Lebron James says he’s the greatest player in NBA history, and it’s hard to argue with him. At 37 years old, he’s an 18-time all-star and continues to outplay much younger opponents. Before James came along, Michael Jordan was the basketball’s undisputed greatest of all time, aka GOAT. However, as James continues to shatter NBA records, it’s hard to leave him out of the GOAT conversation. Let’s take a look at what makes Lebron James basketball’s GOAT.
Incredible Stats
When you look at James’ stats, it’s hard to argue that any NBA player, past or present, is more deserving of the GOAT title. Earlier this year, he became the first player to join the 30K-10K-10K club, entering an exclusive club all his own. He’s the only player in NBA history with 30,000 points, 10,000 rebounds, and 10,000 assists.
With this achievement, James has scored more points than Michael Jordan, rebounded more balls than Bob Lanier, and had more assists than Oscar Robertson during his career. Since it’s a feat never accomplished before, there’s no name for it. Is it a career triple-double? Whatever we call it, one thing is sure, James’ will continue to shatter records as long as he’s playing in the NBA.
While James hasn’t been able to carry the Lakers this season, he has won four NBA championships over the course of his career. Not long ago, betting on a James-led team to win the NBA title was a sure thing. Although the Lakers are not in the NBA championship odds offered by major sportsbooks like DraftKings this year, we can be sure that James is already thinking of ways to turn things around.
In addition to his championship rings, James is a 4x NBA Final MBP, 4x regular season MVP, 17x All-Star, 17 All NBA Team, 6x All-Defensive Player, and he was the league’s 2003-2004 Rookie of the year. Michael Jordan is the only player that arguably surpasses James’ greatness. However, James is still playing the game, so his story isn’t over yet.
Records Shattered
We’ve already mentioned a few of James’ records, but the story doesn’t end with his stunning 30K-10K-10K achievement. The superstar has amassed many records, some so improbable that they may never be broken.
The odds of the Lakers making the playoffs this season aren’t looking too good; however, this is an anomaly in James’ career. After 19 years in the NBA, James holds the record for minutes played in the postseason at 11,035 minutes on the court. San Antonio Spurs great Tim Duncan comes in second with 9,370 minutes, and Lakers legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in third with 8,851.
James thrives in the postseason. He’s the only player who’s won championships with three different teams—the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Miami Heat, and the Los Angeles Lakers. During 15 playoff appearances and ten trips to the NBA finals, James has scored 7,631. That’s over 1500 more points in the postseason than Jordan, who comes in second at 5,987 career playoff points.
Just when it seems like James couldn’t get any better, he breaks another record. During the 2016-2017 season, he became the first player ever to average a triple-double in the finals with 33.6 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists. The Golden State Warriors would ultimately defeat the Cavaliers 4-1 in the series, but James’ record still holds.
He also holds the record for the most triple-doubles in the finals with ten. Magic Johnson occupies the number two spot with eight during his career.
He Always Adapts
Throughout his 20 year career, James has constantly adapted his game to the circumstances of his teams. He’s one of the most versatile players to ever touch a basketball. At 23 years old, he was the league’s leading scorer while playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers and was almost unstoppable going to the rim. At 35 years old, he changed it up, becoming the league’s leader in assists for the first time in his career.
James talked about how he’d studied where his teammates liked to have the ball passed to maximize their scoring probability. Although James isn’t best known for his defense, he has finished in the top five of the Defense Player of the Year award voting five times.
As a 19-year-old, James was already showing what he was capable of but didn’t stand out in any area. Plus, he wasn’t yet an elite long-distance shooter, averaging only 29% 3-point shooting, making him the fourth-worst player from downtown during his rookie season. However, he improved his shooting game quickly, and by the 2012-2013 season, his 3-point shooting average had improved dramatically.
On-Court IQ
James’ longevity in the NBA has a lot to do with his high basketball IQ. When we speak of on-court IQ, we’re talking about players who have the ability to see things before anyone else. With a comprehensive knowledge of every player in the NBA, Lebron has one of the highest on-court IQs of anyone to ever play the game.
He knows where he and his teammates should be during any game and how their opponents will likely react. Not only that, he has a photographic memory, which allows him to remember where all ten players are on the court throughout a 48-minute game. These unique abilities have made him almost invisible on the court.
Although he’s had a lackluster supporting cast this year, James’ game has continued to shine. What separates the good from the great basketball players is how they see the game. James’ mental approach to the game distinguishes him from other players. He uses his knowledge to help coach his teammates, explaining opponents and breaking down their plays.
An Elite Scorer
James is no ball hog; he’s a pass-first type of player. However, he can score when he needs to, as he proved in recent game against the Utah Jazz, leading his team to victory by scoring 36 points. He’s the only player in NBA history to average 25 or more points during 17 consecutive seasons.
His rookie season with the Cavaliers was the only time he didn’t average 25 or more points. There’s no other player even close to this record, another reason why it’s accurate to call James the GOAT.