LeBron James added another signature moment to his storied career last night against the Clippers, scoring 19 points in the fourth quarter to lead his Lakers to a 21-point comeback victory. The 39-year-old continues to do things that no other NBA player has ever done at his age.
It could easily be decades before James’ run gets duplicated. One reason is that players are no longer allowed to enter the league straight out of high school, which gives him a head start over the league’s new stars. However, there are still plenty of freakishly talented young stars that could feasibly challenge “The King’s” run. Let’s look at a couple of the most realistic candidates.
Victor Wembanyama is on pace with LeBron James so far
Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama was one of the most hyped draft prospects since James himself in 2003. The 7’4 Frenchman entered the league with lofty expectations, with analysts openly expecting him to become one of the greatest players of all time.
.@Chris_Broussard: If Wemby is AD, KD or Hakeem, that's a disappointment. I expect him to be one of the best players ever — to have a career like LeBron, Jordan, Duncan, Shaq or Kareem.@getnickwright: Then the expectations are too high. The Spurs should go after the title now. pic.twitter.com/ARKUozIkOu
— First Things First (@FTFonFS1) May 17, 2023
While it’s still very early, the rookie is on the right track so far. “Wemby” is averaging 20.6 points on 46.6 percent shooting to go with 10.2 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 3.3 blocks and 1.3 steals a game. His blocks-per-game average leads the league, and he’s currently fourth with a 107.8 defensive rating. The 20-year-old is the clear favorite to win Rookie of the Year.
Speaking of that award, LeBron James won it as a teenager in the 2003-04 season. He averaged 20.9 points on 41.7 percent shooting, with 5.5 rebounds, 5.9 assists, 1.6 steals, and 0.7 blocks a game.
With Wembanyama’s immense impact on both ends of the floor, his rookie season will eclipse James’s at this current pace. Now, all he has to do is play 20 more elite seasons and break the all-time scoring record.
All jokes aside, Wembanyama will be 40 years old in 20 years. At 7’4, it’s fair to wonder if his knees will be able to hold up for that long. Additionally, who knows if he’ll even want to play at that age? It’s impossible to say, but the promising young star has about as good of a chance as anybody to challenge James’ career accolades.
Luka Doncic vs. LeBron James
Six years into his career, superstar Mavericks guard Luka Doncic is currently dominating at a James-like level. The Slovenian international won Rookie of the Year in 2018 and is a five-time all-star and a four-time All-NBA first-teamer. Additionally, he led Dallas to an upset victory over the Suns in the 2022 Western Conference Semifinals in five games. The 25-year-old is also a prime MVP candidate this season, as he’s been virtually unstoppable. He’s averaging 34.5 points on 49.4 percent shooting, 9.6 assists, and 8.8 rebounds per game. However, he already shut down the idea of chasing LeBron’s legacy.
Mavs' @luka7doncic doesn't anticipate playing 20-plus yrs to catch @kingsJames.
"It's always a possibility, but it's going to be really tough. You gotta have a guy that plays for 20yrs… If you're saying me there's no way [cuz] i'm not playing that much."#MFFL #LakeShow pic.twitter.com/gPphA5I7mt
— Landon Buford (@LandonBuford) January 5, 2023
It’s hard to blame Doncic, as a 20-plus-year career would surely take a toll on anyone’s body. In fact, there have only been a handful of NBA legends who have played as long as James has at this point.
How do other durable Hall-of-Famers compare?
For perspective, let’s look at how James compares with the other longest-tenured legends in league history.
Assuming he comes back next year for his 22nd season, he’ll tie Vince Carter for the longest career ever. Several other former stars have played 21 campaigns, including Kevin Garnett, Dirk Nowitzki, and Robert Parish. However, James’ numbers this season far surpass what those players registered in their 21st years. He’s more than doubling their minutes per game, and completely outclassing them in every other aspect as well.
One of the only other players to sniff James’ numbers at this age range is Michael Jordan. In the “Last Dance” star’s last two seasons, he averaged a combined 21.5 points on 43-percent shooting, with 5.9 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game. This year, James is putting up 25 points on 52.4 percent shooting, with 7.2 rebounds and 7.9 assists. Additionally, Jordan’s two-year stint with the Wizards came after a three-year retirement. James has never stepped away from the game since being drafted.
LeBron James has established himself as a one-of-a-kind workhorse who has the ability to battle with Father Time. While young standouts like Wembanyama and Doncic have the potential to catch him one day, it will be an extremely tall order for anyone to match this level of sustained success.
For More Great Sports Content
Joshua is a diehard Yankees, Jets, Knicks, Rutgers, and Tottenham Hotspur fan. He started his journalism career as the Sports Editor for the Rutgers University newspaper. When he’s not watching a game or writing about one, you can find him in an art-house movie theater or writing a screenplay.
Follow him on Twitter @joshvaldez100, and follow us on Twitter @TotalApexSports. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on all the latest in ALL sports, click here.