A question for basketball fans: Kevin Durant just passed Jerry...

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West last night for the 8th spot on the all-time scoring list. The 3-point shot wasn't adopted by the NBA until 1979 after West retired. So it seems a little unfair to those in the pre-3-point era for their scoring records be surpassed by players who've had the advantage of the 3-point shot all their careers.

Maybe the record should be for made baskets instead of total points as the 3-point shot is a 50% advantage in points? Or maybe an asterisk should be added in the record books?

And then there are players like Downtown Freddie Brown, famous for making long distance shots, hence his nickname, who played half his career before the advent of the 3-pointer and the second half with the 3.

I don't know what the solution is? Any thoughts?

[Hugh_Lebowski]

1. Damn man you just freaked me out ...

Might want to reword that title

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3. Fixed. Any comment on the question?

[Hugh_Lebowski]

5. This is a really common conundrum

The NFL has also become a much more pass-oriented league over the years which similarly hurts QB's in the earlier years, record-wise.

In MLB the ball has become more 'live', specs on what bats are allowed have changed, and then there was the 'look the other way' steroid era.

Damn near every sport has this sort of issue with records over time, and I don't think there are any simple solutions.

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6. Good thoughts.

[exboyfil]

2. The records are the records

I am not an advocate of adding an asterisk. Jerry West's contributions stand on their own irrespective of where he appears on the scoring list.


I know it is a dramatization and not reality, but I am enjoying the actor's portrayal of West in the HBO series. That GD Series MVP award must have continually ate at him. Curse Bill Russell and Willis Reed.

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4. Forget the asterisk then, what about making it...

made baskets instead, as I'm sure West made more baskets, plus free throws, than Durant, with the 3-point advantage has.

[Cracklin Charlie]

7. Kevin Durant is a great player.

So was Jerry West.

Just my opinion.

[twodogsbarking]

8. I remember reading about the tall high school player from Power Memorial HS

in Sports Illustrated back in the 1960s. Lew Alcindor then, Kareem now.
He will always be my favorite. If you are great you are great.

[elias7]

9. You could do a statistical correction - and I think you must be talking all-time playoff scoring

Durant has 20% of made field goals in his career from 3 point range
Reggie Miller has 30% of his FG as 3 pointers
Paul Pierce was 25%
Let's say West, as shooting guard was at 25%

For the playoffs, I added 405 points to West for total of 4862 points, with Durant at 4477.

I looked at regular season and used the same formula to propel Jerry West from 25912 to 28166 points, enough to move him from #23 to #10 on the all-time list, although, he passes Oscar Robertson and Havlicek, who probably would have also benefitted from 3 pointers, so I'd say all-time, West is 12th.

Durant is currently #21 at 25526 points, and probably the closest active player to West's adjusted total, but has now played exactly as many games as West did in his career (932), about the same as Iverson (retired) and Harden (active)...

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10. That's fair and equitable, evens things up.

Love it. Thanks for stat analyticals.