Despite Father Time, LeBron James has topped the “Most Newsworthy NBA Players of the Season” list by Betway Insider. James, 39, will turn 40 on December 30, 2024, but isn’t slowing down anytime soon. His nickname is “King James” as he’s widely recognized as one of the best players in NBA history and he’s often compared with Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan in debates surrounding the NBA’s Greatest Player of All Time (GOAT). Read on for the entire list.
Continues to Defy Father Time
Despite being up there in age, James remains one of the most dominant forces — and one of the biggest stars — in the NBA. He leads Betway’s list with 77,802 articles. James’ every move is immediately followed by reporters and fans alike. In addition, James’ son, Bronny James, is heavily covered by reporters, as the latter became one-half of the first father-son duo in NBA history.
In case you missed it, James surpassed Los Angeles Lakers legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to become the leading scorer in NBA history on February 7, 2023. To put it mildly, James’ topping Abdul-Jabbar, now 77, was incredible. He is also known for his countless endorsement contracts, which helped him become the first player in NBA history to accumulate $1 billion in earnings as an active player. In addition, James’ presence is in many books, documentaries, and television commercials, such as Nike, Sprite, and Vitamin Water.
Luka Doncic Trails LeBron James
“Who trailed LeBron James in Betway Insider’s “Most Newsworthy NBA Players of the Season” list?” you ask. The answer is Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic, who has been playing for the Mavericks as a point guard since 2018. Doncic, 25, was born and raised in Ljubljana, Slovenia, but played professional basketball in Madrid, Spain, for Real Madrid from 2015 to 2018. Doncic’s nickname “Luka Magic” was reportedly coined by Mavericks television broadcaster Mark Followill to describe his ability to perform the improbable.
Doncic is widely regarded as one of the greatest European players ever. Doncic led the NBA in scoring during the 2023-24 campaign and became the first European player to lead the league in scoring and the second international player to do so. Doncic is also the Mavericks’ leader in career triple-doubles and holds the record for most points in a single Mavericks season.
NBA Stars Catching Up to LeBron James
In Betway’s list, the third to tenth players are as follows: the Golden State Warriors Stephen Curry with 18,800 articles, the Phoenix Suns’ Kevin Durant with 17,676, the Philadelphia 76ers’ Joel Embiid with 16,336, the Boston Celtics’ Jayson Tatum with 15,874, the Minnesota Timberwolves Anthony Edwards with 15,802, the Denver Nuggets Nikola Jokic with 13,837, the Los Angeles Lakers’ Anthony Davis with 10,597, and the New York Knicks’ Jalen Brunson with 10,237.
Curry, 36, is up in age and may or may not stick with the Warriors after the 2024-25 NBA season. However, Curry’s three-point shooting prowess has made him a household name as one-half of the “Splash Brothers” alongside Klay Thompson. Thompson, 34, ended the duo’s epic era when he became a free agent and signed a three-year, $50 million with the Dallas Mavericks on July 6, 2024.
Edwards, 23, is an up-and-coming player in the NBA. Edwards is the former first-overall pick of the 2020 NBA Draft out of Georgia, with whom he played one season from 2019 to 2020 as a shooting guard. And, although not in the top ten, the Memphis Grizzlies’ Ja Morant ranks in 13th place and is also an up-and-coming player in the NBA. Morant, 25, has been involved in several controversial incidents, but Morant’s explosive athleticism and highlight-reel dunks showcase the excitement he brings to the league.
