NBA

The King’s Legacy: LeBron James’ Greatest Moments On and Off The Court

Darren Ryding - March 5, 2024

NBA

The King’s Legacy: LeBron James’ Greatest Moments On and Off The Court

Darren Ryding - March 5, 2024

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James is one of the most iconic athletes ever. The NBA legend recently exceeded the 40,000-point mark in 2024, adding another illustrious record to his long list of such accomplishments. Many people think that he’s the greatest basketball player ever. This remains a topic of debate but those achievements ensure he’s in the conversation.

So today, we’ll look at James’ best moments on and off the field. The Akron, Ohio, native has had a storied career and remains influential as he enters the fourth decade of his life. Fans know that they’re lucky to see him play every week because he’s entering his twilight years.

First Billionaire Athlete

One of James’ greatest achievements off the field is that he became the first active billionaire NBA star. Michael Jordan was the first basketball player to reach billionaire status but he was retired. His Air Jordan shoes and clothing earned him more money than anything else in his career.

James’ shoes don’t have the same popularity but he attracts incredible endorsements. Everyone wants King James to market their products and he has a staggering lifetime deal with Nike. The apparel brand pays him an impressive $30 million annually (via NPR).

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Four-Time MVP

Few players in the modern era have won multiple MVP Awards. We’ve seen Giannis Antetokounmpo and Nikola Jokic win two each in the past decade. But James is the only NBA star since 1998 to claim this coveted individual award four times. It’s one of his greatest achievements on the court.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar holds the record with six and even won it without making the playoffs. Michael Jordan and Bill Russell claimed five MVP Awards each. But James is the greatest player of the modern era and the MVP voting supports this. We won’t appreciate how good he is until he finally retires (via Dunkest).

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Most Minutes

James notched another incredible record when he surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in 2023 for most minutes played. Nobody has played more in the NBA than King James who exceeded Abdul-Jabbar’s total of 66,300 minutes in November 2023. Love or hate him, James’ longevity is remarkable.

Skysports Lebron James Basketball 5867907 — Sky Sports

Another amazing aspect is that he continues to play at a very high level. He may not be the same as he was a couple of seasons earlier. But he’s still a very valuable athlete and that’s one of his greatest achievements. Nobody will say he doesn’t deserve his spot on the Lakers’ roster (via Bleacher Report).

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Most Playoff Points

Another of James’ greatest achievements is that he became the highest point scorer in playoff history. He finished the 2022-23 season with a record of 8,023 and showed no signs of slowing down. Michael Jordan is the player with the second-highest total of 5,987.

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This naturally leads to arguments over who has a better record. Some people say that James is like Tom Brady in that his longevity inflates his records. Others say that it’s wrong to downplay James’ on-court achievements because he’s been at the top for so long (via Planet Sport).

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Career Points

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar held the total career points record for decades with a remarkable 38,837. Great players like Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, and Kobe Bryant followed in his footsteps but they didn’t reach this milestone. James was the man who shattered the total.

Kareem Abdul Jabbar 1 E467dd92f08c40b9b15b52949a348755 — People

James scored his 38,888th point in a game against the Thunder in February 2023. This instantly ignited debates about who was the best scorer in history. There’s no denying that this was one of his greatest achievements regardless of what people think about the modern competition (via NBC News).

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The NBA Cup

One of the most exciting aspects of the 2023 NBA season was the addition of a new competition. The single-elimination NBA In-Season Tournament added a fun new dimension to the year. The Lakers played the Pacers in the Final and won the game 123-109 (via CBS Sports).

The tournament doesn’t have the same prestige as the true championship, but it was still a great moment for James. It was also perfect for the NBA to have their biggest star lift the inaugural trophy. Meanwhile, James added new accolades and a medal to his trophy room.

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230519155224 01 Lebron James Dunk 051823 — CNN

10 Points x 1000

James has scored in every single game that he’s appeared in. But let’s take this further for one of his greatest achievements ever. He somehow has scored at least 10 points in over 1,000 consecutive games. This number continues to swell because he’s going nowhere.

Nobody else comes close to breaking this ridiculous streak. Kevin Durant is one of the league’s most iconic scorers but only managed 562 consecutive 10-point games. James Harden sits in third place with 523 successful games but broke his streak against the Knicks in 2021 (via Sportskeeda).

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Four Rings

Many LeBron haters say that he’ll never be better than Michael Jordan because he only has four rings. M.J. won six in the ’90s with the Chicago Bulls as they established a dynasty. Meanwhile, James lost six NBA Championships which means he’s .400 overall (via The Coast News).

However, James is one of only four players to win NBA Championships with three different teams. Arguably, James played on weaker teams as he inspired the Cavaliers to victory in 2016. Furthermore, it was a weaker edition of the Lakers that claimed gold in 2020.

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10,000 Rebounds/Assists

James is the only player in NBA history with 10,000 rebounds and 10,000 assists. This is one of his greatest achievements and arguably more impressive than his many points records. It shows how much of a team player he is and that he’s not just a glory hunter trying to inflate his individual accolades.

Lebron James Lakers Birthday Facts Lead — Fox

In 2022, James ticked this off his list of things to do when the Lakers faced the Suns. He passed to Carmelo Anthony for his 10,000th assist. It was a moment that went under the radar because the Lakers lost the game. But the analysts pointed it out after because it was phenomenal (via The Athletic).

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Player of the Week/Month

We’re lucky to experience James playing so much throughout his storied career. This isn’t always the case with legends from other sports. Tom Brady started 381 games before he finally retired compared to James who is closing in on 1,500 career appearances (via The Guardian).

This also helped him rack up Conference Player of the Week and Month Awards. He holds more than any other player in history as he consistently proved his talents. James made a difference every week for his teams as he always gave them a fighting chance.

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Most Playoff Minutes

Hiring James is a cheat code because it almost guarantees his team a spot in the playoffs. Meanwhile, remember that he’s been to 10 NBA championships so that’s a lot of time amassed. By the end of 2023, he amassed an amazing 11,654 playoff minutes (via SCMP).

Ironically, he broke Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s record in the worst playoff defeat of his career. The Sixers demolished the Lakers by 44 points as he suffered a humiliating defeat. Nonetheless, take nothing away from James’ greatest achievements because he’s such a brilliant player.

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Playoff Points

There’s no denying that James is a clutch playoff performer. He holds the record for the most points in the postseason with an astounding 8023. It’s an amazing total that’s all the more impressive when we look at second place. Michael Jordan is the man behind him with 5,987.

Michael Jordan 20200527083136253 — Sports Illustrated

We can look at this in two ways James has arguably played for weaker teams throughout his career. However, there’s also no disputing that Jordan scored his points in a shorter period than James. Nonetheless, it’s a phenomenal record that will be difficult to break (via NBA.com).

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Nba: Playoffs Denver Nuggets At Los Angeles Lakers — Reuters

NBA Finals MVP

Michael Jordan is the MVP King with a record six under his belt. But it’s worth noting that he played for the Chicago Bulls dynasty and was one of the most dominant rosters ever. Jerry Krause consistently built strong rosters because he manipulated Scottie Pippen into signing a horrible contract.

Chicago Bulls V Orlando Magic — Bleacher Report

James is a four-time winner after he played in 10 Finals. This shows that he was at the center of all of his wins. Remember, he also played on historically weaker teams than the ’90s Bulls. Nobody will pretend that the 2016 Cavaliers side is in the same class (via Top End Sports).

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Most 20-Point Games

King James is a phenomenal scorer. He may not get the dramatic single-game point totals of some players. However, he contributes incredible numbers every season. James has the most 20-point games in history with almost 1,800. It’s a remarkable number that continues to increase.

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Maybe he’ll break the 2,000-game mark if he keeps going but regardless it’s going to be difficult to catch him. He also holds the record for the most 20-point games in playoff history as he refuses to slow down. Meanwhile, he’s sneaking up on Michael Jordan’s 30-point game record (via NBA.com).

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Olympic Gold

James proudly represented his country at the Olympic Games three times. Many people scoff at international basketball because they think it’s a walkover for Team USA. However, global standards are much higher now with great teams in Europe and around the world.

The Lakers star is a two-time Olympic gold medallist. He also confirmed that he wants to play again for his nation in Paris in 2024. This shows his spectacular ability to motivate himself and his desire to break records across the board. Only time will tell if he does it again (via The Athletic).

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2020 10 12t021010z 1744007509 Nocid Rtrmadp 3 Nba Finals Los Angeles Lakers At Miami Heat.jpg — Essentially Sports

Rookie of the Year

Maybe people won’t think of this as one of James’ greatest achievements. Nonetheless, it’s something that every player has a single opportunity to win. He claimed the Rookie of the Year Award in the 2003-04 season after a great debut year. James joined the ranks of some of the best players in history (via Essentially Sports).

File Photo: Cleveland Cavaliers Lebron James Looks On During The Rookie Challenge At The Nba All Star Basketball Weekend In Phoenix — Reuters

Remember, legends like Kobe Bryant and Scottie Pippen didn’t win Rookie of the Year. In recent years, the likes of Luka Doncic and Ja Morant won this prize. It bodes well for these younger stars as they follow in James’ footsteps. But will any of them ever overcome his accolades?

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All-Star King

Nobody has more All-Star appearances than James who made his 20th in 2024. It was one of his greatest achievements because he surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar again. The former Bucks star made his final All-Star game in 1989 and held the record until James passed his total.

Remarkably, James maintained his levels for two decades. He’s still competing with the best athletes in the business and proving that he belongs. James would walk into any team in the league which is ridiculous considering his age. The man is a force of nature (via ESPN).

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LeBron James Family Foundation

In 2011, James and his team founded a charitable foundation that’s become one of his greatest achievements. The proud son of Akron wanted to give something back to his hometown. That’s why he created this scheme because he wished to help the city’s impoverished youth.

I Promise School Grand Opening Celebration With Lebron James — CBS News

The Foundation works to reduce the dropout crisis in Akron’s schools. Furthermore, the I Promise Village is a scheme that offers affordable housing to struggling families. They also offer life-changing resources and opportunities to students who wouldn’t otherwise receive them (via Sportskeeda).

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40,000 Points

Remarkably, James became the first player to pass the 40,000 regular season points mark in 2024. This shows how consistent he has been for the past couple of decades. Remember, he’s only had one 60-point game in his career when he put 61 past the Charlotte Bobcats in 2014.

However, he’s relentless and guarantees points every game he plays. James is a force of nature and achieved this spectacular record against the Denver Nuggets in March 2024. Furthermore, he stretched the record that he set when he passed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in 2023 (via AP News).

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Lebron James Becomes First Player To Score 40000 Points.jpg — The Economic Times

History Breaker

James has broken and set so many records that we could keep going. He’s the only player with 30,000 points, 10,000 rebounds, and 10,000 steals. Nobody has more playoff points than him either. James also has had a 40-point game against every NBA team in the league.

Urnpublicidap.org193c2f30a8c6f264308aa4d912b0e820wizards Lakers Basketball 70759.jpg — The Seattle Times

It’s remarkable because this legendary player continues to set records every week. Each time he steps onto the court he increases his minutes and points tallies. It will take something special to overtake many of his greatest achievements. They’ll stand the test of time for a generation (via Sports Illustrated).

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The King’s Legacy: LeBron James’ Greatest Moments On and Off The Court

The King’s Legacy: LeBron James’ Greatest Moments On and Off The Court

First Billionaire Athlete

Four-Time MVP

Most Minutes

Most Playoff Points

Career Points

The NBA Cup

10 Points x 1000

Four Rings

10,000 Rebounds/Assists

Player of the Week/Month

Most Playoff Minutes

Playoff Points

NBA Finals MVP

Most 20-Point Games

Olympic Gold

Rookie of the Year

All-Star King

LeBron James Family Foundation

40,000 Points

History Breaker

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