LeBron James’ Stats Per Season: The GOAT Of Longevity

LeBron James will be entering his 21st season in the NBA in 2023-24. It will be his sixth season with the Los Angeles Lakers, and he has spent 11 seasons with the Cleveland Cavaliers in two separate stints as well as four seasons with the Miami Heat. Over the course of his two decades of service to the NBA, James has put together a career resume worthy of being considered the greatest of all time. 

Below you will find an analysis of every season of James’ career. It will be a season-by-season in-depth look into his statistics and ascension to the top of most major statistical categories. We will also take a look at his awards and achievements over that time which by now you already know there is an abundance of.

No matter how you feel about LeBron James and where he ranks on an all-time list, he is undeniably one of the greatest players in NBA history. To deny that fact is to deny that you have been turning a blind or hateful eye to the last 20 years of his career. From a high school phenom with the weight of the world on his shoulders to the top 10 in most major statistical categories, James has dominated the NBA more than almost any other player in NBA history.

Welcome to a season-by-season statistical analysis of The King, LeBron James.

2003-04 NBA Season

Stats: 20.9 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 5.9 APG, 1.6 SPG, 0.7 BPG

Awards And Achievements: Rookie Of The Year, All-Rookie First Team

The Cleveland Cavaliers would make LeBron James their first overall pick in the 2003 NBA Draft. James had taken the country by storm as a high schooler out of St. Vincent-St. Mary, and the entire world knew he was going to be the top draft pick as the night approached.

As a rookie, James excelled on the court, averaging over 20.0 PPG, 5.0 RPG, and 5.0 APG in his rookie campaign. His scoring already looked like it was on a professional level as he recorded 40 30-point games, 13 130-point games, and one 40-point game with a 41-point performance against the Nets on March 27, 2004. He would shoot 41.7% from three, but the efficiency would come later on as his game evolved.

Where James impressed was with his defensive play. He recorded 60 games with at least one steal and 19 games with at least three steals. He would also have 40 games with at least one block on the year. The first season of the King’s career came with some growing pains, as every great’s first year does, as the Cavaliers finished 35-47 and missed the playoffs. James was honored with the Rookie of the Year in a close battle with Denver’s Carmelo Anthony.

2004-05 Season

Stats: 27.2 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 7.2 APG, 2.2 SPG, 0.7 BPG

Awards And Achievements: All-Star, All-NBA Second Team

The 2004-05 season marked the first time LeBron James would be named both an All-Star and All-NBA Team selection. His rise to stardom during the second season of his career saw him break the Cavaliers’ franchise record for single points in a game with 56 and also saw him average nearly 28.0 PPG.

During the season, James would step up his game and record 27 games with at least 30 points as well as 15 games with at least 10 rebounds and 14 games with at least 10 assists. At just 20 years old, LeBron would finish sixth in MVP voting behind legends such as Tim Duncan, Dirk Nowitzki, and winner Steve Nash. Defensively, James was much improved as well, with 31 games with at least three steals and 40 games with at least one block.

Despite the great play from James, the Cavaliers suffered a meltdown late in the season. After beginning the season 30-20, the Cavaliers would go 12-20 over their last 32 games and miss the playoffs for the second season in a row. We would have to wait a little more to see James in his first NBA playoff game.

2005-06 NBA Season

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlP1gJX2q0Q

Stats: 31.4 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 6.8 APG, 1.6 SPG, 0.8 BPG

Awards And Achievements: All-Star, All-Star Game MVP, All-NBA First Team

By his third season, it was clear that LeBron was on an all-time great trajectory. After two seasons of missing the playoffs, James would be on a mission during his third year to get his team to postseason play. He would average a career-high 31.4 PPG on 48.0% shooting, his most efficient season in the NBA so far in his career.

James’ scoring breakdown was impressive. He would have 49 games with at least 30 points, 10 games with at least 40 points, and two 50-point performances, including a season-high 52 points against the Bucks. With his second All-Star selection, James made it count with his first All-Star Game MVP performance as well.

The Cavaliers would win 50 games and finally make the NBA playoffs with James as their leader. In the first round, James and the Cavaliers would defeat the Washington Wizards in six games. In round two, the Cavaliers would battle the Pistons in a seven-game thriller but ultimately fall in Game 7. James would average 30.8 PPG, 8.1 RPG, 5.8 APG, and 1.4 SPG in 13 playoff games, and the stage was set for the rest of his career.

2006-07 NBA Season

Stats: 27.3 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 6.0 APG, 1.6 SPG, 0.7 BPG

Awards And Achievements: All-Star, All-NBA Second Team

As James headed into his fourth season, nobody could quite anticipate what was about to happen for both him and the Cleveland Cavaliers. James would put on a show with his all-around game as the Cavaliers became a formidable threat in the Eastern Conference.

Although his scoring average would drop a bit, James was still able to average over 27.0 PPG on 47.6% shooting. He recorded 33 30-point games and a season-high of 41 points in a win over the Pistons in late March. This would be an ominous look into the future for Detroit. James would also make an impact defensively with 18 games of three or more steals as well as 39 games with at least one block. It was good enough for fifth in the MVP voting one season after finishing second to Steve Nash.

The Cavaliers finished the season with a 50-32 record once again. They would sweep the Wizards in the first round and defeat the Nets in the second round in six games. James would deliver an all-time great series in the Eastern Conference Finals against the Pistons. James and the Cavaliers would take down Detroit in six games behind 25.7 PPG, 9.2 RPG, 8.5 APG, and 2.7 SPG from LeBron.

This set up a meeting with the Spurs in the NBA Finals. James and the Cavaliers would struggle against the powerful Spurs dynasty as they were promptly swept in four games. For lack of better terms, James was dreadful in his first Finals series shooting just 35.6% from the field overall and 20.0% from three. To be fair, only Drew Gooden and Daniel Gibson would average over 10.0 PPG in the series to aid James.

2007-08 NBA Season

Stats: 30.0 PPG, 7.9 RPG, 7.2 APG, 1.8 SPG, 1.1 BPG

Awards And Achievements: All-Star, All-Star Game MVP, All-NBA First Team, Scoring Champion

After falling short in the NBA Finals, LeBron came back hungrier than ever. He would go out and win his first career scoring title, averaging 30.0 PPG for the second time in his career. James was awarded a four-year $60.3 million extension by the Cavs before the season, and he made good on their commitment to him.

James would bring home his second career All-Star Game MVP award and move past Brad Daugherty as the Cavaliers’ all-time leading scorer. James would have 39 30-point games as well as seven 40-point games and two 50-point games. His season-high came against the Memphis Grizzlies with 51 points in a January win. James would finish fourth in MVP voting, receiving one first-place vote.

The Cavaliers would finish 45-37 on the season and once again qualify for the NBA playoffs. Led by James, Cleveland would get past the Wizards again in the first round in six games. Then, it was time to meet the Boston Big 3 in the next round. The two teams battled as Boston ultimately prevailed in an epic 7-game series we would not soon forget. Boston would go on to win the NBA championship while James and the Cavaliers were left trying to figure out what they had to do to take the next step toward an NBA championship.

2008-09 NBA Season

Stats: 28.4 PPG, 7.6 RPG, 7.2 APG, 1.7 SPG, 1.1 BPG

Awards And Achievements: MVP, All-Star, All-NBA First Team, All-Defensive First Team

The 2008-09 season would be James’ coming out party as the best player in the world. Fans of his had already believed he was the best player in the game, but he always fell short when it came to the MVP award. Things were about to change in that regard.

James would earn his first career MVP award by averaging over 28.0 PPG, 7.0 RPG, and 7.0 APG. He delivered 34 games with at least 30 points, nine games with at least 40 points, and three 50-point performances during the course of the season. James would also earn his first All-Defensive First Team selection by recording 24 games with at least three steals and 10 games with at least three blocks.

The Cavaliers would win a league-best 66 games in 2008-09 and head toward the NBA playoffs with a head of steam. Cleveland would sweep the first two rounds of the playoffs in four-game wins over the Pistons and Hawks. However, they would struggle against the Orlando Magic in the Eastern Conference Finals despite a signature LeBron moment on a buzzer-beater in Game 2 to even the series.

The Cavaliers would ultimately fall in six games to the Magic, and the NBA world was robbed of a Kobe Bryant-LeBron James NBA Finals, the only chance we would ever get at it. James averaged 35.3 PPG, 9.1 RPG, 7.3 APG, and 1.6 SPG in 14 games that postseason.

2009-10 NBA Season

Stats: 29.7 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 8.6 APG, 1.6 SPG, 1.0 BPG

Awards And Achievements: MVP, All-Star, All-NBA First Team, All-Defensive First Team

In 2009-10, James would have his second straight season winning MVP while being named an All-Star and to the All-NBA and All-Defensive First Teams. All eyes were on James as he cemented his spot atop the league as the best player in the world. Also true was the fact that all eyes were on him due to his contract expiring, and there was a real possibility he could leave the only organization he had ever known in his seven-year NBA career.

Meanwhile, James had another season worthy of consideration for his best ever. He would lead the Cavaliers to 61 wins on the year behind another MVP season from The King. James would record 38 30-point games on the year as well as 25 games with at least 10 assists and 11 games with at least 10 rebounds. His best performance came in a 48-point, 10-assist performance against the Hawks just a few days after Christmas.

After leading the team in every statistical category once again, they would make easy work of the Chicago Bulls in the First Round in five games behind 31.8 PPG, 9.2 RPG, and 8.2 APG from LeBron. In round two, he would meet a familiar foe in the Boston Celtics, whose supporting cast was just too much for James and the Cavaliers to handle.

The Celtics would get past the Cavaliers in six games, leading to another playoff exit for James in his career. As he exited the court, James could be seen emphatically removing his jersey, an ominous sign of things to come for Cleveland.

2010-11 NBA Season

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4ZMtbEH73w

Stats: 26.7 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 7.0 APG, 1.6 SPG, 0.6 BPG

Awards And Achievements: All-Star, All-NBA First Team, All-Defensive First Team

The 2010-11 season would be the most trying time of James’ career. After spending seven seasons in Cleveland, James decided to “take his talents to South Beach” in one of the most shocking free agency decisions of all time. As James was made out to be the NBA’s new villain, the Miami Heat showed no signs of needing to adjust during the regular season led by James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh.

In his first season with the Heat, James had a modest season by his standard. He recorded 25 30-point games as well as 12 games with at least 10 assists, 23 games with at least 10 rebounds, and 17 games with at least three steals. He recorded another 50-point game this season as well, with a 51-point performance against the Magic in a four-point win.

The Heat would battle in the NBA playoffs as they looked like the heavy favorite the more that time went on. They would dismiss the 76ers, Celtics, and Bulls in five games each as they advanced to the NBA Finals, the second one of James’ career. The NBA Finals, however, would be a disaster for James and Miami. LeBron would famously struggle late in games as the Heat blew a 2-1 series lead by losing three straight, including Game 6 at home.

This NBA Finals meltdown is still used as ammunition for LeBron James haters everywhere, and rightfully so, as it was a bad performance for an elite NBA superstar to have on the game’s biggest stage. It would also be fuel to Jame’s fire for the next decade of basketball in his career.

2011-12 NBA Season

Stats: 27.1 PPG, 7.9 RPG, 6.2 APG, 1.9 SPG, 0.8 BPG

Awards And Achievements: NBA Champion, Finals MVP, MVP, All-Star, All-NBA First Team, All-Defensive First Team

The 2011-12 season would be an entire year of vindication for LeBron James. After his famous meltdown in the 2011 Finals, something clicked within both him and the Miami Heat as they became unstoppable in their pursuit of an NBA championship.

James would miss 20 games for the first time in his career but was still dominant enough to take home the third MVP of his career. On offense, he was still as elite as ever, with 24 30-point games and 51 games with at least five assists. Where he really stepped his game up was on defense. He recorded 15 games with at least three steals and 33 games with at least one block. Further than that, he was a ballhawk away from the ball and broke up offensive sets at an astronomical rate.

This led the Heat to 46 regular season wins in a 66-game season. In the NBA playoffs, the Heat would make relatively easy work of the Knicks and Pacers in the first two rounds of the playoffs. Finally, in the Eastern Conference playoffs, James and the Heat would slay the beast known as the Boston Celtics to make their way back to the NBA Finals for the second year in a row.

The NBA Finals would be between James and the Heat and the young core of the Oklahoma City Thunder led by Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. The younger Oklahoma City team put up a fight, but in the end, they were no match for James. LeBron would lead the Heat to their first NBA title since 2006, and his first NBA championship ever in a five-game series win, averaging 28.6 PPG, 10.2 RPG, and 7.4 APG to capture his first Finals MVP award.

2012-13 NBA Season

Stats: 26.8 PPG, 8.0 RPG, 7.3 APG, 1.7 SPG, 0.9 BPG

Awards And Achievements: NBA Champion, Finals MVP, MVP, All-NBA First Team, All-Defensive First Team

If 2012 was any indication that James was at his peak, 2013 solidified that notion. The 2013 season is, in my opinion, the greatest and best version of LeBron James we have ever seen. He was as elite as he has ever been on both sides of the ball and, on top of an MVP, nearly won Defensive Player of the Year, finishing second to Marc Gasol of the Memphis Grizzlies.

James was still elite offensively as well. He recorded 26 games with at least 30 points and 15 games with at least 10 assists. He also recorded 67 games with at least five assists. The work he did defensively led to Miami’s fast-break offense, which was as lethal as any offense we had ever seen. He recorded 63 games with at least one steal and 41 games with at least one block as the Heat finished 66-16 on the year and looked primed to defend their title.

James would win his fourth career MVP award, which would be his last one in his career. Let’s be honest, we all know he deserved more than four in his career.

In the NBA playoffs, things were a breeze in the first two rounds as they blew past the Bucks and Bulls with an 8-1 overall record. The Heat would be tested in the Conference Finals against the Pacers as the series went seven games. James would step up in Game 7 with 32 points to advance to his third straight NBA Finals.

The NBA Finals would be a chance for James to exact his revenge on the Spurs from the 2007 Finals with Cleveland. The series would be an all-time great one as the two teams went back and forth. An elite run from LeBron and a clutch shot by Ray Allen forced a Game 7, which James and Miami would not let slip away. In Game 7, James would go for 37 points and 12 rebounds to deliver another NBA championship to Miami and earn his second straight Finals MVP averaging 25.3 PPG, 10.9 RPG, 7.0 APG, and 2.3 SPG.

2013-14 NBA Season

Stats: 27.1 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 6.3 APG, 1.6 SPG, 0.3 BPG

Awards And Achievements: All-Star, All-NBA First Team, All-Defensive Second Team

The 2013-14 season was a weird one from the get-go for LeBron James and the Miami Heat. Miami was still an Eastern Conference powerhouse, and James was still the best player in the world, but the season did not quite have the same feel as the previous two.

James would finish runner-up to Kevin Durant for the MVP award getting six first-place votes to 119 for Durant. James would lead the Heat in scoring, rebounding, assists, and steals for the season as they went on to win 54 games. He recorded 31 30-point games as well as 16 games with at least three steals. It would be the final season we saw James as an All-Defensive Team selection unless he magically does it again at 39 years old.

The Heat would rally around James, with Dwyane Wade suffering from injuries that cost him 28 games. In the NBA playoffs, James would average 27.4 PPG, 7.1 RPG, and 1.8 SPG as Miami earned victories over the Bobcats, Nets, and Pacers en route to their fourth straight berth in the NBA Finals.

The Finals would be a rematch from the 2013 series between the Heat and the San Antonio Spurs. This time around, the Spurs overmatched the Heat far more than the previous season and defeated them in five games to take home their fifth NBA championship since 1999. James did all he could with 28.2 PPG, 7.8 RPG, and 2.0 SPG on 57.1% shooting, but it was not enough to overcome the experience of the Spurs and Kawhi Leonard’s emergence as a star.

2014-15 NBA Season

Stats: 25.3 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 7.4 APG, 1.6 SPG, 0.7 BPG

Awards And Achievements: All-Star, All-NBA First Team

At the conclusion of the 2014 season, James knew he had some unfinished business left behind in Cleveland. For this reason, he decided to opt out of his contract with the Heat and head back home with one goal in mind, which was to deliver a championship to the City of Cleveland as he had promised so many years before.

In his first season with the Cavaliers, James, and company got right to work to give him the roster to fulfill that goal as quickly as possible. Kyrie Irving was already running the point guard duties while they also acquired Kevin Love from the Minnesota Timberwolves. James would lead Cleveland to a 53-29 record, finishing third in MVP voting. He recorded just 18 30-point games, his lowest total since his rookie year but tapped into the playmaking and defensive aspects of his game to lead his team.

In his first playoff run back with the Cavaliers, James would average 30.1 PPG, 11.3 RPG, 8.5 APG, and 1.7 SPG in its entirety. The Cavaliers would get past the Celtics, Bulls, and Hawks in the first three rounds of the playoffs to make their first-ever trip to the NBA Finals as a franchise and James’ fifth straight. With injuries to Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving, James stood no chance against the powerful Golden State Warriors. They would fall in six games despite a ridiculous 35.8 PPG, 13.3 RPG, and 8.8 APG performance from James in the series.

2015-16 NBA Season

Stats: 25.3 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 6.8 APG, 1.4 SPG, 0.6 BPG

Awards And Achievements: NBA Champion, Finals MVP, All-Star, All-NBA First Team

After falling short in the 2015 NBA Finals, James and the Cavaliers set out with the same mission in 2016. James would have another MVP-caliber season, finishing third in the voting behind the unanimous winner, Stephen Curry of the 73-9 Golden State Warriors.

In that year, James would have another season with 18 30-point games, 12 games with at least 10 assists, and 19 games with at least 10 rebounds. He was an All-NBA First Team member as he led the Cavaliers to a 57-25 record overall, leading the team in points, assists, and steals for the second straight year.

The Cavaliers would cruise through the NBA playoffs by sweeping the Pistons and Hawks in the first two rounds of the playoffs. They would then eliminate the Raptors in six games in the Eastern Conference Finals, as James averaged 26.3 PPG, 9.5 RPG, 7.6 APG, 2.3 SPG, and 1.3 BPG on their entire playoff run. The Cavaliers would advance to their second straight Finals, which would be James’ sixth straight overall.

In the NBA Finals, the Cavaliers were overmatched during their first four games against the historically good Warriors, falling down 3-1 in the series. Something clicked for James and teammate Kyrie Irving in the last four games to lead the most improbable comeback in the history of the NBA. James would go on to average 29.7 PPG, 11.3 RPG, and 8.9 APG in the series to lead the greatest upset in NBA playoff history.

It would be LeBron’s third Finals MVP award and third NBA championship as the Cavaliers had earned their first in franchise history. It was one of the greatest performances in NBA Finals history and a series that no NBA fan who was watching will ever forget.

2016-17 NBA Season

Stats: 26.4 PPG, 8.6 RPG, 8.7 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.6 BPG

Awards And Achievements: All-Star, All-NBA First Team

The 2016-17 season would be a historic one for LeBron James, but not in any of the ways that would result in an NBA championship. James would set career-highs with 8.6 RPG, 8.7 APG, and, unfortunately, with 4.1 turnovers per game as well. James would finish fourth in MVP voting yet again after leading the Cavaliers to 51 wins and a chance to defend their title in the NBA playoffs.

James would step it up in the scoring department with 23 games of 20 points or more and 29 games with at least 10 assists. He was still a menace defensively, but not as much as he had been in years past. Little to our knowledge, the Cavaliers were at odds internally, feeling the pressure to build a better team, with the Warriors adding Kevin Durant and looking unstoppable.

In the NBA playoffs, James would be his usual dominant self. He averaged 32.8 PPG, 9.1 RPG, 7.8 APG, and 1.9 SPG as the Cavaliers, Pacers, Raptors, and Celtics to earn yet another trip to the NBA Finals, losing just one game along the way. In the NBA Finals, the Cavaliers were no match for the Warriors’ offensive attack with Durant as they fell in five games.

James cannot be held at fault as he left everything on the court in the series. He would average 33.6 PPG, 12.0 RPG, 10.0 APG, and 1.4 SPG in the loss on 56.4% shooting from the field while playing 42.4 minutes per game.

2017-18 NBA Season

Stats: 27.5 PPG, 8.6 RPG, 9.1 APG, 1.4 SPG, 0.9 BPG

Awards And Achievements: All-Star, All-Star Game MVP, All-NBA First Team

I previously mentioned the 2013 version of LeBron James as the greatest one we have ever seen. In that regard, the 2018 version is an extremely close second. The 2018 version of James was on a mission to bulldoze the NBA after Kyrie Irving left town amid rumors he was unhappy playing next to LeBron.

James set the league on fire with a season worthy of MVP runner-up consideration. He would have his best scoring season in a few years with 32 30-point games on the year. He would also record a career-high 9.1 APG by delivering 33 performances with at least 10 assists as well as 37 games with at least 10 rebounds. His all-time great regular season led to 50 wins for Cleveland and another chance at the NBA playoffs.

In the playoffs, James would average 34.0 PPG, 9.1 RPG, and 9.0 APG in one of the greatest playoff runs not to result in an NBA championship. After a 7-game series with the Pacers in the First Round, James would lead Cleveland to a sweep of the Raptors in the second round. In the Eastern Conference Finals, James and the Cavaliers would go to seven games with the Celtics. In Game 7, James delivered 35 points, 15 rebounds, and 9 assists to advance to his NBA-record eighth straight NBA Finals.

In the NBA Finals, the Cavaliers had no chance once again against the Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry-led Warriors. Cleveland would be swept in four games, but James left it all on the court. He was the best player on the floor overall, as he produced 34.0 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 10.0 APG, and 1.3 SPG. James had given everything he possibly could for Cleveland and now, it was time for his next chapter.

2018-19 NBA Season

Stats: 27.4 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 8.3 APG, 1.3 SPG, 0.6 BPG

Awards And Achievements: All-Star, All-NBA Third Team

With his next move as a free agent, LeBron opted to take the opportunity to go Hollywood and join the Los Angeles Lakers. It would be an uphill battle as the Lakers had an extremely young roster, but it was nothing James had never faced before.

James would have the Lakers atop the Western Conference up until an injury on Christmas Day that would hinder the rest of his season. James would play only 55 games while battling the groin injury. Despite only playing 55 games, LeBron would still manage 15 30-point games and turned back the clock with a 51-point game in November against the Heat. The injury would be too much for the young Lakers roster to overcome as they fell to 37-45 on the year and missed the playoffs altogether.

It was the first time James had missed the playoffs since 2005 and just the third time he had ever missed the playoffs in his career.

2019-20 NBA Season

Stats: 25.3 PPG, 7.8 RPG, 10.2 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.5 BPG

Awards And Achievements: NBA Champion, Finals MVP, All-Star, All-NBA First Team, Assists Champion

The 2019-20 season would be a revenge season for LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers. In the offseason, the team went out and acquired the most coveted player on the trade block, Anthony Davis, situating Los Angeles for another run at an NBA championship.

James’ game would once again evolve and reach another level. During the 2020 season, James would win his first career assists title with 10.2 APG. For the year, James would record 39 games with at least 10 assists and six games with at least 15. James would also pour in 31 30-point games and 20 games with at least 10 rebounds. He would finish as the runner-up for MVP to Giannis Antetokounmpo leading the Lakers to 52 wins in a 71-game season.

After a three-month pause to the season due to COVID-19, the Lakers headed into the Bubble Playoffs as the clear favorite to take home the NBA championship. Over the course of 21 playoff games, LeBron would average 27.6 PPG, 10.8 RPG, and 8.8 APG to lead the Lakers to the NBA Finals. There, the Lakers would defeat the Heat in six games as LeBron captured his fourth NBA title and fourth Finals MVP award. James earned the honors by averaging 29.8 PPG, 11.8 RPG, and 8.5 APG.

2020-21 NBA Season

Stats: 25.0 PPG, 7.7 RPG, 7.8 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.6 BPG

Awards And Achievements: All-Star, All-NBA Second Team

The following two seasons are certainly ones both LeBron James and Lakers fans would like to forget. James was good during the regular season in 2021. The only problem is an ankle injury would cost him 37 games, limiting him to under 50 games played in a season for the first time ever. 

The season was made even worse with Anthony Davis struggling to remain healthy as well. Still, the Lakers defeated the Warriors in the play-in game to earn the seventh seed and go up against the Phoenix Suns in round one. Unfortunately, James’ and Davis’ injuries were too much to overcome. In the six-game series against the Suns, James would average 23.3 PPG, 7.2 RPG, and 8.0 APG but could not get past Phoenix’s complete attack and defensive onslaught. In the end, a hobbled James and Davis fell short, ending their hopes of a repeat early.

2021-22 NBA Season

Stats: 30.3 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 6.2 APG, 1.3 SPG, 1.1 BPG

Awards And Achievements: All-Star, All-NBA Third Team

When healthy during the 2021-22 season, LeBron James looked to be in peak shape, which was incredible for someone turning 37 years of age. For James, he would endure another injury-filled season, missing 26 games but still averaging over 30.0 PPG in the games he did play.

The Lakers had brought in Russell Westbrook to form a Big 3 with LeBron and Davis, but the experiment was doomed from the start. James would become the first Laker since Kobe Bryant to record multiple 50-point games in a season as well as record 34 games with at least 30 points and 44 games with at least five assists.

Alas, despite the statistical output, James was not enough for the Lakers to overcome all of their other shortcomings. The team would finish the season with a 33-49 overall record and miss the playoffs for the second time in four seasons with James at the helm.

2022-23 NBA Season

Stats: 28.9 PPG, 8.3 RPG, 6.9 APG, 0.9 SPG, 0.6 BPG

Awards And Achievements: All-Star, All-NBA Third Team

The Lakers and Lebron James would set out for revenge in the 2022-23 season but James was also closing in on history as an individual. During a game with the Thunder in February, James hit a contested step-back jumper that on any other day would be just another two points. However, with these two points, LeBron became the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, a record that was held by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for 36 years prior to that night.

James’ statistical dominance continued for 20 seasons as he laid an assault on the record and now looks ahead to becoming the first player in NBA history with 40,000 career points. James would once again look like Superman when he was healthy despite being 38 years old and averaging 28.9 PPG, shattering the old record for PPG by a player in their 20th season previously held by Kobe Bryant.

James would miss 26 games in 2022-23, but the Lakers had done enough at the trade deadline to make their way into the NBA play-in tournament as well as the playoffs. James would average 24.5 PPG, 9.9 RPG, and 6.5 APG on the Lakers’ playoff run, which ended when they met the Nuggets in the Western Conference Finals. It was revealed that James had been playing in the postseason with a torn tendon in his foot that may require surgery this offseason.

What’s Next For LeBron James?

As an NBA fan and analyst, O can honestly say it has become impossible to predict what comes next for LeBron James. Just when you think age and everything you know about the human body will catch up to him, he defies logic and exceeds expectations by a mile. James is a freak of nature, so I first expect the best production we have ever seen from a player in their 21st season and beyond.

As far as another NBA championship, that will remain to be seen. It will be up to the Lakers around James to pick up the slack for him as the grind of the NBA season undoubtedly gets to him at this point. A championship is certainly on the table for him any year he steps foot on the court, but it just depends on the number of games he can play at this point.

I do expect him to hold off retirement, despite the cryptic messages he sent after losing to the Nuggets in 2023. I expect him to hold off as everyone does in order to play with his son, Bronny James, who will be eligible for the 2024 NBA Draft. Whatever the case moving forward, there is no denying the immaculate and incredible resume he has already built in the NBA. Anything he adds from here is just a bonus at this point. 

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