King James Gospel
Fansided

LeBron James Sets Career-Highs

By Quenton S. Albertie

Apr 5, 2017; Boston, MA, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) passes against the Boston Celtics in the first quarter at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 5, 2017; Boston, MA, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) passes against the Boston Celtics in the first quarter at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 19, 2017; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) makes pass during the first half against the Phoenix Suns at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 19, 2017; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) makes pass during the first half against the Phoenix Suns at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /

Assists Per Game

The NBA’s best passing forward (in history) managed to set a career-high in assists this season. This was no doubt due to the offensive scheme the Cleveland Cavaliers run, which largely relies on drive-and-kicks out to shooters.

To that point, having nine teammates who shot at least 35.0 percent from three-point range didn’t hurt James’ assist numbers either. However, as much as the scheme and personnel helped James, there aren’t many players that you can put in the point-forward role in the same way that you do with James. Sure, players like Draymond Green and Giannis Antetokounmpo excel at racing down the court in transition and finding the open man. Green’s ability to find shooters spotted-up at the three-point line is what helps the Golden State Warriors offense thrive.

However, where James differs from these two is in his ability to easily make deft touch passes with precision and velocity as well as his ability to improvise mid-play and get the ball to shooters in ways that maybe no other player can. James’ passing ability is magical, so it’s no wonder he’s often considered the best passer in the league (at his size) since Magic Johnson.

His high basketball IQ and knowledge of opposing defenses also aids him as well.

James doled out 8.7 assists per game this season, 646 dimes in total. James’ previous career-high was 8.6 assists per game, set in the 2009-2010. However, having played in two more games that season (25-year-old LeBron didn’t need rest), James actually finished with more total assists (651). That number remains his career high in total assists.

James did finish with 1,641 points generated by assists this season though. His next best total was 1,496, from the 2009-2010 season. That should settle whatever debate there may be about if this was James’ best passing season to date.

There’s poetry in James, who is probably known for his passing ability more than any other skill, initially setting his career-high in the assist category in the season before he left the Cleveland Cavaliers to chase rings and then setting a new career-high in assists in the season after he brought the Cleveland Cavaliers their first NBA Finals win franchise history.