LeBron James is arguably a top-two player of all time. When it’s all said and done, he’s going to be on the NBA’s Mount Rushmore. LeBron James has already accomplished more than some players will achieve in a 20-year career and he’s not even finished yet. The accolades speak for themselves: 16-time All-Star, three-time champion, a 15-time All-NBA member, a six-time All-Defensive Team member, Rookie of the Year, three-time Finals MVP, and four-time league MVP. The scary thing about his resume is that it just scratches the surface of how talented James really is as a future Hall of Famer. With this in mind, it only makes sense for him to be the next player we analyze in this ongoing series. Without further adieu, let’s take a look at LeBron James’ most underrated season.
LeBron James’ Most Underrated Season
LeBron James’ 2005-06 Campaign
The Cleveland Cavaliers were looking to reach the postseason in LeBron James’ third year as a pro. Luckily for them, the results paid off in a big way. After finishing with a win-loss record in James’ rookie season of 35-47 and then 42-40 the following year, the team would take a gigantic leap thanks to the Chosen One and his God-given talent. They would finally break through in a big way, finishing the regular season with a record of 50-32. Many knew the Cavaliers were going to keep improving, but few saw this big of a jump coming. Those people failed to realize that anything is possible when LeBron James has the rock in his hands.
The Cavaliers would make it to the second round of the playoffs, where they were bested by a more seasoned and veteran-savvy Detroit Pistons team. The Cavaliers had nothing to be ashamed of though, putting up a food fight in that series. LeBron James himself had proven that he was going to be the face of the league for many years to come. Keep in mind, the Cavs took this Pistons squad, starring Chauncey Billups, Rasheed Wallace, and Ben Wallace to seven games. In only his second All-Star season and first season in the playoffs, LeBron James certainly had his most underrated season and his numbers help prove this sentiment.
James’ 2005-06 Numbers
During the 2005-06 season, James recorded the highest scoring average of his career. Despite that, it would not be the year he won his sole scoring title. He averaged 31.4 points per game with an effective field goal percentage of 51.5 percent. James impressed with more than his scoring, as he also tallied 6.6 assists and 7.0 rebounds per game. In LeBron James’ most underrated season, he put on a show in the advanced statistics department as well.
Over the course of the 2005-06 campaign, King James averaged a player efficiency rating of 28.1 and a true shooting percentage of 56.8. Not to mention, he recorded a win share of 16.3, his highest until his second-last season with the Cavs in his first stint with Cleveland. As if those numbers weren’t impressive enough, he also tallied an assist percentage of 32.8 percent to couple with a box/plus-minus of 9.1. When you take a hard enough look, it’s clear that this season doesn’t get enough credit. As a result, the 2005-06 season is LeBron James’ most underrated season of his storied career.
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