Lauri Markkanen vs LeBron James
Markkanen · James
| Markkanen | James | |
|---|---|---|
| 42 | Games availability | 60 |
| 34.3 | Minutes per game | 33.2 |
| 26.7 | Points per game | 20.9 |
| 6.9 | Rebounds per game | 6.1 |
| 2.1 | Assists per game | 7.2 |
| 1.5 | Steals + blocks per game | 1.8 |
| 1.5 | Turnovers per game · lower is better | 3.0 |
| 47.7% | Field goal % | 51.5% |
| 35.5% | Three-point % 7.7 vs 4.1 attempts | 31.7% |
| 89.6% | Free throw % | 73.7% |
| 60.8% | True shooting TS% | 59.4% |
| 26.9% | Usage USG% | 26.2% |
| 10.1% | Assist % of teammates' baskets | 33.8% |
| 9.4% | Rebound % of available | 9.3% |
| -1.5 | Net rating on court | +2.6 |
| 13.9% | PIE player impact estimate | 15.4% |
| -1.3 | Plus-minus per game | +2.0 |
Where the gap is
from the numbers aboveLauri Markkanen scored more in 2025-26, 5.8 points a game apart (26.7 vs 20.9), on Markkanen's heavier usage (26.9% vs 26.2%).
Markkanen is the more efficient scorer by true shooting, 60.8% to 59.4%; TS% folds threes and free throws into one number, so the gap survives shot-diet differences.
Playmaking goes to James (7.2 vs 2.1 assists), the glass to Markkanen (6.9 vs 6.1 rebounds).
Availability is part of the comparison: James played 18 more games (60 vs 42 of 82).
With James on the floor his team outscored opponents by +2.6 per 100 possessions, against -1.5 for Markkanen; on-court net rating carries the teammates with it, so read it next to PIE.
On the books for 2026-27: Markkanen $46.1M through 2028-29, James $3.9M through 2027-28. Whether either fits a trade is a Trade Machine question, not a stat one.
Splits
2025-26 · from the game logs| Markkanen | James | |
|---|---|---|
| 17-25 | Record when playing | 39-21 |
| 28.1 | Points at home | 20.7 |
| 25.6 | Points on the road | 21.2 |
| 29.5 | Points in wins | 21.3 |
| 24.8 | Points in losses | 20.2 |
| 51 | Season high | 36 |
| 13 | 30-point games | 6 |
| 5 | Double-doubles | 17 |
Last games & contracts
test a trade in the Trade Machine →More comparisons
pick any two players →Per-game numbers and percentages are 2025-26 regular season from stats.nba.com; splits and last games from our own game logs; contract figures are cap hits from public salary data and can lag a signing by a day. Bold marks the better number in each row (turnovers: fewer is better).