Ranking LeBron James' 2012-13 with His Best Career Regular Seasons

Miami Heat's LeBron James
USA TODAY Sports

The previous five seasons of LeBron James' NBA career have been his best to date.

Since 2007-08, James has led the NBA in player efficiency rating every year.

He was named All-NBA First Team five times during this stretch while also winning three MVPs and a scoring title.  

Last season, James eventually led his Miami Heat team to an NBA championship. When considering that postseason success, the totality of his 2011-12 campaign was James' best yet.

But from a regular-season statistical standpoint, LeBron may not have ever had a season better than the one he is putting together right now.

In an effort to put LeBron's 2012-13 performance in its proper context, and since he obviously hasn't played in the 2013 playoffs yet, this ranking compares each of his best regular seasons to date.

6. LeBron's First Season with Miami Heat

2010-11, LeBron James' first season with Miami Heat.
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2010-11

LeBron James led the NBA in terms of efficiency with a PER of 27.34 during the 2010-11 season.

That number was good for a 1.21 margin over Dwight Howard, who finished second. It was also the lowest number James ever posted to lead the NBA in that category.

James also finished second in scoring with 26.7 points, 12th in assists with seven and 32nd in rebounding at 7.5 per night.

The 51.0 percent he shot from the field was a career high at that point, and the Miami Heat won 70.7 percent of their regular-season games.

5. James Wins NBA Scoring Title

LeBron James, 2007-08 season with Cleveland Cavaliers.
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2007-08

LeBron James won his only scoring title to date during the 2007-08 season.

He averaged 30.0 points per game for the year while also leading the league with a PER of 29.15.

That "PER title" was James' slightest margin of victory for any year he topped the league in efficiency. He finished 0.76 points ahead of the runner-up Chris Paul.

The 48.4 percent he shot from the field was a career high, but James would go on to improve that number in the years to follow.

He also ranked eighth in assists that season and 27th in rebounds.

The Cleveland Cavaliers won 54.9 percent of their regular-season games as a result of all that. 

4. LeBron Wins MVP for First Time

LeBron James, 2008-09 season with Cleveland Cavaliers.
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2008-09

LeBron James won his first MVP award during the 2008-09 season.

It was much deserved.

He led the NBA in PER for a second straight season at 31.76. He also finished second in scoring with an average of 28.4 points per night.

In 81 games, James shot 48.9 percent from the field to post a new career high.

He also ranked ninth in assists and 26th in rebounds on the year, while his Cavaliers won 80.5 percent of their games.

3. James Wins Back-to-Back MVPs

LeBron James, 2009-10 season with Cleveland Cavaliers.
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2009-10

LeBron James won the MVP for a second straight time during the 2009-10 season.

His league-leading PER of 31.19 was a staggering 3.09 points better than anyone else in the NBA that season. 

He finished second in scoring at 29.7 points while dishing out the sixth-most assists at 8.6 per night.

LeBron also collected 7.3 rebounds per contest, good for 32nd in rebounding overall.

During his last season with the Cavaliers, James also shot 50.3 percent from the field. Cleveland won 74.4 percent of its games in the process. 

2. James Goes Wire to Wire as League MVP

LeBron James, 2011-12 season with Miami Heat.
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2011-12

The 2011-12 campaign was James' best full season to date.

He won the MVP award for a third time.

His PER at 30.80 was again a league best. This time, however, it was an astounding 3.71 points better than Chris Paul, the NBA's next most efficient player after James. 

He finished third in scoring at 27.1 points per game, 13th in assists at 6.2 and 25th in rebounding at 7.9. 

James shot 53.1 percent from the field, which was, again, a new career high. He also shot a career-high 36.2 percent from three.

The Miami Heat won 69.7 percent of their regular-season games on the strength of all that.

1. LeBron Keeps Getting Better

Miami Heat's LeBron James, 2012-13 season.
Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

2012-13

For as good as LeBron has been throughout his career, this season he's even better.

James again leads the NBA with a PER of 30.26. He's also fourth in scoring at 26.5 points, 10th in assists and 23rd in rebounding. 

What's most impressive, however, is the way James is shooting from the floor.

Everywhere on the floor.

He's shooting a career-high 54.5 percent overall along with a career-best 41.1 percent from three-point range.

According to HoopData.com, through 30 games this season, James is also converting 76.2 percent of his attempts at the rim and 58.7 percent from three to nine feet out.

Those two numbers are his best percentages since in the last six seasons.

LeBron's 8.3 rebounds per game are also a career high, while his 2.8 turnovers per night represent a career-low number as well.

If he keeps on this pace, there is no question that 2012-13 will be James' best regular season ever.