Revisiting bizarre claim of Pacers’ Bennedict Mathurin about Lakers’ LeBron James

Prior to the start of the season, Indiana Pacers’ rookie Bennedict Mathurin made a bizarre claim about Lebron James, seemingly one of the best players of all time. To quote Mathurin, when asked about LeBron James, he replied with:

"“A lot of people say he’s great. I want to see how great he is. I don’t think anybody is better than me. He’s going to have to show me he’s better than me.”"

At the time the statement seemed bizarre. How could this mid-lottery pick be better than one of the greats? However, early in his career he started to live up to this standard, when we compared the two earlier in the season. The numbers through their first eleven games without adjusting for differences in playing time (LeBron played a lot more) were Benedict Mathurin:

"Bennedict Mathurin through 11 games: 20.4 points, 5.9 free throws attempted, 2.2 assists, 3.5 rebounds, 46% field goal shooting, 44% from deep."

And for LeBron James:

"LeBron James through 11 games in his rookie season: 16.8 points, 3.8 free throws attempted, 6.5 assists, 6.5 rebounds, 38% field goal shooting, 26% from deep."

So now that we are nearing the halfway point of the season and the all-star break, how do the two players compare?

Well in their one head to head matchup this year Mathurin outdueled LeBron with the following stat line:

Mathurin: 23 points, 8 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, on 46% shooting

LeBron: 21 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, on 36% shooting

I don’t know about you but I’d have rather had Mathurin’s stat line. But let’s look at the entire package of what they have accomplished so far. We will make the comparison on both this season as well as at the same age (20) season. Overall on the season so far they are giving the following:

Mathurin per 36 minutes: 22 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, on 47% FG and 33% FG3

LeBron per 36 minutes:  29.2 points, 8.2 rebounds, 6.8 assists, on 51% FG and 30% FG3

LeBron (at same age) per 36 minutes: 23.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, 6.1 assists, 47% FG and 35% FG3

It appears no matter how you slice it, Bennedict Mathurin’s stats this year are not keeping pace with LeBron James. Although who could blame him? Keeping up with one of the greatest players of all time is not easy for a reason.

It appears no matter how you slice it, Bennedict Mathurin’s stats this year are not keeping pace with LeBron James.

Mathurin has come back to earth in recent weeks, but it is possible that he is able to find his groove again and up his averages to where this isn’t such a one-sided comparison any longer. However, for the moment, consider the edge to go to Lebron.