A look at 40-year-old LeBron James’ career and legacy

Basketball icon LeBron James celebrates his 40^th birthday on Monday just over a week after clinching two further accolades. 

The small forward surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s minutes-on-court record during the Lakers’ visit to the Sacramento Kings, a game which also saw him secure his 10,000^th point for the Los Angeles-based franchise.

Now in his 22nd NBA season, here’s a reflection on James’ record-breaking exploits, off-the-court ventures and potential legacy:

Making his name

It was fitting that the Ohio-born superstar clinched his latest record in Sacramento, having made his debut at the Kings’ home court way back in October 2003. On that day, James registered the most points and assists in a clash between the Kings and Cavaliers several months after being selected with the top draft pick ahead of the 2003-04 campaign.

Since then, the 40-year-old has gone on to scoop a seemingly endless array of honors and awards. James is a four-time NBA champion, having won basketball’s greatest prize with the Miami Heat (twice), the Cavaliers and his current team, the Los Angeles Lakers. The first NBA player to average 25 points or more in 20 consecutive seasons, “the Chosen One” has featured in every NBA All-Star team since 2005 and been heralded as the league’s MVP on four separate occasions. 

A three-time Olympic Gold medalist (winning in Beijing, London and Paris) and a FIBA Americas champion, James’ achievements extend outside the parameters of the NBA. 

Philanthropy, community involvement and prudent investments

Although he’ll always primarily be remembered for his exploits on the basketball court, James has made a significant impact in multiple other spheres.

Frequently commended for his charitable work, the Lakers veteran has established the LeBron James Family Foundation (LJFF) and donated to various non-profit organizations. Working in close partnership with the University of Akron (located in James’ hometown) the LJFF has enabled thousands of students to access educational scholarships.

James has also spoken out on behalf of the African-American community on numerous occasions, highlighting ongoing social issues such as racial inequality, inadequate funding and voter suppression.

The three-time Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year has also demonstrated his considerable business acumen, making a number of shrewd investments in recent years. Through his close affiliation with the Fenway Sports Group, James is a part-owner of NHL giants Pittsburgh Penguins and MLB stalwarts Boston Red Sox.

Will the records continue to tumble?   

Now entering the twilight stage of his glittering career, the all-time NBA points holder will undoubtedly be thinking about his future legacy. Advancing further up the NBA stats charts will surely be a target as James seeks to cement his G.O.A.T status amongst other sporting greats.

After beating Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s overall scoring tally in February 2023 (eclipsing the legend’s 38,387 points), James has risen to seventh in the all-time rankings for three-pointers made, fourth for assists and second for field goals made. It’s difficult to believe an NBA player will ever record more turnovers, either, with James having amassed 5,319.

Fellow legend Kobe Bryant scored 33,643 points for the Los Angeles Lakers during a trophy-laden spell on the West Coast. Whilst he has no chance of overtaking his former Olympic teammate in that regard, James will be hoping he can smash several other records during his remaining time on court. 

Either way, his impact on the sport has already been made and continues to only increase.