At the age LBJ is now, KAJ had just won his 3rd ring

[AussieSteve]

At the age LBJ is now, KAJ had just won his 3rd ring. He went on to:

- play 7 more seasons
- score 10,299 points in 549 RS games at 18.8ppg
- score 2536 points in 126 playoff games at 20.1ppg
- make 6 more finals
- win 3 more championships
- win 1 more FMVP
- 4 more All-NBA selections
- 3 more top 5 MVP finishes.

Quite incredible. We lose sight of the a fact that KAJ was 33 when he won his 2nd ring. He did most of his winning in his mid-late 30s

[AussieSteve]

Anyone think LeBron can hang around for another 7 years and achieve something similar?

[Im Still Ballin]

Anyone think LeBron can hang around for another 7 years and achieve something similar?

People were saying he was falling off 6 years ago (2014-2015)

LeBron's game is as much about his strength (dynamic) as it is about his explosiveness.

He'll age like Karl Malone, an all-star at 38. Putting up 21/8/5 at 39.

His shooting is also above average, so there's that as well.


It does help that the league is trending towards smaller players. The average NBA player height is 6-6 for the first time since the 70's.

[TheGoatest]

Anyone think LeBron can hang around for another 7 years and achieve something similar?

KAJ was a MUCH more stationary player. So was Malone. LeBron has entered uncharted territory when it comes to being a ball-handler who often drives to the basket type of player, yet who is still an elite player. Or in LeBron's case the best player in the league.
He will have to go back to being a more stationary low-post, power forward that he was with the Heat and his second Cavs run in order to extend his longevity.
They could play LeBron and AD as the 4 and 5 in the starting lineup.

[ImKobe]

KAJ was a MUCH more stationary player. So was Malone. LeBron has entered uncharted territory when it comes to being a ball-handler who often drives to the basket type of player, yet who is still an elite player. Or in LeBron's case the best player in the league.
He will have to go back to being a more stationary low-post, power forward that he was with the Heat and his second Cavs run in order to extend his longevity.
They could play LeBron and AD as the 4 and 5 in the starting lineup.

Nah, not in this era. That's not his game. Even in 2014, he still primarily played on the perimeter but exploited a ton of smaller match-ups with the Heat playing small in those situations, he doesn't have Wade or Irving on the perimeter to do this and it wouldn't make sense when the Lakers have a more dominant post player in Davis. He'll be fine as a point-forward for the rest of his career, especially with Davis demanding all the attention inside and having the ability to also pull the big out of the paint. Lebron can be 40 and he'd still abuse the tweener 3-pt shooting forwards like he did in these Playoffs.


At the age LBJ is now, KAJ had just won his 3rd ring. He went on to:

- play 7 more seasons
- score 10,299 points in 549 RS games at 18.8ppg
- score 2536 points in 126 playoff games at 20.1ppg
- make 6 more finals
- win 3 more championships
- win 1 more FMVP
- 4 more All-NBA selections
- 3 more top 5 MVP finishes.

Quite incredible. We lose sight of the a fact that KAJ was 33 when he won his 2nd ring. He did most of his winning in his mid-late 30s


Kareem's FMVP at age 38 is still the greatest achievement longevity-wise. To do that in a series that featured prime/peak Bird & Magic is still ****ing incredible and is rarely mentioned in the mainstream media for whatever reason. He led the Lakers in scoring, rebounding & blocks in the RS & Playoffs that year at 37/38. Averaged 26/9/5 on 63%TS in the Finals with a 36/7/7 3 block performance to put the Lakers up 3 - 2 in Game 5.

[AussieSteve]

It's interesting how the criteria for GOAT debates have changed.

KAJ was before my time, but my understanding is that by the age LeBron is now, he was the unanimous GOAT. But the reality is that, while he was individually dominant, he won only 1 ring before Magic joined him in 1980 when he was 32. By 35 he had won 3, but with just 1 FMVP. Magic winning the other 2. LeBron now has 4 rings and 4 FMVPs and some people still don't want to concede that he is on GOAT pace.

Sure MJ happened between then and now with his 6/6, but it seems ignorant to arbitrarily set 6/6 as some kind GOAT criteria.

Even if LeBron's not there yet, given his current status as still the undisputed best player in the league, he is clearly on GOAT pace. Even the most ardent Jordan stan has their head in the sand if they can't see this.

[Lebron23]

Lebron is 1b with Jordan

[Goldrush25]

Anyone think LeBron can hang around for another 7 years and achieve something similar?

I think he will play at least an all-star level until he's 41-42, if he wants to. At least one more championship is a sure thing. Give him 50% chance for 2 more. 25% chance for 3 more.