I’ve talked about the 30 PER club a few times in previous articles. Remember PER it’s adjusted for league average that year, so it is a comparison relative to how dominant you were in your era per possession. For all the crap PER gets, you undeniably have to have an all-time great season to have a 30+ PER season. There are no bums on this list. It’s only happened 29 times by 13 players ever.. You don’t fake your way into this club without doing amazing things on the court and having an all-time great season.
30 PER Club
Nikola Jokić
32.85
2021-22
LeBron James
4
Wilt Chamberlain*
32.08
1961-62
Michael Jordan*
4
G. Antetokounmpo
32.05
2021-22
G. Antetokounmpo
3
G. Antetokounmpo
31.86
2019-20
Shaquille O’Neal*
3
Wilt Chamberlain*
31.82
1962-63
Wilt Chamberlain*
3
Michael Jordan*
31.71
1987-88
Nikola Jokic
2
LeBron James
31.67
2008-09
Anthony Davis
2
Wilt Chamberlain*
31.63
1963-64
Joel Embiid
2
Michael Jordan*
31.63
1990-91
Stephen Curry
1
LeBron James
31.59
2012-13
David Robinson*
1
Stephen Curry
31.46
2015-16
Dwyane Wade
1
Nikola Jokić
31.28
2020-21
James Harden
1
Michael Jordan*
31.18
1989-90
Russell Westbrook
1
Joel Embiid
31.16
2021-22
Michael Jordan*
31.14
1988-89
LeBron James
31.1
2009-10
G. Antetokounmpo
30.89
2018-19
Anthony Davis
30.81
2014-15
LeBron James
30.74
2011-12
David Robinson*
30.66
1993-94
Shaquille O’Neal*
30.65
1999-00
Russell Westbrook
30.63
2016-17
James Harden
30.57
2018-19
Shaquille O’Neal*
30.55
1998-99
Dwyane Wade
30.36
2008-09
Tracy McGrady*
30.27
2002-03
Anthony Davis
30.26
2018-19
Joel Embiid
30.26
2020-21
Shaquille O’Neal*
30.23
2000-01
Anthony Davis has had a roller-coaster career peaking with some of the highest of high seasons statistically. Unlike most of the other All Time greats who have had multiple 30 PER seasons there has been little consistency throughout Davis’s career. He entered the 30 PER club at an age far younger than anyone else at only 21 years old, which still remains his peak PER season ever. Some of these guys were still in college at that age, not having the best statistical season in the NBA. He wouldn’t post his second 30 PER season until 4 years later at 25.
This is quite unusual progression among stars. Usually, if a player can reach a 30 PER season it’s between ages 24-28, and if they have multiple ones they are likely consecutive. They also tend to be closer to that back-end 28 age curve. Peaking at age 21 or having a 30 PER season that young hasn’t happened for anyone else. Jordan at 24 years old is the next youngest age to post one.
When Davis entered the club at 21 years old I thought he might have 5+ years at that level. Unfortunately what has followed is ups and downs usually accompanied by injuries that seem to derail seasons at a time. After being injured and only playing 36 and 40 games and posting a PER in the low 20s, I was starting to question if he could play at that kind of level again nearing age 30.
Current Player Efficiency Rankings
The NBA has just passed the quarter season marks and these are the rankings
age
games
minutes
PER
TS%
1
Luka Dončić
23
DAL
19
710
31.3
0.605
2
Nikola Jokić
27
DEN
18
571
31.3
0.706
3
Anthony Davis
29
LAL
18
615
29.9
0.635
4
Joel Embiid
28
PHI
14
489
28.9
0.623
5
Giannis Antetokounmpo
28
MIL
17
558
28.8
0.579
6
Stephen Curry
34
GSW
20
694
28.4
0.682
7
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
24
OKC
20
716
28
0.613
8
Jayson Tatum
24
BOS
21
770
27.5
0.635
9
Kevin Durant
34
BRK
23
844
27
0.665
10
Ja Morant
23
MEM
18
594
24.8
0.565
This might be the last year he has a chance to have a season like this. Lebron is currently on 27th but most of that is because his shooting is down. He should have a chance to get that up and have a more respectable rest of the season. Last year granted he was playing a lot of Center, but he was 4th in the NBA in PER. He’s going in the wrong direction age wise, over and down the hill, but I still think he’s going to be better the rest of the season than he has been.
I think the way Davis is playing the Lakers need to rethink trading Westbrook and using the two future 1st round picks. My stance previously was if AD was going to be a 22 or 23 PER guy like the last two seasons the Lakers weren’t going anywhere regardless. If he can play at this level which equates to a top 5 player, I think that changes the equation a lot. Certainly, it comes with risk with his health, but this is it and I think the Lakers need to go for it the way he’s playing. This is why they made the trade in the first place. He plays like this they are one of the best duo’s in the league and reminiscent of the versions that won the championship essentially 2 years ago.
