LeBron James is on the verge of becoming the NBA’s all-time greatest scorer, but the Los Angeles Lakers star already feels he is the finest to ever play the game. James is on the brink of breaking Kareem Abdul-all-time Jabbar’s scoring record, which he has held since 1984.
LeBron is just 36 points away from breaking the record, which could happen against the Thunder in Los Angeles on Tuesday night or against the Bucks on Thursday. His taking over one of basketball’s most famous — and long-considered unbreakable — records just adds to his score in the GOAT debate.
The king is confident where he stands, something he told Kyle Goon of the Orange County Register– “What I bring to the table as a basketball player … I feel like I’m the best basketball player that ever played the game,” he said. “That’s just my confidence, that’s just what I bring to the table, what I possess. But as far as if the scoring record gets me to another level, I don’t know.”
“What I bring to the table as a basketball player…I feel like I’m the best basketball player that ever played the game.”
– LeBron James. 👑
(via @kylegoon, https://t.co/m6qdVobdwH) pic.twitter.com/LE99yMiekX
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) February 7, 2023
The most impressive aspect of LeBron’s run is that he has been doing it for 20 years – his dedication to fitness and investing in his body since high school is now paying off. LeBron’s ability to play 20 seasons without missing time due to a major injury is a result of his intense preparation and a little luck. All of that hard work, all of those years, is now paying off.
Although he only has one career scoring title (2008), the 38-year-old has averaged at least 20 points in each of his 20 seasons and is fifth all-time in career points per game.
Of course, James realizes that his impact goes beyond scoring. The 19-time All-Star is in the top ten in NBA history in assists and steals, and he is second only to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in career win shares. He has four NBA championships with three different teams, winning Finals MVP each time, and four regular-season MVP awards.
When it comes to choosing the greatest basketball player of all time, fans have different criteria.
Michael Jordan had the most dominant run, winning six NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls while also winning 10 scoring titles and averaging 30.1 points per game. Bill Russell won 11 titles with the Boston Celtics and was regarded as one of the greatest defensive players in history. Abdul-Jabbar combined numbers and titles, setting a scoring record while winning six titles.
With his ability to fill up the stat sheet while still helping teams win, James may still have the most all-around impact on the game. In addition to his four titles, he reached the NBA Finals ten times in his career.
If LeBron didn’t have the confidence to call him the best, he wouldn’t be in a position to have this conversation. He gets that not everybody is going to see things the same way, but it’s at the least a valid argument.
