2011-12 Version of Miami Heat's LeBron James Is Most Complete We've Ever Seen

So it's 10 games into the shortened 2011-12 NBA season and the Miami Heat are sitting pretty with an 8-2 overall record, which is tied for the best record in the NBA. 

The major reason for the Miami Heat's impressive start has been the play of LeBron James, who is currently averaging 29.7 points, 7.6 assists, 8.0 rebounds and 2.0 steals per game.  If that isn't impressive enough, LeBron has produced at that level while shooting 59.5 percent, which ranks fourth in the NBA.

So what does James' production and the fact that he has led the Heat to the best record in the NBA tell us about the two-time NBA MVP?  It tells us that this is the most complete version of LeBron James that we have ever seen.

When you compare LeBron's 2011-12 production through his first nine games (not including the Hawks game which he sat out) to every other year of his career, the statistics look like this (with highest production per category underlined):

2003-04:  16.2 ppg, 6.2 apg, 6.0 rpg, 41.0%  
2004-05:  24.3 ppg, 5.6 apg, 8.2 rpg, 49.0%  
2005-06:  26.6 ppg, 3.8 apg, 5.1 rpg, 49.8%
2006-07:  29.5 ppg, 6.4 apg, 7.5 rpg, 53.4%
2007-08:  28.0 ppg, 7.8 apg, 7.5 rpg, 46.1%
2008-09:  28.8 ppg, 7.3 apg, 7.4 rpg, 48.2%
2009-10:  30.1 ppg, 7.4 apg, 7.3 rpg, 50.7%
2010-11:  22.2 ppg, 8.6 apg, 6.0 rpg, 44.4%
2011-12:  29.6 ppg, 7.6 apg, 8.0 rpg, 59.5%

As you can tell by looking at those statistics, LeBron James is no stranger to averaging 28-plus points, 7.3-plus assists and 7.3-plus rebounds per game.  

The one thing that separates his production so far this season than any of his past eight seasons is his immensely improved shooting percentage of 59.5, as compared to the next highest through nine games, which is 53.4.

One of the most impressive aspects of James' overall production so far is that while he has produced at a similar level at other times in his career, this time he has done so with other NBA stars on the roster.

I know you could argue that having All-Star talent on the court with James should increase his production, but I would argue that having that caliber of talent aside him should decrease his production because of the touches he theoretically should lose.

If you think LeBron's production is a result of having Wade and Bosh on the court with him, just look at the level of production he's achieved without Wade on the court.  In two games without Wade, LeBron has accounted for an average of 32.5 points, 11.0 assists and 7.5 rebounds per game, with an overall field goal percentage of 60.9.

Impressive isn't it?  

LeBron is even more complete of a player when Wade isn't on the court.  Sure, that's based on only two games, against the Nets and the Pacers, but it is still impressive nonetheless.

When you stop and look at LeBron's statistical production over the past nine seasons, there is one other glaring difference between this year and the other eight, and that is the amount of three-point attempts through the first nine game.

Throughout his first nine games of the 2011-12 season, LeBron has shot a whopping three three-point shots, as compared to the following years; 2010-11 (29), 2009-10 (40), 2008-09 (30), 2007-08 (29), 2006-07 (37), 2005-06 (34), 2004-2005 (30), 2003-2004 (24).

LeBron traded his three-point shot for a new and improved post game, which is not only benefiting the Miami Heat, it is also benefiting him by making him a more complete version of himself.

While the lessons we've learned about LeBron James so far this season are based on only a few games, I think his production speaks for itself, proving that the 2011-12 version of LeBron James is the most complete version we have ever seen.

If LeBron's 2011-12 production is a sign of things to come for the next few years, then the Miami Heat are going to be in for quite a wild and championship-filled ride.