LeBron James and NBA history go together like Sung Jin-woo and aura farming. For those unfamiliar with that comparison, they can settle for peanut butter and jelly.
The point is that James is certainly familiar with having claim to the league's extensive history books. Quite frankly, sometimes it would be harder to find an area in which his name does not appear.
Thursday night's matchup against the Golden State Warriors represents an opportunity for James to position himself for another historical achievement. The Los Angeles Lakers superstar has this one all but wrapped up.
James will look to extend a legendary streak
One of the hallmarks of James' legacy as a player in the NBA has been his unrivaled longevity in the sport of basketball. The fact that the 40-year-old forward is still playing the game at a level which includes him among the best in the NBA should never be taken for granted.
James is listed as probable for the matchup against the Warriors. Assuming LeBron will be active, that will officially mark 65 games played for the Lakers superstar in the 2024-25 NBA season. This would officially make him eligible for year-end awards.
James' name has received some buzz in MVP talks this year, but that award will certainly come down to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic. The recognition that LeBron will be interested in would be the All-NBA teams.
It is fair to say that James should be a lock for a spot on one of the three All-NBA teams. The case for All-NBA First Team may be a difficult one to make, but either of the next two featuring the all-time great should be a given.
In the 2024-25 season, James has averaged 24.4 points, 8.1 rebounds, 8.4 assists, 1.0 steal, and 0.6 blocks per game, with shooting splits of 51-37-77. The rejuvenated effort displayed on the defensive end should go a long way to securing his spot too.
For LeBron, this would extend his legendary streak of consecutive All-NBA selections. James has been a member of those squads since his second season in the league. This selection would make it 21 in a row for the Akron Hammer.
James already holds the record for most All-NBA selections of all time. His currently total of 20 easily clears his closest competition. Kobe Bryant, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Tim Duncan are tied for second with 15 each.
This legendary streak of being recognized among the NBA's very best is one that is very unlikely to be challenged by future generations.
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