It’s been roughly 12 years since LeBron James won his last MVP, and there is growing doubt that he’ll ever win the award again. Still, fans couldn’t help but notice where James ranked in this year’s MVP ballot in his 22nd season: at sixth place, beaten only by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokic, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jayson Tatum, and Donovan Mitchell.
James, 40, is not the player he used to be during his glory days with the Heat and Cavaliers, but he’s found a way to extend his career by taking care of his body and adding more to his game every summer. So while his days of winning the MVP may be over, LeBron continues to find ways to be effective 20+ years into his career, and this past season was another masterpiece as he led the Lakers to the third seed in the West.
While James only got 16 total points with just a single fourth-place vote and 13 fifth-place votes, you could easily make the case that he could have gotten more, given how critical he was to the Lakers’ success. In the end, while the Lakers had a disappointing playoff run, it was still an impressive season for LeBron, given that he was getting votes for MVP in his 22nd NBA season.
To date, Karl Malone is the oldest MVP winner in NBA history at 35 years old, but Michael Jordan was the oldest player to receive votes. After the 2001-2002 season, at 39 years old, Michael finished 13th in MVP voting with averages of 22.9 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 5.2 assists per game for the Wizards. John Stockton ranks below that with a 15th-place MVP finish at 39 in 2001.
This season, however, LeBron set a new NBA record by finishing sixth in MVP at 40 years old and three months old. He averaged 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 8.2 assists per game on 51.3% shooting. As a leader on and off the court, he set the example for his teammates and kept them together through the chaotic trade deadline.
James is now the oldest and youngest NBA player to receive votes for MVP, a true testament to his consistency, longevity, and durability over 22 seasons. According to James, the secret is all in his head and involves outthinking the enemy over trying to outmuscle or outrun them during games.
With this approach and a naturally high basketball IQ, James has been able to stay consistent with his performance for over two decades and it’s led to one of the greatest careers in NBA history.
Looking ahead, LeBron’s future remains murky as he begins a critical summer. With a $52.6 million player option for next season, James has complete control over what happens next, and the latest intel suggests that he’ll return for another season to add even more numbers to his unbeatable resume.
For now, LeBron is going to focus on his recovery and getting back in shape for another long NBA season. After his latest feat, the King has earned a break, and you can bet that he’ll be biding his time until it’s time to return to action.
