Andrew wrote:The advanced stats were there on the team all-time leaders page on basketball reference, so I figured hey, why not.
Interesting question. With his Miami numbers, LeBron would rank in the Lakers' top ten in three pointers made (ninth), field goal percentage
(sixth), minutes per game (fourth), points per game (first), assists per game (tied fourth with Jerry West) and steals per game (fourth). If you wanted to count the advanced stats as well, he's top ten in nine additional categories; otherwise, it's six categories total. So quite similar to Wilt Chamberlain's tenure with the Lakers, when it's all said and done.
Assuming he still had the same personal accolades, four straight Finals trips, and two championships in this hypothetical tenure with the Lakers...maybe they would retire his jersey. It's possible, probably likely, as it'd be comparable to Wilt's tenure there. As you noted though, the Lakers have been around longer and had many great players play for them over the years, so it's also quite possible that they'd be more selective.
Still, given the historical precedent set with the retirement of Wilt's #13, I could see the Lakers retiring LeBron's #6 if he'd played for them and accomplished what he has in Miami in four seasons. I think they'd also like the fact that they could add another all-time great to the honour roll, so to speak; point to the rafters and say, look at all the greats who played here, and rattle off LeBron's name while pointing to all the jerseys. I think there's a good chance they'd do it.
Best of luck to him
