You get only one opportunity to turn 40 years old. LeBron James does it Monday in supernatural fashion, remaining an athletic marvel as he steps into the big 4-0 during his 22nd NBA season.
While his game may not reach its familiar peaks as often as its used to, doing what LeBron is doing this season — averaging 23.5 points, 7.9 rebounds and nine assists — would constitute career years for most.
As we celebrate James continuing to marvel us into his 40s, let’s run through the top 40 moments and accomplishments of his seemingly never-ending career. We’ll run through 35 of them before crossing the finish line with a timely top five. If you disagree with the order — or any potential omissions — feel free to have fun in the comments and keep the list going … just as LeBron’s career seemingly does.
Without further ado, let’s get into it, basketball friends:
40. Oct. 29, 2003: NBA debut
In one of the most highly anticipated athletic debuts in sports history, James made the NBA game look too easy, becoming the youngest player in league history to record at least 20 points, five rebounds and five assists in a game. His 25-point, nine-assist, six-rebound night was enhanced by four steals, but the Cleveland Cavaliers lost to the Sacramento Kings 106-92.
39. 2019-20: Good dimes never age
Always one to reinvent himself, James was in special form during his second season with the Los Angeles Lakers, during which he led the league in assists for the first time. He averaged a career-high 10.2 assists, becoming the oldest player to ever lead the league in the stat. He joined Magic Johnson as the only Lakers to average double-digit dimes in a full season.
38. May 4, 2009: Winning first NBA MVP
The Cavs went an impressive 66-16 during the 2008-09 season as James officially arrived with his first NBA MVP award. With 28.4 points, 7.6 rebounds, 7.2 assists and 1.7 steals, he became the first player since Michael Jordan in 1987-88 to win MVP honors before turning 25.
37. April 22, 2006: Triple-double in playoff debut
As the Cavs did away with the Washington Wizards, a then-21-year-old James crafted a 32-point, 11-rebound, 11-assist masterpiece in his first NBA playoff game. That’s an insane feat for anyone to accomplish; it’s so rare that only Nikola Jokić (2019), Johnson (1980) and Johnny McCarthy (1960) have been so productive in their playoff debuts.
36. March 21, 2008: Passes Brad Daugherty as Cleveland’s all-time leading scorer
At just 23, James passed five-time All-Star Brad Daugherty as the Cavs’ all-time leading scorer. Although James passed Daugherty’s original record of 10,389 points at such a young age, don’t doubt how good the latter was in his prime. From 1990-93, Daugherty averaged 21.1 points on 55.3 percent shooting with 10.5 rebounds amid one of the most successful stints in Cavaliers history.
35. Feb. 20, 2009: Buck wild on the road
Including the playoffs, James has scored 50-plus points on the road a dozen times, but this particular instance stands out. If you’re into nostalgic YouTube rabbit holes, very few match watching LeBron cook the Milwaukee Bucks with 16 points in 2:17 of game time (the most insane part about this heat check is him somehow missing two free throws but making seemingly everything else). James finished this game with 55 points, including a 24-point third quarter.
34. Nov. 29, 2003: Youngest 30-point game ever
Can anyone imagine scoring 30 points in an NBA game before being old enough to rent a car? Or barely being old enough to vote? At 18 years and 334 days, James became (and remains) the youngest player ever to notch a 30-point outing, scoring 33 in a double-overtime loss to Memphis. In fact, he owns all of the top 10 in that category. (Kevin Durant and James own the next four spots, before Jaren Jackson Jr. checks in at No. 15). Few things better epitomize an ageless wonder.
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33. Feb. 14, 2016: Last All-Star Game with Kobe Bryant
Both LeBron and Kobe shared an undeniable bond throughout their years in the league. Although we never got the NBA Finals we craved between them, it was always refreshing to see them enjoy competing against (and with) each other whenever the opportunity arose. Both players scored in double digits and handed out seven dimes as Russell Westbrook took home MVP honors in this game.
32. Aug. 24, 2008: From bronze to gold
After Team USA took home bronze at the 2004 Olympics, it was suggested that James improve his attitude to help the program. By 2008, the Redeem Team helped further restore America as the world standard for hoops (the women’s team has won every gold since 1996, after all). On the way to his first gold medal, James was second on the team in points (15.5) and assists (3.8) while shooting 60.2 percent.
31. Aug. 10, 2024: Notching more gold
It’s hard to argue with winning more hardware, but the 2024 U.S. men’s basketball team sure made it climactic. Both Stephen Curry and Durant enjoyed their share of heat checks as the Americans took home another gold in hoops, but James proved steady as ever by trailing only Curry (14.8) in points with 14.2, leading Team USA in shooting percentage (66), rebounds (6.8) and assists (8.5) and tying Anthony Edwards (eight) for the team lead in steals.
30. Jan. 27, 2024: Oldest 20-point, 20-rebound game ever
With 36 points and 20 rebounds against the Warriors, James (39 years, 28 days) became the oldest player ever with a 20-point, 20-rebound game. Because of the constant overlap between him and Tim Duncan, it’s only right to mention James surpassed the latter’s previous mark by about two years (Duncan was 37 years, 211 days old when he had his last 20-20 game).
29. February 2018: Oldest to average triple-double for a month
For the month, James averaged 27 points, 10.5 rebounds and 10.5 assists while enjoying 41.9 percent shooting from deep. Beyond becoming the oldest to average a triple-double in a calendar month, James shot 55.9 percent for the rest of February after opening the month with an 11-point outing in a 32-point loss to the Houston Rockets. Talk about finishing strong.
28. April 20, 2004: Rookie of the Year
At just 19, James became the youngest player ever and the first in Cavaliers history to win the award. Since then, LaMelo Ball (2021), Luka Dončić (2019), Andrew Wiggins (2015), Kyrie Irving (2012) and Durant (2008) have joined him as the only players to win Rookie of the Year before turning 20.
27. Feb. 19, 2006: First All-Star Game MVP
While Tracy McGrady’s 36 points led all scorers, James’ 29-point, six-rebound, two-assist night in about 30 minutes secured MVP honors. At 21 years and 51 days old, he remains the youngest player to win the award.
26. May 5, 2013: In Good Company
It’s one thing to be a one-man club in many categories, but joining Michael Jordan, Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on any list is its own feat. With James’ fourth NBA MVP award, he became only the fifth player with such an esteemed trophy case. The 2012-13 season might be the most effective version of LeBron we’ve ever seen. He finished second in Defensive Player of the Year voting while shooting 56.5 percent overall, 40.7 percent from deep and averaging 26.8 points. There was actually a stretch, from Feb. 3-26, 2013, during which he made 65 percent of his shots while posting nearly 30 points per game. That run represented the first 12 games of the Heat’s 27-game win streak. It’s a fun season to relive, if you have six hours.
25. May 17, 2006: First All-NBA nod
At 21 years, 138 days old, James became the youngest player to earn First Team All-NBA honors thanks to averaging 31.4 points, seven rebounds, 6.6 assists and 1.6 steals as the Cavaliers notched their first 50-win season since 1992-93. Only Dončić (2021, 2020), Anthony Davis (2015), Durant (2010), Duncan (1998) and Rick Barry (1966) have earned First Team All-NBA honors before turning 22.
24. Dec. 9, 2021: 100th career triple-double
Because they now happen so routinely, triple-doubles are hard to distinguish these days, but that just makes key milestones more important to gauge. On this day, against the Memphis Grizzlies, James became only the fifth player to notch 100 career trip-dubs, joining Westbrook, Oscar Robertson, Magic Johnson and Jason Kidd. The Joker is the only player to since join the list.
23. March 3, 2014: Going for 61
This game could be hard to remember because the Bobcats are now the Hornets, but it did happen. James’ career high of 61 points remains the only time he crossed the 60-point threshold, and he made it count. He knocked down eight 3s and had a 25-point third quarter en route to what remains the highest-scoring game in Heat history.
22. February 2024: Passing Kareem … (again)
Lately, James has made a routine of passing Abdul-Jabbar on all-time lists, but doing so with All-Star selections is its own version of cool. His NBA-record nod made 20 consecutive appearances and continued an amazing streak that began back in 2005, when Mariah Carey’s “We Belong Together” was still topping the music charts.
21. 2017 NBA playoffs: An expert with brooms
Following an epic title run in 2016, James added more to his hoops lore as the Cavaliers swept the Indiana Pacers 4-0 in the first round of the following year’s playoffs. He closed out the Pacers with 33 points, 10 rebounds, four assists, four steals and two blocks. By notching his 10th career playoff sweep, he passed Duncan for the most by a single player in NBA history.
20. Oct. 11, 2020: Wins fourth NBA title
As the Lakers notched their 17th NBA championship, James created one of his many one-player clubs. His fourth ring made him the only player to win NBA Finals MVP honors with three different franchises. At 35 years, 286 days old, he became the second-oldest player in league history to win the award. Not bad for an older hooper.
19. June 2, 2007: Led Cavaliers to first-ever NBA Finals
Unlike the 2013 finals, this championship matchup between James and Duncan was quite lopsided, but it wasn’t without a bit of foreshadowing, as the latter thanked the then-22-year-old James for “letting” the San Antonio Spurs notch the 2007 title. It marked the first of five NBA Finals trips for James and the Cavs, but that 2007 team remains one of the biggest finals underdogs ever. It also had to be cool for the legendary Bill Russell to say, “Make me proud.” A few rings, several more NBA Finals runs and all-time records later, it’s safe to say LeBron has done that and then some.
18. June 20, 2013: Back-to-back rings
As the Heat went back to back, James won his second-consecutive NBA Finals MVP. He remains one of six players to do so, with Bryant, Jordan, Hakeem Olajuwon, Shaquille O’Neal and Durant rounding out the list. Miami outlasted the Spurs in what remains an undeniable seven-game classic.
17. March 2, 2024: The 40k Club
Speaking of one-man clubs, James extended his NBA record for career points in March by becoming the first player to score 40,000 career points. It should come as no surprise, considering he’s the youngest player in league history to reach every thousand-point threshold.
16. 2021-22 season: Going for 30 … again
Despite not technically qualifying for the scoring title (he appeared in only 56 games), James continued to dazzle by becoming the oldest player to average at least 30 points (30.3 for the season; 37 years, 101 days at season’s end). The list of Lakers to average 30 in a season isn’t much longer, but it’s impressive: Bryant (three times), Jerry West (four times) and Elgin Baylor (three times).
15. 2016 NBA Finals: Another one-man club
For myriad reasons, the 2016 NBA Finals remains in a class of its own, but the biggest reason remains James putting the Cavaliers on his back. As Cleveland won its first NBA title, he became the first player in NBA history to lead both teams in points, rebounds, assists, blocks and steals for a playoff series — and we’ll always have his insane block on Andre Iguodala. Maybe we should thank Klay Thompson for motivating such an all-time great effort. (More on that below.)
14. Oct. 22, 2024: Like father, like son
On this night, the James family made history only the Griffeys could truly appreciate. Though LeBron and Bronny played only a few minutes together, it remains cool to see such a rare moment in sports history. We’re still waiting for them to someday hook up on an alley-oop connection — given the rate at which LeBron is still playing, let’s not count it out.
13. May 27, 2018: Reaches eighth straight NBA Finals
In NBA history, only Russell (12) and Sam Jones (11) have collected more career NBA Finals appearances than James, whose 10 career appearances tie Abdul-Jabbar for the third-most ever. Posting eight in a row is absurd — it’s the longest streak since the NBA/ABA merger. Splitting that run between two franchises is somehow even more impressive.
12. Aug. 12, 2012: Joining Jordan
By winning his second-career gold medal after winning his first NBA title, James joined Jordan as the only players to win NBA MVP, an NBA title, NBA Finals MVP and gold medal in the same year. It’s a cool accomplishment and elite company, no matter how extensively one may argue which player is the GOAT (that’s what most comment sections are for, though, right?)
11. July 30, 2018: Principal LeBron
Few people would argue with opening an actual school as a sound reason to give back to the community. The iPromise school provides students with year-round resources and a STEM-focused and trauma-informed curriculum. Its inaugural class consisted of 240 third- and fourth-grade students. Among many forms of help, the school offers daily bus transportation for students who lives more than two miles away, as well as daily free breakfast, lunch and snacks.
10. June 2, 2022: Billionaire Bron
We can argue that one person should never have a billion dollars. If you’re going to obtain that wealth, however, doing it through basketball seems like a decent, humane way to make the money. That’s especially true when you’re willing to open a school along the way. In June 2022, Forbes estimated James’ net worth at $1 billion. Through the 2023-24 season, about $480 million in pretax salary came from his NBA earnings. Off-the-court endorsements with companies such as Nike, PepsiCo and Beats by Dre have helped him rake in over $900 million away from hoops.
9. June 21, 2012: Clinches first NBA title
This playoff run exorcised many demons for James, whose 2011 NBA Finals performance remains a low point in an otherwise stellar career. By the next year, in closing out Durant and the Oklahoma City Thunder, the then-27-year-old phenom recorded a triple-double to secure his first ring. It was one of two times he recorded a triple-double in an NBA Finals clincher — Johnson (1985, 1982) is the only other player with two such games.
8. Oct. 21, 2021: Named to NBA 75th Anniversary Team
Ahead of the 2021-22 season, the NBA announced its 75th Anniversary Team, which, at the time, combined for 158 total NBA titles, 730 All-Star selections, 110 MVP awards and NBA Finals MVP trophies and over 1.5 million points scored. If you can’t squeeze in the half hour for the whole ceremony, at least take at least a few moments to peep how objectively fly the blazers are. For what it’s worth, The Athletic compiled its own Top 75, where LeBron came in at No. 2.
7. May 22, 2009: Game-winner vs. Orlando Magic
The excitement from James nailing this shot remains one of the most energetic moments of his storied career, but it also capped one of the most productive stretches of his career despite Cleveland losing the Eastern Conference finals in six games. His averages of 38.5 points, 8.3 rebounds and eight assists still don’t make any sense … nor does averaging 42.3 points in Games 1-4.
6. Feb. 18, 2002: The Chosen One Sports Illustrated cover
Such a legendary moment doesn’t require much rehashing, seeing as the moment speaks for itself to this day. The expectations for James to become great were immensely high, but he’s since exceeded expectations, which somehow still seems like underselling it. Here is the late, great Grant Wahl recounting his experience with covering LeBron to bring that cover story to life.
Zach’s Top 5
5. May 31, 2007: Scoring 25 straight vs. Detroit Pistons
This was the announcement that James could finally bend the game to his liking and there was little the NBA competition could do about it.
It was Game 5 of the 2007 Eastern Conference finals between the Cavs and the Pistons. Cleveland was down 0-2 in the series after two losses in Detroit then won the next two games at home to even the series. But going into Detroit and beating that team was no easy feat, especially not when James was just 22 years old and the starting lineup included Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Sasha Pavlović, Drew Gooden and Larry Hughes.
Cleveland was supposed to, at best, fight in the home games and lose the road games. James wasn’t ready yet … except he was. We found that out dramatically. James scored the last seven points of regulation to send it to overtime. He scored all nine points for the Cavs in the first overtime before Chauncey Billups drilled two clutch free throws to send it to a second overtime. Then, James scored all nine points for the Cavs in the second overtime to secure the Game 5 win. The run is a beautiful sight to behold because it’s just the sheer will of a young superstar in the making deciding he wasn’t losing to Goliath.
In all, James finished with 48 points, scoring 25 straight to end the game and 29 of the last 30 points for the Cavs. Only a lone free throw by Gooden broke that streak. The Cavs would get swept in the NBA Finals, but everybody knew James was here to win from that point on.
4. Feb. 8, 2023: Passes Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as NBA’s all-time leading scorer
When James was being talked about in high school as this can’t-miss phenom and the next big superstar the NBA was going to push as potentially its next Michael Jordan, certain accolades and accomplishments were always thrown around. Could he win the most MVPs? Could he match Jordan in titles or NBA Finals success? Could he become the all-time scoring leader and break Abdul-Jabbar’s scoring record? The first two always felt more like fantasy than reality, simply because Jordan’s hallowed success was always going to be an improbable standard to meet.
The scoring thing was always distant, but very much on the table, especially once James established himself as a great volume scorer. He just needed the longevity. One of my favorite things to think about in NBA lore is traveling back in time and, for example, watching Dirk Nowitzki get drafted in 1998 and telling people seeing him on TV that he’d score more points than Wilt Chamberlain. On draft night in 2003, if you told people James would end up the all-time scoring leader, nobody would’ve scoffed. He was that type of prospect.
On this night, James was knocking on the door of the record. Everybody knew he was going to do it, but we didn’t know how he’d do it. Needing two points to pass Kareem in the game, James got the ball on the right elbow, posted up against Kenrich Williams for a couple dribbles moving left and hit the fadeaway jumper from near the left corner of the free-throw line. The game stopped with 10.9 seconds left in the third quarter, the home crowd celebrated, and Kareem walked out on the floor to congratulate James. It was a culmination of excellence, longevity and dominance.
Also, I’ll never get over Thomas Bryant with his man pinned under the basket, calling for the ball as James is taking the shot.
I’ll never get over Thomas Bryant calling for the ball as LeBron set the all-time scoring record 😂😂😂😂😂 Legend.
I think about this weekly. pic.twitter.com/oPugpFm68M
— Zach Harper (@talkhoops) December 27, 2023
3. June 19, 2016: Game 7 against the Warriors for third NBA title
The fabled 73-9 Warriors were standing in the way of James and an excellent Cavs team fulfilling the destiny he set out for that franchise back in 2003 when he got drafted: Doing the improbable of giving the city of Cleveland a championship. The Warriors were ready to ruin this era for James and everybody else in the league with their historic dominance. After being down 3-1 in the NBA Finals, the Cavs started storming back when Draymond Green was suspended for Game 5.
They won Game 5 and Game 6 by double digits each, but going into Oracle Arena and winning a Game 7 was going to be impossible. No team had ever come back from down 3-1 in the NBA Finals to win it all. Doing that on the road? Ridiculous. It was an ugly Game 7 from a shot-making standard, which was understandable considering the opponents and the stakes/setting. Once the fourth quarter came around, James put things into a higher gear.
He scored 11 of his 27 points in the fourth quarter, on his way to a 27-point, 11-assist, 11-rebound performance. He had eight straight points from the 7:15 mark of the fourth to the 4:53 mark, battling back and forth with the Splash Brothers in that stretch. Then, the biggest defensive play in NBA Finals history happened with 1:50 left in the game to keep the score tied at 89.
Eventually, Kyrie Irving made the stepback shot of all stepback shots, Kevin Love got the stop on Curry and James put the championship to bed with a clinching free throw with 11 seconds left. Cleveland, this was for you!
2. July 8, 2010: The Decision
This one … was not for Cleveland.
Before player empowerment was a thing and it felt like the destiny of franchises was no longer held by the teams themselves, nobody ever really flexed their power and influence in this way. Jordan certainly wielded some power, but even Shaq got traded to Miami when he was trying to flex his way into a new deal with the Lakers. Bryant threatened to leave the Lakers years later but never really moved the chess pieces in the way we see now.
James was becoming the most sought-after free agent in league history. It was a perfect storm of a free-agent class with Dwyane Wade, Amar’e Stoudemire and Chris Bosh. Teams like the New York Knicks had taken years to completely reset their financial books to have the cap space to chase James and whatever it would take to bring him aboard. The biggest suitors for his services were down to New York, the Chicago Bulls, New Jersey Nets, Miami Heat and Cleveland Cavaliers.
James decided to take his announcement away from traditional reporting and broadcast it on live television before anybody else knew where he’d decide to play next. In a sit-down interview with Jim Gray at the Boys & Girls Club in Greenwich, Conn., James uttered what have become some of the most famous words in league history:
“In this fall… this is very tough… in this fall I’m going to take my talents to South Beach and join the Miami Heat.”
James joined Wade and Bosh to form a big three in Miami. It was the moment that changed free agency and player empowerment forever. And we’ve seen it seep into other leagues in big and small ways, too.
1. June 7, 2012: The Boston Game
This might be the meme of all James memes on the internet, along with him allegedly lying about historic events or just reading the first page of a book as he walks into a sporting event.
Back before he was an NBA champion, James still had that hurdle to clear and cross off his list. After joining Miami in 2010, James and the Heat failed miserably in the 2011 NBA Finals, The Dallas Mavericks ended up embarrassing the Heat in a series Miami was supposed to win.
Instead, they were still sans title, and things were looking dire for their chances in the 2012 Eastern Conference finals. Miami won the first two games of the series against the Celtics but lost the next three games. He had been really good in the first five games of the series, averaging 31.8 points, 10 rebounds and four assists while making 50 percent of his shots. But it wasn’t enough at that point, with the “good job, good effort” kid making a memorable early-NBA Twitter moment after the Game 5 loss in Miami.
Then, Game 6 happened. In Boston, with elimination dangling over the Heat like a guillotine of disappointment, James went nuclear. He had 30 points in the first half as the Heat went up 13 at halftime. He showed a level of focus and determination we hadn’t really seen from even him. Through all the great performances, he was missing this moment — something even more special than the 25 straight points against Detroit as a 22-year old.
What endures through all of the yelling and conjecture around James, his greatness and his unprecedented career, is this stare caught on camera.
Eight years ago today, this iconic shot of Lebron was born. pic.twitter.com/59ik4Z7NDE
— ESPN (@espn) June 7, 2020
It’s used for many hilarious things on the internet, but it still haunts the dreams of Celtics fans from that time. James won four of the next nine NBA titles following this stare. He was validated, coronated and established beyond true rebuke. And it will live in NBA lore forever.
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(Illustration: Meech Robinson / The Athletic; top photos: Rocky Widner, Andrew D. Bernstein, Barry Gossage, Nathaniel S. Butler / NBAE via Getty Images)
