The King Maintains His Throne: The Greatness of LeBron James

By Jonah Casel ‘27 (Reporter)

Any NBA viewer, whether they think LeBron James, the 40-year-old small forward for the Los Angeles Lakers, is the greatest to ever play the game or not, can see his greatness. His resume speaks for itself, since he’s a 21-time All-Star, a 4-time MVP, a 4-time NBA Champion, and a 4-time Championship Finals MVP across his 22 years in the league. Ever since he was drafted in 2003, LeBron has been carving his name into the National Basketball Association’s history books. This year, he has added two more outstanding accomplishments to his list of achievements. The first occurred in the Lakers’ first game of the season when LeBron’s son, Bronny James Jr., joined his father on the court, making them the first father-son duo to play in the NBA together. It was a special moment that began a special season for the James family. Other NBA families have had fathers and sons play in the league, but never at the same time, let alone on the same team.

On Tuesday, March 4, 2025, “King James” made history again. Early in the first quarter of a game against the New Orleans Pelicans, James took a three-point shot that hit its target for a basket, giving the scorer a combined 50,000 points in the regular season and playoffs. No other player has ever accomplished this feat, even more impressive because NBA Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is in distant second place with 44,149 points. James may not be the greatest scorer, greatest defender, or greatest passer ever, but his longevity is unmatched, and every aspect of his game is strong. He is 40 years old and keeping pace with the new stars of the NBA without a significant drop-off in ability. His work in the NBA is truly unbelievable, and these reasons lead many NBA fans to believe that he is the greatest to ever play the game of basketball. His main opponent in the “G.O.A.T. Discussion” is Michael Jordan, the shooting guard for the Chicago Bulls from the 1990s. James has more points, rebounds, and assists, as well as more all-star appearances, but Jordan has more championships, with six, compared to LeBron’s four, as well as more defensive player of the year selections. However, LeBron is hoping to change his number of championships by the end of this season.

James has four championship rings in his collection, and this year he is looking to add a fifth on this star-studded Lakers roster. The Lakers have already clinched the playoffs, and, with veteran leadership like James and his co-star Luka Doncic, who has already played in the NBA Finals at just 26 years old, they are considered a team that has a good shot at being the last one standing in the playoffs. The Lakers are a very good team on the offensive and defensive sides of the ball. They shoot very well and rarely turn the ball over. Even though they do not have as good a record as the powerhouses of the Western Conference, the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Houston Rockets, the Lakers could make a run at the right time, especially since they know LeBron may not have much time left in his career to win another championship. Watching one of the greatest to ever play the game in another NBA Finals matchup is exactly what the sport needs right now, and it would be one of the most anticipated series of all time.

Image from: LeBron James becomes first to score 50,000 combined points in NBA regular season and playoffs