LeBron James has redefined what consistency looks like in the NBA, averaging at least 25 points per game for an astonishing 20 consecutive seasons. It’s a streak no other player in NBA history has achieved, demonstrating not only his scoring ability but also his durability and dedication to maintaining an elite level of performance.
Even now, in his 21st season, LeBron has started the year averaging 23.7 points per game. While this is slightly below his career trend, it’s consistent with how he’s begun past seasons, where he typically ramps up his scoring as the year progresses.
Historically, LeBron’s scoring average after the first nine games has often hovered around this level.
2011-12: 22.2 PPG
2014-15: 24.6 PPG
2016-17: 22.9 PPG
2020-21: 24.2 PPG
2021-22: 24.6 PPG
2022-23: 24.3 PPG
For example, he averaged 22.2 points per game in the opening stretch of the 2010-11 season, 24.6 in both 2013-14 and 2021-22, and 24.3 last season. These initial lower averages didn’t stop him from ultimately crossing the 25-point threshold by season’s end.
LeBron has always been known for pacing himself early on, especially as he’s aged, saving his energy for the latter part of the season and the playoffs. Given his past patterns, it’s likely he’ll hit his stride again as the season progresses, putting him in a position to continue his 25+ point streak.
Over the years, LeBron’s scoring averages have been remarkably stable, with peaks and valleys that align with different stages of his career.
2003-04: 20.9 PPG
2004-05: 27.2 PPG
2005-06: 31.4 PPG
2006-07: 27.3 PPG
2007-08: 30.0 PPG
2008-09: 28.4 PPG
2009-10: 29.7 PPG
2010-11: 26.7 PPG
2011-12: 27.1 PPG
2012-13: 26.8 PPG
2013-14: 27.1 PPG
2014-15: 25.3 PPG
2015-16: 25.3 PPG
2016-17: 26.4 PPG
2017-18: 27.5 PPG
2018-19: 27.4 PPG
2019-20: 25.3 PPG
2020-21: 25.0 PPG
2021-22: 30.3 PPG
2022-23: 28.9 PPG
2023-24: 25.7 PPG
2024-25: 23.2 PPG
Throughout his remarkable 22-year career, his rookie season in 2003-04 stands as the only one in which he averaged fewer than 25 points per game, as he finished with an average of 20.9 points per game.
His sophomore season in 2004-05 marked the beginning of his 25+ point-per-game streak with 27.2 points per game, and he followed that with an impressive 31.4 points per game in 2005-06, his career-high for a single season. His scoring averages in the late 2000s and early 2010s remained high, including 29.7 points per game in 2009-10 and 27.1 in 2011-12.
During his Miami Heat years, he sustained his scoring prowess with averages like 27.1 in 2013-14. Even as he transitioned back to the Cleveland Cavaliers and then to the Los Angeles Lakers, his scoring remained consistent, with highlights like 30.3 points per game in 2021-22 and 28.9 points per game last season at age 39.
LeBron’s scoring ability is clearly a point of pride for him, and he has openly discussed his desire to play at a high level into his forties. His basketball IQ, skill set, and physical conditioning have allowed him to adapt his game as he’s aged, using his experience and savvy to stay productive.
He’s no longer as reliant on explosive athleticism; instead, he’s refined his post play, mid-range shooting, and three-point shooting to complement his ability to get to the rim. This adaptability, along with his careful early-season pacing, suggests he has the tools to maintain a 25-point average again this year.
Looking at his past season averages—25.3 in 2019-20, 25.0 in 2020-21, 30.3 in 2021-22, and 28.9 in 2022-23—LeBron has shown he can still put up numbers rivaling the best scorers in the league. While there are more scoring options on the Lakers this year with Anthony Davis and Austin Reaves stepping up, LeBron’s role as both a playmaker and a go-to scorer ensures he’ll get enough opportunities to keep his average high.
Given his scoring history, work ethic, and commitment to excellence, it seems highly likely that LeBron will continue his streak of 25+ points per game. With a bit of an increase in his scoring output over the next few months, he could once again extend this unparalleled accomplishment, solidifying his status as one of the most consistent and prolific scorers in NBA history.
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