LeBron James

LeBron James is the most remarkable athletic specimen professional sport has ever produced, and at 40 years of age, he is still performing at a level that makes the concept of biological ageing look like a suggestion rather than a rule. Born on December 30, 1984, in Akron, Ohio, selected first overall in 2003 straight out of high school, and now the NBA’s all-time leading scorer with four championships across three different teams — LeBron’s career is not merely decorated; it is a monument to sustained excellence that has no parallel in team sport history.

In 2024-25, LeBron averaged 24.4 points per game for the Lakers while leading them to a 50-32 record and the third seed in the West. At forty. Let that settle for a moment. The season was also historic for a reason that transcended basketball entirely: LeBron and his son Bronny James became the first father-son duo to share an NBA court, a moment that captured the global imagination in a way that only LeBron — half athlete, half cultural institution — could engineer.

For Australian fans, LeBron is the most recognisable basketball player on the planet and has been for two decades. His games are the most-watched NBA broadcasts worldwide, the Lakers’ fixtures are the most frequently televised on ESPN in Australia, and his cultural impact extends so far beyond the court that basketball is arguably the least interesting thing about him. The GOAT debate with Jordan will rage forever, and that is precisely the point — the fact that it remains a debate after twenty-two years of LeBron is the greatest compliment his career can receive.

Career Statistics

Player Profile

LeBron James plays forward for the Los Angeles Lakers and is, at 40 years of age, still performing at a level that would represent a career peak for most NBA players. The all-time leading scorer in NBA history averaged 24.4 points per game in 2024-25 while making history alongside his son Bronny. Four championships, 1,517 career games, and a cultural impact that has reshaped how athletes interact with the wider world. Whether he is the greatest of all time is a debate. That he is the most remarkable career in team sport history is not.

VS — Chief sports columnist, australiafootball.com