Can LeBron James Cross the 40,000 Mark Before the End of the Season?

Another regular season and yet again LeBron James has done something groundbreaking. The King’s reign has spread over an area that is too vast to comprehend. In Tuesday’s convincing win against the Utah Jazz, the elite forward might have had a small contribution, but its impact was large scale. James’ efficient 17-point performance made him the first man in NBA history to surpass 39000 points in the regular season.

It doesn’t really feel like an accomplishment after his record-setting moment last season. The entire LA arena rose when he hit his patented fadeaway to surpass Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the all-time scoring leader. From then, each game he played, we knew he would only further the distance and take the record into the realm of impossibility. However, each landmark calls for a celebration.

“There’s been so many great players that came across this league since the beginning of time, and so many great scorers. To be able to accomplish something that’s the first of anything, I think that’s always pretty cool. It’s a wild moment, that’s for sure,” said James reacting to his newest milestone.

But there is something about a perfect rounded-up number that makes it even more special. Hence fans have their eyes set on the moment he hits the 40000 mark.  Aging hasn’t affected the artistry LeBron James produces on the floor. His pace and undaunted longevity make any record seem like a likely outcome waiting to happen. So let’s examine if he can be the first to enter the gates of 40k points.

LeBron James started slow but has picked up a historic pace

In October, when the dawn of the new season came, we wondered how James would look. He had contemplated retirement before turning heads announcing his return at the ESPYs. Would this be the season James stops defying the laws of biology? He averaged 22 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 6.5 assists. Those are still mind-boggling numbers for a 38-year-old, but it was far from James’ near 30ppg from last year. He looked somewhat lethargic, struggling to find his regulation shots. It gave the concept of Anthony Davis taking charge some substance.

However, those four games were only James fooling the NBA world and dusting off his newest LeBron 21s.

“You scared huh? This is what I do!” James famously said while he beat Father Time in Nike’s commercial. Well, he might actually be seeing an entity that Jason Momoa played, and in November the King has earned triumph.

He is back to putting up his regular numbers. Yes, each time seems even more surprising than the previous one. With the month at its end, James has averaged 27.2 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 6.7 assists, almost aligning with his career averages in each stat. But he has made it look a lot easier this time. The Chosen One has never shot the ball any better than he is in his 22nd season. A career-high 61% from the floor and 41% from beyond the arc. Like an old man brimming with wisdom, James has carefully operated his time. He starts off slow, picks up the rhythm, and bursts in the sleeping moments of the game. It’s no wonder he leads the NBA in 4Q points at 9.2 per game. However, the disparity is alarming as he has a +/- of +68. To put it into context, the next best is Jayson Tatum and he is a whole 18 points behind.

READ MORE-3 Key Takeaways as LeBron James and Anthony Davis Tow Lakers Closer to $500,000 Reward

With a new season, the Los Angeles Lakers have created a proficient system to maximize James’ time on the floor. He feels indomitable and unflappable against younger competition. If there is one old head you can’t underestimate, it is LeBron James.

The King is heading for a greater record

In all honesty, 40000 points for James is a cakewalk at this point. He is 988 points away from the mark. Even when James played only half a season, he managed to score over 1100 points. With 14 games done, he has scored 340 points. The uplifting news is that his ankle which was under a heavy burden last season is bouncing excitedly this time. He isn’t struggling to move around. And with not much really left to prove,

LeBron has a wide smile on his face each time he plays. He isn’t tired of the euphoric feeling basketball gives him, in fact, it seems to have multiplied now that he knows it won’t be lasting much longer.

As long as he manages to play 50 games, I feel the King will easily achieve 40000 regular season points. However, that isn’t the glorifying record that he might break this season. Last year he only became the highest scorer in NBA regular season history, but what about in all of basketball land?

Watch This Story: World Wrestling Champion hailing from Serbia flies high during the off-season with Air Jordans promoting basketball legend Michael Jordan

The only man who beats James’ current tally is former Brazilian international Oscar Schmidt. He played for 29 years, the most ever for any basketball player. In his nearly three decades spend on the court, Schmidt scored 49,737 points. James currently sits at 47,925 points in his career. He is within touching distance of breaking another long-time record. Yet with 1600 points still keeping him away from the ultimate basketball crown, James will likely need another season or a full healthy season. If he manages to stay fit throughout this year, we might see him become the official all-time scorer in all of basketball.