LeBron James is set to begin his remarkable 22nd season in the NBA, a feat matched only by the recently inducted Basketball Hall of Famer Vince Carter.
Clearly, this milestone is just one of many remarkable statistics that highlight James’ illustrious career.
Currently holding the title of the NBA’s all-time leading scorer and a four-time Olympic medalist, James’ accomplishments in the league can be observed in virtually every statistical category available. This season, the Los Angeles Lakers’ superstar is poised to ascend even higher on various career charts while also playing alongside his son, Bronny.
Examining James’ stats reveals a unique aspect of his game: he has never had an average performance.
Throughout his extensive career, he has maintained impressive averages of 27 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists per game.
However, there has not been a single instance in his 1,492 regular-season games or 287 playoff appearances where he finished with precisely 27 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists.
He has come close on numerous occasions, with 77 games ending in 27 points, and several others showcasing similar near-averages in points and rebounds. Notably, only 51 players in NBA history have recorded such nights, excluding playoff performances, with only Paul George achieving it in the past season.
As James embarks on this new season, he is again within striking distance of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in various ways.
Having recently surpassed Abdul-Jabbar as the all-time scoring leader in February 2023, James is now sixth on the list for regular-season games played with a total of 1,492.
While he won’t claim the top spot this season—Robert Parish holds that at 1,611 games—if James participates in at least 68 games, he could surpass Abdul-Jabbar’s count of 1,560 to land at number two. In doing so, he would also outpace Vince Carter, Dirk Nowitzki, and John Stockton who are currently ranked above him in total games played.
When factoring in playoff games, James is on track to potentially claim the top position as early as late November. He has played a total of 1,779 official games, trailing Parish by only 16 and Abdul-Jabbar by 18 games. If James maintains his current pace, his record-breaking 1,798th game could occur on November 29, in a home match against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Additionally, he ranks second in all-time regular-season minutes, with 56,597, just 849 minutes shy of Abdul-Jabbar’s 57,446 tally. At his current average of 35 minutes per game, he might achieve this milestone around the time of the Lakers’ Christmas Day game against the Golden State Warriors.
In terms of other records, James continues to climb the statistical ranks:
– Field Goals: Currently in second place with 14,837, he is 1,000 behind Abdul-Jabbar’s record of 15,837. Including playoffs, he has 17,765, just 428 shy of Abdul-Jabbar.
– Free Throws: Ranking third with 8,390 in regular-season play, he needs 141 more to tie Moses Malone. The all-time record set by Karl Malone seems unlikely to be reached unless James extends his career significantly.
– Assists: He holds the fourth position with 11,009 assists, trailing Chris Paul who has 11,894.
– Three-Pointers: James ranks eighth with 2,410 three-pointers, needing 40 more to surpass Kyle Korver for seventh place.
– Steals: Currently eighth with 2,275 steals, he is close to Scottie Pippen and Maurice Cheeks for higher placements.
As James approaches his 40th birthday on December 30, the upcoming season could see him participate in 53 games post-birthday.
His first game after this milestone is slated for New Year’s Eve against the Cleveland Cavaliers, a former team of his.
Once he turns 40, he will join a select group of players, as he would be the 30th athlete to compete in the NBA beyond that age.
Out of the previous 29 players, only 13 have managed to score over 100 points after reaching 40 years old, and only four—Abdul-Jabbar, Parish, Carter, and John Stockton—have netted over 1,000 points in that age bracket.
James has already made a mark as the youngest scorer in NBA history, most points scored through his 20s, and ranks third for scoring in his 30s, trailing only Karl Malone and Abdul-Jabbar.