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WITNESSing Greatness: LeBron Passes Barkley, Pippen and Kobe in Playoffs

By Omar Josef Guerrero

Apr 24, 2016; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) points down the court during the fourth quarter against the Detroit Pistons in game four of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Cavs win 100-98. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 24, 2016; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) points down the court during the fourth quarter against the Detroit Pistons in game four of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Cavs win 100-98. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports /
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LeBron James keeps doing amazing things and passing other All-Time Greats in the process.

As the Cleveland Cavaliers swept the tough and pesky Detroit Pistons in the first round of the 2016 NBA playoffs, LeBron James also dusted off some legends along the way. Charles Barkley, Scottie Pippen, and Kobe Bryant are three of the best NBA players of all time and LeBron overtook them in the first-round series alone.

And that’s just for starters!

Before we proceed with James’ career playoff totals after the Cavs-Pistons series, let’s check out his career numbers before the postseason started. This was where LeBron stood in the all-time career stats in NBA history:

  • Games: 178 (19th)
  • Points: 5,020 (6th)
  • Rebounds: 1,558 (15th)
  • Assists: 1,188 (4th)
  • Steals: 305 (6th)
  • Blocks: 159 (T-28th)
  • Field Goals Made: 1,746 (6th)
  • Free-Throws Made: 1,273 (3rd)
  • Three-Pt Field Goals Made: 255 (9th)
  • Turnovers: 625 (4th)
  • Triple-Doubles: 14 (2nd)

After the first round of the playoffs, the King’s standing in NBA playoff history looks like this:

  • Games: 182 (T-15th)
  • Points: 5,111 (6th)
  • Rebounds: 1,594 (13th)
  • Assists: 1,215 (4th)
  • Steals: 312 (5th)
  • Blocks: 162 (28th)
  • Field Goals Made: 1,784 (6th)
  • Free-Throws Made: 1,284 (3rd)
  • Three-Pt Field Goals Made: 259 (9th)
  • Turnovers: 638 (4th)
  • Triple-Doubles: 14 (2nd)

The video below from Bleacher Report will help explain some of what we need to watch out for in the next games regarding James’ career accomplishments.

If he plays enough games in the next six to nine years before he hangs up his jersey for good, he may go down in history as the only player in the top ten of every major statistical category!

He has to grab 90 rebounds throughout these playoffs to reach the top ten in the category, making him the only player in NBA history to be in the top ten in points, rebounds, and assists.

He has to grab 90 rebounds throughout these playoffs to reach the top ten in the category, making him the only player in NBA history to be in the top ten in points, rebounds, and assists. If he plays enough games and/or grabs more than his usual share of rebounds, he could get there in 10-12 games.

Meanwhile, he needs around 100 blocks in the next few years to secure the 9th or 10th spot especially since there are four others in the active list ahead of James.

Here are the players whom James passed in career playoff numbers during the Cavs-Pistons series.

  • Games – After playing four games against Detroit, James’ total (182) surpassed that of the career games played by Michael Jordan (178) and Dennis Johnson (181) while remaining tied with John Stockton (182).
  • Rebounds – In Game 3, James moved ahead of Barkley for 14th place in rebounding and tied Pippen for 13th. By the time the fourth game ended, LeBron had 11 boards and secured sole possession of the spot with a total of 1,594 rebounds.
  • Steals – James was tied with Kobe Byrant (310) in steals for 5th place after Game 2 but it wasn’t until Game 4 when the King surged past the Mamba with two steals. He now has 312 steals total.

Here are LeBron’s targets in the next round of the playoffs and beyond assuming they advance all the way to the NBA Finals.

LeBron (5,111) is close to being in the top five in career playoffs scoring. Tim Duncan (5,136) occupies the 5th spot but he’s still playing.

  • Games – In the next three games versus the Atlanta Hawks, James will break his tie with John Stockton (182) and move past Byron Scott (183) and Robert Parish (183) to take 13th place in career playoff games.
  • Points – LeBron (5,111) is close to being in the top five in career playoffs scoring. Tim Duncan (5,136) occupies the 5th spot but he’s still playing. Depending on Duncan’s and James’ performances in the next two to three games, the King will eventually supplant the Big Fundamental.
  • Rebounds – Hakeem Olajuwon (1,621) is James’ next target. With 1,594 rebounds, LeBron has to grab 27 caroms to supplant the Dream. He will likely take 12th place in two to four games.
  • Steals – James needs 27 steals to move into 4th place presently occupied by John Stockton (338). If he averages two steals a game, he would need 13-14 games to take the spot.

More from King James Gospel

  • Free Throws Made – Bryant (1,320) is up next on this list for James (1,284) who needs 37 made free throws take 2nd place. If he makes at least five freebies a game, he’ll get there in the next eight games. Jordan sits atop this category with 1,463 for his career. That’s 180 free throws made to take the top spot which is nearly impossible to achieve within these playoffs. It’s safe to say that Air Jordan’s place will remain intact until at least next year’s playoffs or maybe even the next one.
  • Three-Pt Field Goals Made – James (259) is 9th in career playoff three-pointers but is only three made three-pointers from taking 8th place from Robert Horry (261). Expect him to do so in the next two to three games. If he gets hot from downtown in the first game of Cavs vs. Hawks, he’ll move ahead of Horry immediately.

The 2016 NBA playoffs is going to be another epic run at the history books for the King as long as the Cavaliers keep playing and winning one series after another on the way to a second straight trip to the NBA Finals.

The road won’t be easy as the East has gotten better from last year. But the King will not be taken down easily, too, and the other teams better be prepared for his rampage throughout the playoffs.

LeBron James is going to be breaking records in the 2016 NBA playoffs and we’ll keep you in the loop with WITNESSing Greatness on KingJamesGospel.com.