LeBron James enters the 2024-25 season with at least three statistical milestones within reach, a year after he became the first player in history to reach 40,000 regular-season points.
50,000 overall points
The Lakers forward is 1,364 points shy of reaching 50,000 career points (playoffs included). He enters the 2024-25 campaign with a combined 48,636 points (40,474 regular season + 8,162 playoffs). If he can maintain his points-per-game pace (25.7) from last season, he will hit the 50K milestone in his 53rd outing.
All-time minutes leader
After surpassing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the NBA’s all-time scoring leader two seasons ago, James is on the brink of another longstanding record held by “Cap.” Entering the 2024-25 campaign, James had logged 56,597 minutes in the regular season, just 850 minutes shy of Abdul-Jabbar’s 57,446 mark. James — who averaged 35.3 minutes last season — can pass Abdul-Jabbar as early as the Dec. 8 game against the Blazers, provided he stays healthy and clocks the same playing time as last season.
Most 30-point games in history
The never-ending James versus Michael Jordan debate will only intensify if “The King” can achieve this specific record. Entering the 2024-25 season, James (554) needed nine 30-point outings to surpass Michael Jordan (562) for most such games in history. Considering that James had 22 games with 30-plus points last season, it’s almost a shoo-in that he will surpass “His Airness” for this record.
Besides the statistical milestones, James is set to become the first player to play in the NBA as both a teenager and a 40-year-old. The Ohio native entered the league as an 18-year-old in 2003. He will turn 40 on Dec. 30. On a related note, he will tie Vince Carter for the record of most NBA seasons with 22.
In the not-too-distant future, James could also surpass Robert Parish’s record for most regular-season games in history. The Celtics legend played 1,611 games during his 21 seasons in the league. James enters the 2024-25 season having played 1,492 games, trailing Abdul-Jabbar (1,560) for third on the list. If he can appear in at least 69 games this season, he will pass up Abdul-Jabbar and move to second.
James and the Lakers begin their regular-season campaign against the Timberwolves on Oct. 22.
