LeBron James reached another major milestone on Wednesday night, surpassing Michael Jordan on the NBA’s all-time points list. With 32,311 career points, James is now the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, trailing only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (38,387), Karl Malone (36,928), and Kobe Bryant (33,643).
James’ latest achievement is a reminder that the NBA’s all-time scoring lead remains within reach. LeBron just turned 34 years old in December and has three more years remaining on his contract with the Lakers after 2018/19. While this season has turned into a disaster, the four-time MVP still looks like he has plenty left on the tank, having averaged 27.1 PPG in his first year as a Laker.
Currently, the gap between Abdul-Jabbar’s points total and James’ stands at 6,076. In his first 15 NBA seasons leading up to 2018/19, LeBron averaged 2,069 points per season. If he were to continue at that rate for three more years, he’d become the league’s all-time leading scorer before his contract with the Lakers expires.
Despite James’ impressive durability and longevity over the years, however, it’s probably unrealistic to expect him to continue scoring at that rate. This season, for instance, even if he plays in every single one of the Lakers’ remaining 17 games and maintains his 27.1 PPG scoring average, he’d end up with 1,733 points due to the groin injury that cost him more than a month.
It’s fair to assume that nagging injuries could become a more frequent issue for James in his age-35 season and beyond, and his production figures to dip a little during that stretch as well. Even if we assume LeBron is capable of averaging 1,500 points per season going forward (about 23 PPG in 65 games per year), it would be 2023 before he catches up to Abdul-Jabbar. He’d be 38 years old at that point, so there’s not a ton of room for error (or, say, any season-ending injuries).
All of this is a roundabout way of saying that taking over the NBA’s all-time scoring lead is a realistic goal for LeBron. He’ll likely have to stay relatively healthy and continue playing at a high level for at least two or three more years – or be willing to play until he’s 40 – to have a legit shot, but that certainly seems possible.
What do you think? Do you expect LeBron to retire as the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, or will he ultimately end up second or third? And if he claims that No. 1 spot, do you view any current players as serious threats to pass him?
Vote below in our poll, then head to the comment section to weigh in!
Trade Rumors app users, click here to vote.
Without a doubt he’ll get it
Yup he will
I hope he gets to 40,000. I know it’s a ways off but just simply pass to pass isn’t as exciting as doing it and then setting yourself apart from the rest.
I feel like he will keep playing until he gets it even if it’s not done by time his contract is up with the Lakers.
I have no objection to Jabbar, Malone & Bryant getting passed… these players scored by working the same specialty over & over. MJ & LJ have more variety.
James has more than 3 years left, but his jumper is not looking good. He needs to back to the basics there… land where you jump from, etc.
He probably will, but that’s just because he started earlier than all the rest aside from Kobe. Take away his first 3 NBA seasons and put him in Ohio State and he is still well behind Jordan and would have virtually no chance of catching Kareem.
Well if “ifs” and “buts” were candy and nuts, we would all have a Merry Christmas.
kareem and jordan are two of the best ever. king james? lmao!
No.
I think he’s going to struggle to get there. His dissent has started and because of his mileage and usage his slide is going to be steep and quick.
You already got your (oft-mentioned) wish, but there he is again, reduced, but not much changed. Pretty obviously not a steep slide.
How about some new, more likely voodoo?
dislike 1
LeBron gonna end up 1st in points, top 5 in assists and top 50 in rebounds. He the King now y’all need to show some speck.
Leading scorer? I thought that was Derek Fisher.
Of course he will, is as good as done already! #KingJames