1. Welcome! Please take a few seconds to create your free account to post threads, make some friends, remove a few ads while surfing and much more. ClutchFans has been bringing fans together to talk Houston Sports since 1996. Join us!

  2. Live Rockets Discussion
    Jalen Green looks like a legit star, Amen Thompson is shining and the Rockets have found something without Alperen Sengun. Clutch is talking about the 10-game winning streak at 11:00am as we talk Rockets live!

    Talking Rockets - LIVE!

Harden, Westbrook among all-time points per minute leaders

Discussion in 'Houston Rockets: Game Action & Roster Moves' started by topfive, Feb 18, 2020.

  1. topfive

    topfive CF OG

    Joined:
    Jun 12, 2002
    Messages:
    18,933
    Likes Received:
    37,162
    I was curious about how Harden stacks up among the offensive giants in NBA history, so I did a little stat research to see which players scored the most points per minutes played. Since I didn't have time to do every player in history, I focused only on the top 50 overall scorers in league history. This leaves out guys who were great scorers, then left the game prematurely due to injuries (Michael Redd at .595 ppm) or death (Dražen Petrović at .581 ppm).

    For a fuller accounting of offensive impact, you'd need to factor in at least assists and preferably points created off assists, a stat that I doubt was kept until a decade or two ago.

    Anyway, when it comes strictly to points scored per minutes of playing time, here are the results, in order (former or current Rockets bolded):

    Michael Jordan -- .787
    George Gervin -- .780
    Kevin Durant -- .733
    James Harden -- .730
    LeBron James -- .704
    Dominique Wilkins -- .700

    Jerry West -- .689
    Shaquille O'Neal -- .686
    Elgin Baylor -- .683
    Bob Pettit -- .680
    Adrian Dantley -- .679
    Karl Malone -- .673
    Alex English -- .673
    Kobe Bryant -- .673
    Russell Westbrook -- .670
    Kareem Abdul-Jabbar -- .668
    Carmelo Anthony -- .663
    Wilt Chamberlain -- .656
    Dan Issel -- .656

    Allen Iverson -- .648
    Dwyane Wade -- .648
    Julius Erving -- .641
    Rick Barry -- .638
    Larry Bird -- .633
    Dirk Nowitzki -- .626
    Vince Carter -- .617
    Patrick Ewing -- .611
    Hakeem Olajuwon -- .609
    Oscar Robertson -- .609
    Moses Malone -- .608
    David Robinson -- .607
    Paul Pierce -- .604
    Charles Barkley -- .604

    Mitch Richmond -- .597
    Tom Chambers -- .591
    Clyde Drexler -- .591
    John Havlicek -- .568
    Tim Duncan -- .559
    Elvin Hayes -- .546
    Hal Greer -- .543
    Walt Bellamy -- .538
    Antawn Jamison -- .532
    Reggie Miller -- .531
    Artis Gilmore -- .529
    Ray Allen -- .529
    Kevin Garnett -- .517
    Robert Parish -- .511
    Pau Gasol -- .510

    Gary Payton -- .463
    Joe Johnson -- .461
     
  2. don grahamleone

    don grahamleone Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Aug 11, 2001
    Messages:
    23,313
    Likes Received:
    33,291
    How are we supposed to discuss this? Brilliant work. I'm not sure how to respond without calling on my inner @fchowd0311 or @DaDakota. Frankly I'm just in awe and I'm ready for the rest of the season plus playoffs. It sure does feel like this is our year.
     
    D-rock, vlaurelio and hakeem94 like this.
  3. jordnnnn

    jordnnnn Member

    Joined:
    Jan 31, 2010
    Messages:
    10,865
    Likes Received:
    11,795
    Cool thread idea.

    Harden with an even more impressive .796 points per minute while in Houston.
     
  4. topfive

    topfive CF OG

    Joined:
    Jun 12, 2002
    Messages:
    18,933
    Likes Received:
    37,162
    I don't know either. All I do know is that every time Morey says that James is among the greatest offensive players in NBA history, people scoff at him. Points per minute kind of defines scoring, so this shows that he definitively belongs in the discussion.
     
    D-rock and don grahamleone like this.
  5. don grahamleone

    don grahamleone Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Aug 11, 2001
    Messages:
    23,313
    Likes Received:
    33,291
    [career]
    MJ FGApg 22.9
    Harden FGApg 16.7

    [career high]
    (MJ with a high of 27.8 and Harden with a high of 24.5)(Kobe 27.2)(39.5 for Wilt)

    Anyway.. suck it to all those that think MJ wasn't a ballhog when compared to Harden. When you're good.. take a lot of shots. That's your best chance at winning.
     
    D-rock, hakeem94 and vlaurelio like this.

Share This Page

  • About ClutchFans

    Since 1996, ClutchFans has been loud and proud covering the Houston Rockets, helping set an industry standard for team fan sites. The forums have been a home for Houston sports fans as well as basketball fanatics around the globe.

  • Support ClutchFans!

    If you find that ClutchFans is a valuable resource for you, please consider becoming a Supporting Member. Supporting Members can upload photos and attachments directly to their posts, customize their user title and more. Gold Supporters see zero ads!


    Upgrade Now