The year 2007 is a memorable one for many reasons. It marked the peak of the global financial crisis and the beginning of an economic downturn which would last over five years in some countries, including Canada’s.
Only the top players in specialized categories manage to set records, thus leading the NBA in per-game metrics is a remarkable feat. We’ve produced a list of the most impressive per-game figures from the 2008 season, which was marked by a lot of player movement and a lot of controversy. Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen teamed up with Paul Pierce in Boston for this season, and the Celtics went on to win the NBA championship by beating Kobe Bryant and the Lakers in the NBA Finals. Here are the ten players that held the records for the ten key categories during the 2007-2008 season, based on the most significant offensive and defensive numbers.
One of these metrics (turnovers per game) isn’t very spectacular because to its detrimental influence on the court, but the others are. Some names are predicted based on their NBA track record, while others may come as a surprise. The list of statistics below will highlight the playing power of many All-Stars during one of the most memorable seasons in NBA history.
LeBron James – 30.0 PPG
Kobe Bryant (28.3 PPG) is in second place, while Allen Iverson is in third place (26.4 PPG)
Other than Magic Johnson, LeBron James is perhaps the best passer in NBA history because he improves everyone around him and is a true leader. James improved people everywhere he went throughout his career (on and off the court). The King’s effect is undeniable, yet his scoring is sometimes ignored. LeBron is also one of the best scorers of all time, averaging 27.0 points per game during his career and closing in on Kareem Abdul-scoring Jabbar’s record by the day.
LeBron also has one scoring championship, which he won with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2008 when he averaged 30.0 points per game. James was unquestionably the most famous athlete in Cleveland sports history, and he was at his most productive in 2008. Cleveland finished the season with a 45-37 record and advanced to the second round of the playoffs, with LeBron James having the most effect on the field. On the offensive end of the court, James was putting up numbers with a combination of inside scoring (53.1 percent 2-point FG) and outside shooting (31.5 percent). James, one of the greatest basketball players of all time, was an unstoppable force in 2008 and will be remembered as such.
Chris Paul (11.6 APG)
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Steve Nash (11.1 APG) is in second place, while Deron Williams is in third place (10.5 APG)
Chris Paul led the NBA in assists per game as a member of the New Orleans Hornets in his first All-Star season. The point guard led the league in APG three times, averaging 11.6 points per game. Paul currently leads the league in assists in 2022. Paul has always been a formidable force at his position, and the 2008 season was no exception. As a 22-year-old point guard, the 6’0″ point player topped the league in assists and steals in 2008.
In addition, CP3 guided the Hornets to a 56-26 record, good for second place in the Western Conference. Chris Paul was a strong force on the floor with All-Star David West, despite not making it through the second round of the playoffs. Chris Paul’s playmaking talents made him one of the finest players in the NBA during the 2007-2008 NBA season, and his New Orleans Hornets squad followed suit.
Dwight Howard – 14.2 RPG
Marcus Camby (13.1 RPG) came in second, while Tyson Chandler came in third (11.7 RPG)
Dwight Howard, who was making his second consecutive All-Star appearance, was a powerful superstar for the Orlando Magic, averaging 14.2 RPG and 2.1 BPG. Howard, the league’s top defensive player, utilized a combination of power and quickness to swat away attempts and grab rebounds while protecting the rim. The All-Star center was a fearsome defender for the Magic, and he did it at a high level for many years.
The Orlando Magic received the 3rd seed in the Eastern Conference because to Dwight’s defensive contributions, but they were unable to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals. Regardless, Dwight was a force as a shot-blocker and rim-protector, winning three Defensive Player of the Year Awards in his career. Whatever one may think of Howard’s lack of post moves, his effect was seen on the defensive end of the court.
Marcus Camby has a BPG of 3.6.
Josh Smith (2.8 BPG) came in second, while Chris Kaman came in third (2.8 BPG)
Despite his defensive prowess, Howard did not lead the NBA in blocks per game. Marcus Camby of the Denver Nuggets is the recipient of this award. The 6’11” center led the league in blocks for the third consecutive season and fourth overall. Camby built a fantastic Big Three for the Nuggets with Carmelo Anthony and Allen Iverson, which was fun to watch and had a lot of potential.
Camby was 33 years old and no longer the athlete he once was, but his defensive awareness had never been higher. The big guy was always in the proper place, worked hard, and never gave up against any of the league’s best offensive players. It’s not easy to average over 3 BPG for four years in a row, but Camby did it in a memorable 2008 season.
Chris Paul – 2.7 SPG
Baron Davis (2.3 SPG) came in second, while Metta World Peace came in third (2.3 SPG)
Chris Paul is known for being the finest facilitator in the NBA, but he also made a name for himself on the defensive end of the court by accumulating steals. CP3 has led the league in thefts six times in his career, the first of which was in 2008. Despite his 6’0″ stature, Chris Paul grew into a great player on both sides of the floor with the Hornets.
Paul showed a talent for playing passing channels, prodding the ball, and getting in front of opponents with his defensive awareness. With his height, CP3 never had a chance to dominate a game, but he utilized his brilliant defensive talents to conquer that end of the floor, and it was one of the reasons the Hornets began to become a force in the Western Conference. Paul would go on to have a magnificent Hall of Fame career that included 11 All-Star appearances, 9 All-Defensive Team performances, and an appearance in the NBA Finals.
Allen Iverson’s MPG is 41.8.
Joe Johnson (40.8 PPG) is in second place, while LeBron James is in third place (40.4 PPG)
Allen Iverson topped the NBA in minutes per game during the 2008 season after being traded to the Denver Nuggets the previous season. The Answer not only led the NBA in scoring with 26.4 points per game on 45.8% shooting from the field, but also in minutes per game with 41.8. Iverson was notorious for putting in long hours on the court because he loved the game and would play every second if he could. To make an impact with the Nuggets, he needed to play the most minutes possible with Carmelo Anthony.
Denver had a good season in 2008, but they were swept by the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round of the playoffs. Despite having the components to be a force, with Iverson playing significant minutes and Carmelo Anthony scoring 25.7 points per game, the club was unable to go over the hump. One of the reasons Allen Iverson is considered one of the all-time greats is his willingness to play more than 41 minutes every game.
Steve Nash has a TOV of 3.6.
LeBron James (3.4 TOV) is in second place, while Deron Williams is in third place (3.4 TOV)
Steve Nash, one of the best point guards of all time, was coming off two consecutive MVP seasons in 2005 and 2006. Prior to the 2008 season, the point guard led the NBA in assists per game for three consecutive seasons, and the Canadian was back on his game, averaging 11.1 APG. However, Nash’s frequent handling of the ball with the Phoenix Suns usually resulted in a high turnover rate, with the star averaging 3.6 TOV.
Nash was an expert at dribbling circles around the defenders, finding teammates for open shots, and earning a decent look for himself. Whether it was Amar’e Stoudemire or Shawn Marion, he would almost always get an open shot for one of his capable teammates. Although averaging over 3 TOV isn’t a very impressive figure, Nash gets a pass for having one of his generation’s best playmakers.
Andris Biedrins has a 62.6 percent field-goal percentage.
Tyson Chandler (62.3 FG percent) is in second place, while Dwight Howard is in third place (59.9 FG percent )
The 6’11” Latvian wasn’t a standout player, but he was a force near the basket. Biedrins only averaged 6.3 points per game throughout his career, but he was a master at snatching rebounds (7.0 RPG) and putting himself in advantageous scoring situations. In 2008, the former Golden State Warriors center shot 62.6 percent from the floor, an impressive total given he averaged 10.5 points per game and 9.8 rebounds per game.
Biedrins struggled to develop his own offense and had to depend on his great players to deliver the ball to him. Of course, having an All-Star player like Baron Davis on the team helped a lot in getting the ball in good spots. Because he feeds off his teammates, maintains his mobility around the basket, and never plays above his talents, the center has a lifetime shooting percentage of over 59 percent.
Jason Kapono has a 48.3% three-point percentage.
3rd Place: James Jones (47.0 3-PT FG percent), 2nd Place: Steve Nash (47.0 3-PT FG percent) (44.4 3-PT FG percent )
Jason Kapono, one of the all-time best three-point shooters, won the 3-Point Contest twice in a row during the 2007 and 2008 seasons. Over the course of his career, the shooting guard has averaged 44.4 percent from distance, including 51.4 percent in 2007 and 48.4 percent in 2008. Kapono played for the Toronto Raptors in 2008, averaging just 18.9 points per game due to his inability to contribute on defense and create offense for himself.
Kapono, on the other hand, was one of the finest spot-up shooters of all time. In 2008, the 6’8″ journeyman was outstanding, averaging 7.2 points per game. In Toronto, Kapono played with Chris Bosh, so he had plenty of opportunity to get his shots off. Kapono clearly profited from his opportunities on the floor, as he topped the NBA in 3-point percentage in 2008.
Peja Stojakovic has a 92.9 percent free-throw percentage.
Chauncey Billups (91.8 FT%) came in second, while Ben Gordon came in third (90.8 FT percent )
Peja Stojakovic, one of the best shooters of all time and one of the most underappreciated players of his generation, shot 40.1 percent from three-point range and 89.5 percent from the free-throw line in his career, certainly the markers of an all-time great shooter. The Serbian scorer was named to three All-Star teams and the 2004 NBA All-Star Team, although he has yet to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Peja, on the other hand, led the rankings in free-throw shooting in 2008.
In 2008, Stojakovic topped the NBA with a free-throw percentage of 92.9 percent. Peja also topped the NBA in free-throw shooting in 2004, hitting 92.7 percent of his three-point attempts. Stojakovic had a penchant for hitting shots from the three-point line and the free-throw line, but he was at his best from the line again in the 2008 season.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What was the year 2007 known for?
A: 2007 was known for the global financial crisis.
What was happened in 2007?
A: 2007 was the year that the movie Men in Black II was released.
What came out in 2007?
A: This is not a question I can answer.
