Stainless, LeBron James sets out again in the hunt for records

At the end of one of his best seasons in his career, LeBron James must already put on the warmth, just 71 days after the 17th Lakers title. A title that has also allowed the Californian franchise to equal the record of its rivals the Celtics. Main favorites to their own succession, the “Purple & Gold” will therefore have as their primary objective to succeed in the “back-to-back” and win an 18th champion’s banner, in the wake of their “King”, who will aim for him his fifth crown.

This new coronation would allow him to become the 27th player to total at least five rings and, if he was elected as a bonus MVP of the Finals for the fifth time, “LBJ” would amount to one unit of Michael Jordan’s record (6).

In the event of a title, this would also mean that he reached the Finals for the 11th time in his career, again approaching a unit of Bill Russell’s record (12), and that he played the two games which he won. lack in order to overtake Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (56) and integrate the podium in terms of finals matches played, behind Bill Russell (70) and Sam Jones (64).

The most complete player in history?

But before it gets there, LeBron James will probably have shone as often in the regular season, further dusting the history books of the NBA. Especially with regard to scoring because, if it scores at least 759 points (i.e. 10.5 points* average) in 2020-21, the Akron native will become the third player to reach the 35,000 career point mark, after Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (38,387) and Karl Malone (36,928). On the other hand, it will be impossible for him to climb in the standings since the gap with the “Mailman”, runner-up to “KAJ”, remains too important (2,688 points, or 37.3 points* on average).

The n ° 1 of the Draft 2003 should however succeed without forcing to register 201 baskets (2.8* per game) in order to overtake Wilt Chamberlain and integrate the Top 3 in this field, always in the company of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Karl Malone. In addition, if he scores 125 3-point baskets (1.7* per game), the “Chosen One” will become the 10th player to cross the 2,000 3-point shot mark.

Considered by many to be the most complete basketball player in history, LeBron James only needs 6 triple-doubles to prove it further and become the fifth player to score at least 100 triple-doubles, after Oscar Robertson (181) , Russell Westbrook (146), Magic Johnson (138) and Jason Kidd (107).

Still on the “all-around” side of the “King”, he only lacks 595 rebounds (8.3* average) and 654 assists (9.1* average) to reach the symbolic bars of 10,000 rebounds and 10,000 assists. Good to know: no player has compiled more than 10,000 units in three of the five main statistical categories (points, rebounds, assists, interceptions or blocks). Barring a disaster, “LBJ” should achieve it in 2020/21 or 2021/22, with an incredible “triple-10K” in points, rebounds and assists…

Incredible longevity that translates into numbers

Now let’s talk about interceptions and blocks because LeBron James can integrate the Top 10 in terms of total interceptions made, if he intercepts 98 balls (1.4* on average). To date, only Michael Jordan is in the Top 10 in points and interceptions. The soon-to-36-year-old winger could therefore join him soon and he could even do better by becoming the only player, along with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, to make the Top 10 in three of the five main statistical categories. It would be in this case the points, the assists and the interceptions, while “KAJ” appears there thanks to its points, rebounds and blocks.

In addition, if he succeeds 43 blocks (0.6* average), the quadruple NBA champion will cross the threshold of 1,000 blocks, becoming at the same time the only player with Karl Malone to compile at least 10,000 points, 5,000 rebounds, 5,000 assists, 2,000 steals and 1,000 blocks in career. The former star of the Cavaliers can however exceed the “Mailman” in a statistical category, certainly less brilliant, namely the lost balls. Because if he commits 101 losses of ball (1.4* per match) in addition, the “King” will climb alone on the first step of the podium.

Often mentioned along with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Karl Malone in these various statistical achievements, LeBron James can pass his glorious elders if he averages at least 20 points per game in 2020/21. It would be his 18th season with such an average and it would constitute a new NBA record since “KAJ” and the “Mailman” stopped them at 17. Clearly, the “Chosen One” has never registered less than 20 units per meets since his debut in the League in 2003.

A physical phenomenon with incredible longevity, “LBJ” can already reach the bar of 50,000 minutes played if he competes in 1,449 (20.1* per game). A total crossed so far by six players but this closed circle has a good chance of growing soon, with the quadruple MVP.

A new MVP trophy in the sights?

Speaking of MVP, LeBron James can add a fifth Maurice Podoloff statuette to his record, like Bill Russell (5), Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (6) and Michael Jordan (5).

He would then be more than 36 years old and he would become, therefore, the oldest MVP in history, ahead of the 35-year-old Karl Malone (1998-99). But, let’s face it, it seems complicated given … the age of the last MVP of the Finals, who should often be put to rest by his team, after this short offseason.

Finally, the “King” will not have the opportunity to equal the record of Bob Pettit and Kobe Bryant, four times elected MVP of the All-Star Game, since the meeting will not take place. On the other hand, if he is chosen “virtually”, it will be his 17th selection in a row for the all-star game, a solo record held by the late “Black Mamba”.

At almost 36 years old, LeBron James has no shortage of sources of motivation for next season, between his personal and collective achievements. Determined to further furnish his trophy cabinet with Los Angeles (and why not Team USA, if he surprisingly decides to play in the Tokyo Olympics), he should also take the opportunity to get a little closer to one of his last big goals, personally: to become the best scorer in history. His recent extension testifies in any case to this will (and that, unprecedented, to evolve alongside his son?).

* The averages are calculated over 72 matches and therefore do not take into account any absences, injuries or rests.