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People will seemingly go to incredible lengths to discount the success of others. What it typically boils down to is how older people glorify their own eras. In the debate about records, there is always a different set of rules when it comes to breaking them.
It is generally accepted that baseball’s home-run ‘king,’ Barry Bonds, took steroids as he passed Hank Aaron. Over a decade, Hall of Famer voters have overwhelmingly shunned Bonds, which is as big of a (non-criminal) indictment as possible.
Records aren’t meant to stand forever as sports modify their rules, this while athletes continue to improve their conditioning,
These two recent basketball scoring record pursuits have certainly come with some chatter.
NBA Scoring Record
LeBron James passed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, which thus immediately accelerated the GOAT (Greatest Of All Time) debate among fans of the NBA. Recognize how remarkable it is that James, over two decades, averaged 27.2 points across 1,413 games (total of 38,450).
That’s now the standard. It will be very difficult to pass without some tinkering of the rules. Longevity, and being in peak physical shape also helped, though James has been slowed some by injuries over the past few seasons. Of course, rules that resulted in more offense (start with no hand-checking) haven’t hurt James.
Supporters of Michael Jordan were quick to discount James because of the 3-point shot, while Abdul-Jabbar and his lethal sky hook dominated in and around the post. MJ’s disciples argue that Jordan would have easily broken the record if (there’s that qualifier) he didn’t pursue a professional baseball career with the Birmingham Barons, and if (there it is again) he didn’t retire at age 35 (before a comeback at 37).
Jordan averaged 22.9 and 20 points at ages 38 and 39, but ended with 32,292 points. Thus, he would’ve needed 2,000 points in each of those three AWOL seasons. Perhaps he reaches 40,000 points if he didn’t have those seasons away,
As with Bonds, there’s no way to know (though no one would ever suggest any of Jordan’s numbers were tainted). However, maybe there’s an injury, leading to an earlier-than-planned retirement. Give James his props in what was so difficult to accomplish.
By the way, the Los Angeles Lakers are currently 28-1 (+2800) to win the title, according to NBA championship odds.
College Scoring Record
Who would have thought that a scoring debate would occur twice in the same season, in the same sport? Now, it’s some college basketball fans who are/were outraged.
Detroit Mercy senior Antoine Davis is the closest to top ’Pistol’ Pete Maravich’s record of 3,667 career points. Maravich and his phenomenal total were set over three seasons (83 games) at LSU (1967-1970).
There wasn’t a 3-point line those days, so that cost the Pistol countless points. Also, no freshman eligibility in that era, so there’s another incalculable amount of denied scoring,
Pistol was a No. 1 over selection by the Atlanta Hawks, whose 2022-23 version are 80-1 (+8000) to win the East, as per NBA conference odds.
Arguments against Davis (he missed a 3-pointer in the Horizon League Conference Tournament that would’ve matched Maravich’s record) start with him being a fifth-year senior. So, a total of 144 games with the 3-point line (37.5% shooter behind-the-arc shooter).
However, Davis also played during the pandemic, which shortened one season by at least eight games. Is there an argument against getting extra time because of a once-in-a- generation deadly virus?
Maravich and Davis both played on teams that did not win, at least consistently, so they took an inordinate number of shots. Mercy was 14-19 this past season.
(Detroit Mercy is considering, if invited, playing in the CBI [College Basketball Invitational] tournament at a cost to the school of $27,500, If it does, then it’s a foregone conclusion Davis sets the record.
Cue another set of squabbles.
Regardless, it’s just time to appreciate the sheer number of points.
- Tony Caliente, Gambling911.com
