The « King » LeBron James celebrates his 40th birthday on Monday, a symbol of the unique longevity of the Los Angeles Lakers star, with multiple perspectives while his career has no scheduled end yet.
An unplanned retirement
While he attacked in October his 22e season in the NBA, there is still no question of retirement for LeBron James, who signed a new two-year contract in July estimated at $100 million with the Los Angeles Lakers, the second year ($52 million US) remaining at its discretion.
The Lakers, where he has played since 2018, do everything to pamper their star.
This summer they drafted his son Bronny James, a young player whose future at the high level is uncertain, thus allowing him to form the first father-son duo to play on the same NBA floor.
After two irregular seasons, the franchise with 17 titles also thanked coach Darvin Ham in June, to hire JJ Redick, a former player with no experience on a bench but a great friend of LeBron James with whom he hosted a podcast.
James had only mentioned his retirement in the summer of 2023, after the heart attack suffered by Bronny. “At that point, I was exhausted, mentally I wasn’t quite there anymore,” he said.
New records in sight
The « King » forever marked NBA history by overtaking Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in February 2023 to become the top scorer, before crossing the symbolic bar of 40,000 points in March this year.
The counter continues to tick (it compiles 41,131 points as of December 27) to place this record at unattainable heights.
Starting his 22e season, he tied Vince Carter's record in this area and will surpass it if he starts the next one.
His longevity also allows him to aim for the best mark of matches played. He is currently fifth (1,520), but can hope to overtake Robert Parish (1,611) if he continues the adventure.
Fourth best passer in history (11,261), James, who averages 9 passes this season, will have difficulty getting on the podium, occupied by Jason Kidd (third with 12,091 units), Chris Paul, still active (third, 12,149) and untouchable leader John Stockton (15,806).
Finally, although he has the record for points, James does not yet hold the record for baskets scored, which nevertheless seems within his reach: he has 15,088, behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (15,837).
Still candidate for the title?
Four times titled, LeBron James has not won a ring since 2020 and his success in the Orlando COVID bubble.
The Lakers have since been disappointing in the regular season (7e in 2021, 11e in 2022 and 7e in 2023 and 2024), reaching the Western Conference final in 2023, but being eliminated in the first round of the playoffs last spring.
This season, after a good start, they fell back into line by suffering some humiliating defeats, in both play and attitude. “I’m ashamed,” said Redick after a spanking in Miami in early December (134-93).
For the leading sports media The Athletic“the Lakers need one or two player trades to have a chance at a title this season.”
Still essential with an average of 23.5 points, LeBron's ratio (evolution of the score when he is on the floor) is however largely negative this season.
The star duo he forms with Anthony Davis lacks support and receives criticism for intermittent defensive involvement.
L’ambition Las Vegas
After his career, LeBron James has not hidden his desire to become the owner of an NBA franchise, in particular in Las Vegas, in the cards to obtain a team in the event of an extension which would occur after the signing of a new agreement television broadcasting rights.
LeBron spoke to ESPN about this project as his “ultimate goal.”
Partner of the Fenway Sports Group fund, owner of Liverpool FC, James owns shares in the English club, the Boston Red Sox (baseball) and the Pittsburgh Penguins (hockey).
Forbes estimates that James is the first basketball player to become a billionaire (US$1.2 billion) during his career.
