and in 2024 it was 5.1 good for 8th in the league.

His EPM in 05 was +4.3 again 11th and in 2024 it was +4.5 10th in the NBA.

In none of the intervening seasons did he drop out of the top 15.

Interestingly, he has seen a sharp decline in both metrics the last two years.

His xRAPM fell to .7 (82nd percentile) outside the top 100 in 25 and all the way to .5 (73rd percentile) in 26.

His EPM fell to +2.1 (56th in NBA) in 25 and to +1.5 (87th in NBA) in 2026.

fckingclownshoes

21 | 5 hours ago

Because it’s LeBron and casuals like to hate. There’s a contingency of people out there who subscribed to the NBA industrial complex. They wear jerseys and complain but don’t actually watch games or understand the game. They also have revisionist history, where the good ol days were perfect. Not recognizing that the modern day talent is sensational. The players today are insanely good. It’s hard for people to accept because of the rule changes over the years. You play the rules for your era. I’m 50 years old and love the game today in the same way I loved it 40 years ago.

Soph_91

12 | 5 hours ago

Why was this downvoted?

WhoreyMatthews [OP] | Spurs

21 | 5 hours ago

I imagine LeBron haters don’t like it because it’s recognizing how amazing it is to be top 15 at worst for 20 years.

LeBron stans don’t like it because it points out that these metrics which loved him for 20 years say he’s not really that good anymore.

Soph_91

4 | 4 hours ago

Do they have these stats for specifically the playoffs series against the Rockets?

WhoreyMatthews [OP] | Spurs

3 | 4 hours ago

Just EPM.

His EPM in each game was

+4.6

+1.8

-.5

-4.7

-.5

Joh951518 | Warriors

1 | 4 hours ago

So like 1 great game, 2 good games, 2 average games and 1 pretty bad one?

ArgoMium

5 | 4 hours ago

No.

Advanced metrics like these get really really foggy once you get to smaller sample sizes. Even taking sample sizes like 1 season is already a bit iffy (especially for RAPM, that stat needs 3 seasons worth of data)

Taking “good, bad or average” as a conclusion for single game EPM is terrible. Single game EPM doesn’t mean shit for this small sample.

Joh951518 | Warriors

1 | 4 hours ago

Taking anything as anything doesn’t mean shit for a small sample 🤷‍♂️ it’s hard to quantify LeBrons ability to play well for important parts of games here and there.

Joh951518 | Warriors

7 | 4 hours ago

He’s not able to play at consistent high level but can still turn it on.

He’s certainly going to outperform his contract this year.

EmphasisOk8298

3 | 4 hours ago

Now do Jaylen Brown

lamemale | Knicks

0 | 4 hours ago

I don’t pretend to understand what goes into EPM but why do we trust a stat that still says Boston is by far the best team in the east even after the playoffs? Isn’t it supposed to be predictive?

AgadorFartacus | Celtics

5 | 4 hours ago

Because no stat is going to infallibly predict playoff outcomes.

lamemale | Knicks

-1 | 3 hours ago

But it is supposedly current through the playoffs

AgadorFartacus | Celtics

3 | 3 hours ago

If you want a stat that perfectly reflects win-loss outcomes retroactively, I suggest W/L.

lamemale | Knicks

1 | an hour ago

You’re missing the point that EPM is not actually that predictive

AgadorFartacus | Celtics

1 | an hour ago

I understand the point. I’m saying the argument sucks.

SevenTwoSix9

-4 | 4 hours ago

Then why is he playing for vet min.?

fckingclownshoes

3 | 4 hours ago

I’ll take a crack at it. One way I look at it as someone who still plays sports at an old age. At the highest levels, when you love your sport but you know you’re near the end, wouldn’t you want to play at the highest levels. Where it matters most? So when you finally hang it up, that feeling of playing for something. It’s hard to wake up to play for “fun”. It has to be competitive and high stakes. That’s what makes it fun. Thats why when people say he’s ring chasing, it’s like duuuh. What should he do go play for the hornets? You have two years left, you want to play for a team tanking or a team that can win a championship? Would someone say that in prize fighting? The old guy is belt chasing? Like yes, take every opportunity to win a championship because at the highest levels that what it’s about. Jordan stans act like he wanted to lose on the wizards. I’m sure he would have loved to be competing for a championship those years. I’m sure many athletes would love to play until the wheels come off. Many can’t because of injury or something else. That’s why dudes go in and out of retirement in all kinds of sports. Because they still have the thirst for that feeling. Bron is playing this till the wheels come off. It’s remarkable really. And unfortunately unappreciated. I’d love to see Serena Williams win something at her age. Same goes for Tiger and everyone else that’s still doing it at a high level. Tom Brady hung around long enough to become the underdog. We should all aspire to do the things we love for as long as we can. At the highest level we can.

Mike_with_Wings | Magic

2 | 4 hours ago

Be more obtuse

rocket_beer | Celtics

-4 | 4 hours ago

zzzzzzZZZZZ

(snorts) huh? Oh, another unimportant post? k back to sleep until the season starts 🤙

Mike_with_Wings | Magic

4 | 4 hours ago

This is unbelievably cringe for you to write out

rocket_beer | Celtics

-2 | 4 hours ago

Let the LeBron glazing continue (goes back to sleep with hand wave)

[deleted]

-5 | 5 hours ago

[deleted]

calmrain | Lakers

2 | 4 hours ago

You somehow managed to leave a comment even more pointless. Impressive tbh, I can’t even be mad tbh

LeBron finished in the top 15 for xRAPM and EPM for 20 straight seasons.