During his senior season, James put up an impressive 29.2 points and 9.3 rebounds per game. The hype around him was so immense that one of his high school games—against Carmelo Anthony’s Oak Hill Academy—was broadcast on ESPN2, something rarely seen at that level.
LeBron on His Scoring Mindset: "It Was Never About That"
In a recent episode of his Mind the Game podcast, LeBron opened up about how he approached scoring during his high school days. Despite the overwhelming talent gap, he said he consciously chose to prioritize team play over individual stats.
“I never averaged more than 30 points in high school,” James said. “Think my highest average was like 27, 28 I believe. … It wasn’t about that. I could’ve averaged 50 points a game if I wanted to, probably my junior and senior year. But it was never about that. It was about, ‘How can I maximize my teammates? How can I get the most out of my teammates in order for all of us to be successful?'”
Passing First: A Hallmark of LeBron’s Career
From his teenage years to his time in the pros, James has always found joy in sharing the ball. His pass-first mentality, while occasionally criticized—especially during crunch-time situations—has helped define his legacy as one of the most complete players the sport has ever seen.
Despite calls from some corners that he should be more assertive in big moments, that same selflessness has allowed him to dominate the game for over two decades.
Still Elite at 40
Now in his 22nd NBA season, LeBron continues to play at a remarkably high level. At 40 years old, he averaged 24.4 points, 8.2 assists, and 7.8 rebounds per game this season, while shooting a sharp 51.3% from the field and 37.6% from beyond the arc.
His ability to maintain such numbers at this stage of his career is a testament to his unmatched durability, basketball IQ, and relentless work ethic.
Record-Breaking Numbers That May Never Be Topped
While LeBron has never been labeled the most natural scorer in league history, his consistency and longevity have made him the NBA’s all-time leading scorer. To date, he has amassed a staggering 42,184 points in the regular season—an achievement many believe may stand the test of time.
In addition to his scoring, James has dished out 11,584 career assists, ranking fourth all-time. With just over 500 assists separating him from Jason Kidd (third with 12,091), LeBron is poised to climb another rung on the all-time ladder if he returns for another season.