Thanks to being eliminated by the Minnesota Timberwolves the offseason is here for the Los Angeles Lakers. That brings on uncertainty and speculation, not just about the team’s future, but about the future of one of the greatest basketball players to ever lace up a pair of sneakers—LeBron James. After the Lakers were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by the Minnesota Timberwolves, fans were left wondering if we just witnessed LeBron’s final game in a Lakers uniform. He has a player option for the 2025 season, and while he’s given no definitive answers yet, the possibility of him walking away from the purple and gold—or even the NBA entirely—feels more real now than ever.
It’s surreal to think about because LeBron James is still playing at an incredibly high level. Even after his 22nd season, his stats remain elite. He’s no longer just padding his legacy—he’s redefining what legacy even means in the modern NBA. If this really was his last game in Los Angeles, then at least we can say that fans got to witness something historically special. LeBron is not only the league’s all-time leading scorer, but he’s also embedded himself in the top ten of several other statistical categories, cementing his name alongside—and above—some of the most iconic legends to ever touch the hardwood.
Before we get into the numbers, we have to take a step back and consider just how remarkable LeBron’s career has been in terms of consistency, longevity, and sheer dominance. He has won four NBA championships: two with the Miami Heat in 2012 and 2013, one with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016, and one with the Lakers in 2020. That 2016 title with Cleveland remains one of the most iconic championships in NBA history, as he led the Cavaliers back from a 3–1 deficit against the 73-win Golden State Warriors, delivering Cleveland its first major sports title in over five decades.
As for Finals appearances, LeBron has played in a staggering 10 NBA Finals, more than Kobe Bryant (7) and Michael Jordan (6). And unlike Jordan or Kobe, who spent their entire primes with one franchise, LeBron did it with three different teams in with three different teams. He brought the Heat to four straight Finals from 2011 to 2014, dragged the Cavaliers there four more times from 2015 to 2018, and made it back again with the Lakers in 2020. While some use his 4–6 record in the Finals as a knock against him, the truth is it speaks to his uncanny ability to lead teams through grueling playoff runs. Simply getting to the Finals 10 times is a feat that places him in rarefied air.
But the championships and the Finals appearances are just the tip of the iceberg. Where LeBron truly separates himself from the pack is in the numbers—specifically, how he has become the NBA’s all-time leading scorer while also ranking in the top ten in assists, steals, and other categories that most wouldn’t expect from a guy who has been labeled a scorer for so long. That’s the magic of LeBron James—he’s not just a scorer, he’s a basketball Swiss Army knife who can do everything at an elite level.
When LeBron passed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on March 2, 2024, he became the NBA’s all-time leading scorer with a combination of power, finesse, longevity, and efficiency that few could have predicted when he entered the league in 2003. Think about that for a second. Kareem set the scoring record in 1984 and held it for nearly 40 years. And Kareem was a center—he had the size advantage, the unstoppable skyhook, and the benefit of playing in an era where big men dominated. LeBron, on the other hand, is a power-forward who’s always been known just as much for his passing as for his scoring. And still, he climbed that mountain.
As of now, LeBron has scored over 50,000 career points. That number is mind-blowing. What’s even more mind-blowing is that he’s done it without ever really chasing it. Unlike some players who ramp up their shot attempts in the twilight of their careers to climb leaderboards, LeBron has remained focused on winning and doing what his team needs him to do. Sometimes that means scoring 30, sometimes it means facilitating. The scoring just came along for the ride.
And speaking of facilitating, he’s also ranked in the top five in career assists. Yes, top five. The man who has more points than anyone else in NBA history is also up there with the likes of John Stockton, Jason Kidd, and Chris Paul when it comes to dishing the ball. That’s not just rare—it’s unprecedented. Nobody in the top ten in assists is anywhere near the top ten in scoring. Except LeBron.
He’s also top ten in career steals. Again, that’s not a flashy stat people associate with him, but it’s another example of how well-rounded he is. He’s never been the kind of defender who racks up highlight blocks like a center or smothers guards like a lockdown perimeter specialist, but he’s always been smart. His basketball IQ is arguably the highest we’ve ever seen, and it shows in how he positions himself, how he anticipates passing lanes, and how he makes plays before the opponent even realizes the opportunity was there.
Another underrated aspect of his legacy is durability. LeBron has played more than 1,500 games between the regular season and playoffs combined. For someone who came into the league as an 18-year-old straight out of high school, that kind of longevity is astonishing. It’s even more astonishing when you consider the miles he’s logged and how few major injuries he’s had. He invests millions of dollars a year into his body, and it shows. At age 39, he’s still capable of dropping 30 points, grabbing double-digit rebounds, and running the floor like a man ten years younger from time to time. Like most players at this stage he appears to be limping his way to retirement just to have a chance to play with his youngest son Bryce. And is still competing at an All-Star level.
Now, we can’t talk about all of this without mentioning the comparisons. The bar for greatness in basketball has always set against Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant in recent years. And while everyone has their favorites and their preferences, it’s time we start recognizing that LeBron doesn’t need to be better than MJ or Kobe to be seen as the greatest in his own way. He’s not a carbon copy of either of them. He’s not trying to be. His game is built on versatility, vision, and adaptability. MJ was a cold-blooded scorer and competitor and that earned him six rings in six appearances. Kobe was the relentless worker who modeled his game after Jordan and gave L.A. five titles. LeBron is the all-around monster who combined scoring, passing, leadership, and longevity into a mold that doesn’t fit into the GOAT debates as neatly as people want.
That’s why his statistical dominance matters so much. It’s objective. You can argue about rings and clutch shots all day, but you can’t argue about the fact that he’s No. 1 in points, top five in assists, top ten in steals, and climbing in games played, minutes, and rebounds too. And he’s done all this while averaging more than 27 points per game for his career.
What separates LeBron most from those other legends is that he’s a generational bridge. He played against Allen Iverson, Tim Duncan, Dirk Nowitzki, Kevin Garnett, Steph Curry, and Kevin Durant, and now, not only against, in 2024 on the same team as Luka Dončić. He’s been great in every era, adjusting his game as the league changed around him. He went from a non-shooter early in his career to a reliable three-point threat. He used to rely heavily on athleticism, and now he uses footwork, strength, and IQ to dominate slower defenders. He’s evolved more times than most players even get the chance to try.
So what happens now? If this really is the end of the LeBron era in Los Angeles—or even in the NBA—what are we left with?
We’re left with a career that’s not just statistically superior but narratively rich. We’re left with memories of buzzer-beaters, chasedown blocks, no-look passes, and postgame quotes that sparked debates for days. We’re left with highlight reels that will be watched by kids who aren’t even born yet. And we’re left with the privilege of having watched someone who wasn’t just great at basketball, but who expanded our definition of what greatness in basketball even means.
Here’s the thing, folks: Maybe he comes back. Maybe he signs with another team. However we turn it though I do not see him retiring just yet. I believe he wants to play until his Bryce is drafted and have the change to play one game with or against Bryce.
With that… The offseason is here for the Los Angeles Lakers. But it might also be the start of a bigger offseason—the beginning of life after LeBron. And if that’s the case, then we should all take a moment to appreciate what we just witnessed. Because players like LeBron James don’t come around often. In fact, they usually only come around once.
If you cannot play with them, then root for them!