James can still score 25+ points at the age of 40. He is known as the myth of immortality and has a very brilliant career

On June 20, in the history of the NBA, Michael Jordan's name has always been hanging high above the altar. His six-time championship, ten-time scoring champion and unparalleled dominance make him the ultimate yardstick for measuring greatness. However, when we look at LeBron James, the "ageless myth" who still contributed 25+ points per game at the age of 40 in the 2024-25 season, we will find another shocking greatness. His career may not have surpassed Jordan in terms of championships, but his lasting peak across the era, his ever-evolving technical system and the promotion of globalization of basketball have already written a legendary epic unique to the 21st century.

### **From a genius high school student to a historical evergreen: a physiological miracle that breaks the law of time**

In 2003, 18-year-old James entered the NBA as a "son of choice". At that time, the media regarded his comparison with Jordan as a gimmick; 22 years later, when players of the same age had already retired and transformed, he became the oldest 25+ gentleman in the league with averaging 25.3 points per game (as of June 2025). Medical experts have analyzed that James invests more than $1.5 million a year in the care of his body, from cryogenic therapy to customized nutrition plans, his self-discipline is a textbook for professional athletes. But what is even more amazing is his active innovation in the way of the game. He relied on violent breakthroughs in the early days and gradually developed a stable three-point shooting after the age of 30 (41% of the three-point shooting percentage in the 2024-25 season), and his back-to-back singles efficiency even surpassed many inside players. This "anti-aging" technological evolution allowed him to score 40 points in a single game against the Nuggets at the age of 39. ESPN commented: "He is like a basketball software that is constantly upgraded automatically."

### **The comprehensive dominance of the data empire: redefining the dimension of "all-round"**

If measured by scores alone, James' total score surpassed Jabbar to reach the top in history as early as 2023 (currently exceeded 43,000 points), but his greatness is more reflected in his all-round control of the game. He is the only player in history to achieve "30,000 points + 10,000 rebounds + 10,000 assists". His 15 statistics including total score, steals, and playing time are ranked among the top three in history. Unlike Jordan's focus on the scoring king model, James pioneered a tactical revolution of "ball-handling forward" - during the 2020 Lakers' championship, he served as the starting point guard and averaged 10.2 assists per game, winning the finals' scoring and assists king at the age of 35. Boston Celtics legend Pierce admitted: "Jordan is a better killer, but LeBron can make all teammates better. This influence cannot be simply quantified by the number of championships."

### **The tragic and tenacity of the challenger in the era of super teams**

Jordan's six championships were built on a relatively stable league pattern, while James faced the most intense arms race in NBA history. Starting from the Heat's Big Three in 2010, he has worked with 8 core lineups from four different teams (Heat, Cavaliers, and Lakers), and has fought against the Warriors' dynasty's "Space Fleet", the Celtic new double-Tanhua, and the Nuggets led by Jokic. Especially in the 2016 Finals, the feat of reversing 73-winning the Warriors 1-3, was called "the greatest counterattack in professional sports history" by Sports Illustrated. Although the number of four championships is less than Jordan, his nine finals trips spanned three decades, and his average winning rate against opponents such as the Spurs and Warriors was as high as 72%, and the competitive environment was far more cruel than in the 1990s. Cavaliers owner Gilbert once lamented: "It is difficult to win the championship in an era when two or three superstars are needed to defeat a group of two or three superstars, compared to landing on the moon."

### ** Cultural symbols beyond basketball: the double benchmark of globalization and business empire**

Jordan pushed the NBA globally through "Air Jordan", while James reshaped the social role of athletes with the diverse influence of the digital age. He produced movies such as "Slam Dunk 2" through SpringHill Entertainment, and his Uninterrupted platform spoke for athletes. His total social media fans exceeded 200 million, and his cumulative commercial endorsement revenue exceeded 1 billion US dollars. In 2025, more than 200 poor students in the "I Promise" school funded by him have been admitted to the university, and Time magazine named it "the most socially influential athlete." NBA President Adam Xiao pointed out: "LeBron proves that superstars can be businessmen, philanthropists and activists. This cross-border influence is a template that has never been seen in the Jordan era."

### **Greatness does not need to be compared: Parallel narratives of two generations of legends**

When 40-year-old James competes with 19-year-old rookie Bryce James (his youngest son) in the 2025 All-Star Game, this scene seemed to complete the cycle of basketball history. Sports historian Bill Simmons believes: "Jordan is the perfect terminator, while LeBron is the never-ending changer. The former tells us how high the peak can be, while the latter shows how long the peak can be." Perhaps James can never unify all voices in the "GOAT (Best History)" debate, but when he continues to set the record in the 22nd season, there is no need for any trophy to prove it - an athlete who can defeat time is the most extreme interpretation of "glory". As Lakers legend Magic Johnson said: "We should not argue about who is greater, but we should be glad to witness two different versions of basketball myths."