Originally Posted by Bojangles

What Is PER?

Player Efficiency Rating is a formula that uses a player?s stats to determine how productive and efficient he is in his time on the court. If he shoots the ball frequently, but does not convert on as many of his shots, his rating goes down. If he turns the ball over frequently, his rating goes down. If he is efficient and contributes an all-around performance, his rating goes up. Due to factors such as lower shooting percentages, it is almost impossible for a guard to have a very high career PER (such as above 25).

Percentage of 50+ point games against teams with winning records

Michael Jordan: 71%
Kobe Bryant: 27%



Record in games with 30+ shot attempts

Michael Jordan: 72-57 (.558)
Kobe Bryant: 32-40 (.444)



Percentage of points scored on free throws

Michael Jordan: 23%
Kobe Bryant: 26%



Percentage of points scored on two point field goals

Michael Jordan: 72%
Kobe Bryant: 59%



Three point field goal attempts per game

Michael Jordan: 1.66
Kobe Bryant: 3.63



Career PER

Michael Jordan: 27.91
Kobe Bryant: 23.57


Highest PER season

Michael Jordan: 31.71
Kobe Bryant: 27.97


Seasons with 30+ PER

Michael Jordan: 4
Kobe Bryant: 0



Seasons with 28+ PER

Michael Jordan: 7
Kobe Bryant: 0



Seasons with 25+ PER

Michael Jordan: 12
Kobe Bryant: 3


Shooting in 50 point games

Of the 143 50 point games since 1986 in the regular season, Michael Jordan has the #1, #5 and #8 games in terms of shooting percentage. He has three more in the top 25. Kobe's most efficient game is #12.



Kobe Bryant has the three worst shooting 50 point games not only since 1986, but the three worst 50 point games (in terms of efficiency) in NBA history. These are among the few games in history in which a player scored 50 points, but didn't even make half of his shots from the field. In other words, these are achievements of volume shooting, not efficiency. But these aren't flukes, either. In terms of shooting, Kobe also has 7 of the 15 worst, and 10 of the 25 worst 50 point games since 1986. That's half of all of his 50 point efforts. Jordan has merely one game in the bottom 25.

Jordan's #1, #5 and #8 games

24-29, 52 points, Nov. 16, 1988

21-27, 59 points, April 3, 1988

21-28, 53 points, March 7, 1996

Kobe's 3 worst 50 pt. games in history

17-38, 53 points, December 15, 2006

19-44, 53 points, March 30, 2007

17-41, 50 points, January 7, 2006

Yep, I believe I'll definitely be going with Jordan on this no brainer. Oh, and Kobe was NOTHING without Shaq.