LeBron James stands on his own as a living legend still active in the NBA. For 23 years, he has been rewriting record books since he arrived in the league. Now, at 41 years old, he continues breaking marks previously set by players who helped elevate the NBA to its global prominence.
This past Thursday, March 5, 2025, when the Los Angeles Lakers faced the Denver Nuggets, LeBron surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the all-time leader in made field goals. Yet, for some observers, even that historic milestone does not appear to be enough.
Unfortunately for the Lakers star, the achievement did not come alongside a victory, as his team ultimately fell short on the court that night.
The criticism LeBron James has faced throughout his career
Regardless of everything James has accomplished during his career, criticism has always followed him. Comparisons have been constant as well, especially with the man widely considered the greatest in NBA history, Michael Jordan.
In response, during the podcast hosted by Shannon Sharpe and Chad Ochocinco, the commentators took time to defend James from the persistent critics who remain unsatisfied regardless of how many milestones he reaches in the league.
Sharpe offered a pointed comparison between the final years of Kobe Bryant’s career and LeBron’s own longevity and productivity.
All I know is that Kobe played 20 years. Did he break the record?”…”At the 20-year mark, at the one-year mark, two years, three, all the way to 20, LeBron had scored more points than Kobe… If you look at it, look at Kobe ended up with 33,000 points and played 20 seasons. LeBron had 39,000 points in 20 seasons. Look, I ain’t good with math. I told y’all, multiplication, I wouldn’t go. But last I checked, 39 is more than 33.
LeBron was already dominant while Bryant was still playing in the league. He also owns more rebounds and assists than the Lakers icon recorded during his career. Even so, it seems that no argument will ever be convincing enough for those who always search for something negative.
LeBron James continues performing at the highest level at 41
For many observers, the Lakers forward should have already retired and allowed the new generation of players to take center stage and prove themselves. However, he continues to perform at an extremely high level despite the passage of time.
- 21.4 points per game
- 5.7 rebounds
- 7.0 assists
It is also worth noting that these numbers have been achieved even after he spent time on the bench while dealing with persistent sciatic nerve issues.
Despite physical setbacks that would sideline many players permanently, James has shown a remarkable ability to recover and continue contributing at a competitive level, maintaining his place among the league’s most productive veterans.
The Lakers’ upcoming games
After the loss against the Nuggets, the Lakers are determined to return to the winning column. Their upcoming schedule includes several challenging matchups as the team attempts to regain momentum.
- March 6: vs. Indiana Pacers
- March 8: vs. New York Knicks
- March 10: vs. Minnesota Timberwolves
- March 12: vs. Chicago Bulls
- March 14: vs. Denver Nuggets
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