All-Time Scoring Record About to Fall

[Donoghus]

I am guessing Malone, pippen, Reggie miller, Marc Jackson and Kevin Willis (Willis I am pretty certain if he played forever and then a stint of like 10 games when he in his mid 40’s).

You got three.   Miller, Jackson, & Willis.  Well done.

[#1P4P]

I am guessing Malone, pippen, Reggie miller, Marc Jackson and Kevin Willis (Willis I am pretty certain if he played forever and then a stint of like 10 games when he in his mid 40’s).

You got three.   Miller, Jackson, & Willis.  Well done.

Gary Payton?

[Who]

Charles Oakley or Horace Grant?

[Donoghus]

I am guessing Malone, pippen, Reggie miller, Marc Jackson and Kevin Willis (Willis I am pretty certain if he played forever and then a stint of like 10 games when he in his mid 40’s).

You got three.   Miller, Jackson, & Willis.  Well done.

Gary Payton?

Nope.  Kareem was already retired. 

[mqtcelticsfan]

Oh man, I found the deepest of cuts for this, but I cheated a bit and looked at the draft classes in the 80s for inspiration, so I’ll hold off on saying it.

[Donoghus]

Charles Oakley or Horace Grant?

Yes to Grant.

[Donoghus]

So far we got Miller, Willis, Jackson, & Grant.

[celticsclay]

Charles Oakley or Horace Grant?

Yes to Grant.

I just realized another player but I already submitted my guesses so will let others try to close it out. Fun trivia here!

Grant didn’t cross my mind. Nice one.

[rocknrollforyoursoul]

In thinking about LeBron breaking the record, I've arrived at the conclusion that scoring so many points was much more difficult for Malone and Kareem, because a) the game was much more physical back then, and b) neither of those guys was ever the league's "golden boy," so they weren't given as much preferential treatment from officials.

And yes, I'm a bit salty about LeBron getting the record. I pretty much can't stand him.

It’s tempting to think it’s just easier to score now, much like how recent all the 3PM records are or passing records in the NFL, but there’s gotta be a reason that only 2 guys have come within spitting distance of the top 3 in the past 20 years other than LeBron.

Sure, it has to do with longevity as a top player. It's really hard to a) play roughly 20 years, b) stay healthy for most of those 20 years, and c) stay a top player for those 20 years.

And between the 3pt shot and the rules changes that have made it easier on offenses (such as no hand-checking), it's definitely easier to score these days than it was during Kareem's or even Karl Malone's or Jordan's careers.

[celticsclay]

In thinking about LeBron breaking the record, I've arrived at the conclusion that scoring so many points was much more difficult for Malone and Kareem, because a) the game was much more physical back then, and b) neither of those guys was ever the league's "golden boy," so they weren't given as much preferential treatment from officials.

And yes, I'm a bit salty about LeBron getting the record. I pretty much can't stand him.

It’s tempting to think it’s just easier to score now, much like how recent all the 3PM records are or passing records in the NFL, but there’s gotta be a reason that only 2 guys have come within spitting distance of the top 3 in the past 20 years other than LeBron.

Sure, it has to do with longevity as a top player. It's really hard to a) play roughly 20 years, b) stay healthy for most of those 20 years, and c) stay a top player for those 20 years.

And between the 3pt shot and the rules changes that have made it easier on offenses (such as no hand-checking), it's definitely easier to score these days than it was during Kareem's or even Karl Malone's or Jordan's careers.

Yeah the league seems to have no interest in changing rules to stop the 270 point games. I wouldn’t be surprised if players are averaging like 37 a game in a year or two with the way the game is played now. I could even see Tatum doing this.

[Moranis]

In thinking about LeBron breaking the record, I've arrived at the conclusion that scoring so many points was much more difficult for Malone and Kareem, because a) the game was much more physical back then, and b) neither of those guys was ever the league's "golden boy," so they weren't given as much preferential treatment from officials.

And yes, I'm a bit salty about LeBron getting the record. I pretty much can't stand him.

It’s tempting to think it’s just easier to score now, much like how recent all the 3PM records are or passing records in the NFL, but there’s gotta be a reason that only 2 guys have come within spitting distance of the top 3 in the past 20 years other than LeBron.

Sure, it has to do with longevity as a top player. It's really hard to a) play roughly 20 years, b) stay healthy for most of those 20 years, and c) stay a top player for those 20 years.

And between the 3pt shot and the rules changes that have made it easier on offenses (such as no hand-checking), it's definitely easier to score these days than it was during Kareem's or even Karl Malone's or Jordan's careers.

Except more points were scored when Kareem played than today.  I went through that already once in this thread.  Malone played in the very depressed scoring of the 90's (though that is one of the 2 weakest decades in the sport's history - the other was the 70's in Kareem's prime).

[Moranis]

LeBron has over 2,200 career 3 Pointers
Kareem had ONE

Scoring Record is about to be passed, kinda unfairly.

Lebron would have scored more points if all of his 3 pointers were turned into 2 pointers and that doesn't account for the increase in FT's he'd get by taking more 2 pointers.

[Moranis]

I am guessing Malone, pippen, Reggie miller, Marc Jackson and Kevin Willis (Willis I am pretty certain if he played forever and then a stint of like 10 games when he in his mid 40’s).

You got three.   Miller, Jackson, & Willis.  Well done.

Yeah Malone had overlap, but he missed the 2 games against the Cavs that last year with his injuries so he never actually played against Lebron.  Same with Pippen. 

Looking at a draft list, Rod Strickland played against Kareem his rookie year and then he did play one of the Cavs games Lebron's rookie year.  So he is one.

Any one else to do it either wasn't drafted or missed a year (or more) and thereby mathematically won't show up on draft lists unless you know to look.

[Roy H.]

I am guessing Malone, pippen, Reggie miller, Marc Jackson and Kevin Willis (Willis I am pretty certain if he played forever and then a stint of like 10 games when he in his mid 40’s).

You got three.   Miller, Jackson, & Willis.  Well done.

Yeah Malone had overlap, but he missed the 2 games against the Cavs that last year with his injuries so he never actually played against Lebron.  Same with Pippen. 

Looking at a draft list, Rod Strickland played against Kareem his rookie year and then he did play one of the Cavs games Lebron's rookie year.  So he is one.

Any one else to do it either wasn't drafted or missed a year (or more) and thereby mathematically won't show up on draft lists unless you know to look.

I found two more besides Strickland.  One was drafted in the lottery and then came back after an absence late in his career; one was undrafted.

[Donoghus]

I am guessing Malone, pippen, Reggie miller, Marc Jackson and Kevin Willis (Willis I am pretty certain if he played forever and then a stint of like 10 games when he in his mid 40’s).

You got three.   Miller, Jackson, & Willis.  Well done.

Yeah Malone had overlap, but he missed the 2 games against the Cavs that last year with his injuries so he never actually played against Lebron.  Same with Pippen. 

Looking at a draft list, Rod Strickland played against Kareem his rookie year and then he did play one of the Cavs games Lebron's rookie year.  So he is one.

Any one else to do it either wasn't drafted or missed a year (or more) and thereby mathematically won't show up on draft lists unless you know to look.

I found two more besides Strickland.  One was drafted in the lottery and then came back after an absence late in his career; one was undrafted.

One of them is [dang] near impossible unless you cheat.