Impressive LeBron James Stats That Prove He’s Still the Best
LeBron James has been rewriting basketball history for over two decades, and just when people start wondering if he’s slowing down, he proves once again why he’s still the best in the game. If you needed a reminder of what’s keeping him in the conversation, here are some staggering stats that’ll answer your question.
The First Player in NBA History to Reach 40,000 Points
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Scoring 30,000 career points was once the gold standard. Then LeBron hit 35,000, and people started wondering if he could catch Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Not only did he catch him, but on March 2, 2024, James blew past 40,000 and became the first player ever to do it. When he started his career back in 2003, no one thought this milestone was even possible.
More All-Star Selections Than Any Player in History
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The All-Star Game is supposed to feature the best of the best, and no one has been a part of more of them than James. In 2025, he was named an All-Star for the 21st time, which means his record surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s long-standing mark. That’s two decades of being elite.
The King of 30-Point Games
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Michael Jordan held the record for most 30-point games in NBA history at 562. That number stood for years—until LeBron passed it on January 3, 2025. Keep in mind, this isn’t just about how often he scores 30+ points. It’s about doing it consistently over 20+ seasons, against every defensive scheme imaginable, and still coming out on top.
The Greatest Scorer in Basketball History, Period
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Beyond the NBA, LeBron is the all-time leading scorer in professional basketball after passing Brazilian legend Oscar Schmidt in April 2024. Schmidt’s career spanned decades across international play and leagues worldwide. Even so, no one, anywhere, has put the ball in the basket more times than LeBron.
More Minutes Than Anyone, Ever
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Every time LeBron steps on the court, he adds to his record for most regular-season minutes played, a mark he took from Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on December 19, 2024. Think about the physical toll of playing over 60,000 combined minutes across the regular season and playoffs.
More Playoff Series Wins Than Any Player in History
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Winning in the regular season is nice, but everyone knows it’s the playoffs where legends are made. LeBron has now won more playoff series (41) than any player in NBA history after surpassing Derek Fisher. This record proves what everyone already knows—if you have LeBron on your team, your chances of making a deep playoff run are better than anyone else’s.
A Stat Line That Hadn’t Been Seen in Nearly 50 Years
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On January 27, 2024, LeBron did something no Lakers player had done since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in 1976—he put up 36 points, 20 rebounds, and 12 assists in a single game. He’s a scorer, a passer, and a rebounder–everything, all at once.
The NBA’s First In-Season Tournament MVP
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When the league introduced the In-Season Tournament in 2023, no one knew what to expect. Yet, at 38 years old, in his 21st NBA season, LeBron not only led the Los Angeles Lakers through the tournament but took home the tournament’s first-ever MVP award.
The Only Player to Record Triple-Doubles in Two Olympic Games
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Most NBA players are lucky to get one shot at Olympic gold. LeBron has played in multiple Games and became the first player ever to record triple-doubles in two separate Olympics. His first came during the 2012 London Olympics, where Team USA faced Australia in the quarterfinals. Then, years later, he became the ultimate all-around player with another historic triple-double—this time against Serbia in the Olympic semifinals.
The Largest Fourth-Quarter Comeback of His Career
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February 28, 2024, was one of those nights when the world saw why LeBron James is different from everyone else. The Lakers, struggling to keep up with the Clippers, found themselves buried in a 21-point hole heading into the fourth quarter. The game looked all but over. But then, in the fourth quarter, LeBron took over and completely flipped the momentum. When the final buzzer sounded, the Lakers had completed their biggest fourth-quarter comeback in 20 years.
The Ultimate Clutch Player in Elimination Games
Credit: flickr
By now, it’s clear as day that LeBron thrives on pressure. He holds the record for the most 30-point games in elimination scenarios—19 and counting. Some of his greatest performances have come under win-or-go-home pressure, including his legendary 45-point, 15-rebound Game 6 vs. Boston in 2012, a 35-point, 15-rebound Game 7 vs. the Celtics in 2018, and a 38-point triple-double vs. Denver in 2020.
Still Putting Up Triple-Doubles at Age 40
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On January 21, 2025, LeBron recorded yet another triple-double—21 points, 10 rebounds, and 13 assists in a dominant Lakers win over the Washington Wizards—at 40 years old. Thus, he became the second-oldest player in NBA history to notch a triple-double. It’s only a matter of time before he becomes the oldest player ever to record a triple-double.
The Most 30-Point Games by a Player Over 35
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Most NBA players start slowing down in their mid-30s, but LeBron James is still setting records. On November 1, 2024, he dropped 35 points in an overtime thriller and brought his total to 81 games with 30+ points since turning 35, passing Karl Malone for the most ever. His mix of skill, IQ, and conditioning allows him to dominate younger defenders with ease.
Passing Kareem for Most Combined Regular Season & Playoff Points
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On February 7, 2023, in front of a packed Crypto.com Arena, LeBron nailed a mid-range jumper against the Oklahoma City Thunder to officially become the NBA’s all-time leading scorer. But that was just part of the story. When you combine regular-season and playoff points, LeBron’s scoring total blows past everyone in NBA history. He surpassed Jordan, Kobe, Karl Malone, and even Kareem.
LeBron Surpasses 2,500 Career Three-Pointers
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LeBron has become one of the most prolific three-point shooters in league history. In a win over the New York Knicks on February 1, 2025, he knocked down his 2,500th career three-pointer and became just the seventh player ever to reach that milestone. For a player who wasn’t known as a shooter early in his career, this transformation speaks volumes about his work ethic and ability to evolve his game.