Top 5 stats from LeBron James' career to make note of as he enters his 19th season in the NBA

The 2021-22 NBA season will be LeBron James' 19th campaign in the greatest basketball league in the world, and he might still be the best player on the planet. At age 36, 'The King' is still going strong and confounding his opponents. If it wasn't for an ankle sprain last year, he would've been right in contention for the 2020-21 NBA MVP. That just speaks volumes about the greatness of the man.

LeBron James and the LA Lakers are coming off a first-round loss in six games against the eventual Western champions Phoenix Suns. However, a lot of it had to do with Anthony Davis' injury in Game 4 of that series.

5 Craziest stats from LeBron James' career so far

Whether James had his best individual series against Phoenix or not, we need to keep in mind that he is still performing at an elite level while nearing 20 years in the league.

The four-time champion will enter his 19th year with a newly-stacked LA Lakers' roster around him in the 2021-22 season. With a more common 2021 NBA offseason, James and his Purple and Gold side should be stronger during the upcoming campaign.

Lots of teams in the Western Conference have evolved, such as the Utah Jazz, Phoenix Suns and even the LA Clippers, who found a nice postseason groove that was dented by Kawhi Leonard's injury. If Leonard stays with the LA Clippers, the team might be a threat to James' Lakers again.

Still, we need to remind you that LeBron James, a 19-year veteran, remains in contention for the 'best player in the league' tag even in the late stages of his career.

Anytime you think his legacy is on the line, there's plenty of reasons to remind you of James' NBA greatness. In this article, we will give you five stats to keep in mind during James' 19th campaign in the NBA.

#5 He has 17 consecutive seasons averaging at least 25 points per game

LeBron James during the 2021 NBA All-Star Game.

LeBron James is widely known as a pass-first player, but he is also an unbelievable offensive threat in all areas. James is definitely one of the best scorers the NBA has ever seen, regardless of what the narratives around him have been over the years.

James averaged exactly 25 points per game in the 2020-21 NBA season. This meant the 36-year-old has now extended his NBA record of seasons with an average of 25 PPG to an incredible 17 seasons.

His career average of points per game (27) is the sixth-best in NBA history.

#4 LeBron James has appeared in more NBA Finals than 27 of the 30 NBA franchises

LeBron James' greatness in the NBA Playoffs is well documented and often mentioned during his playoff appearances. The fact that he has played in 10 NBA Finals definitely says a lot about his longevity and consistent greatness.

However, when that number is analyzed a little further, you will notice that James has played in more NBA Finals than 27 of the 30 NBA teams. It is simply mind-blowing how good the man is.

James' 10 NBA Finals appearances lead franchises like the Philadelphia 76ers, New York Knicks, San Antonio Spurs and Chicago Bulls. Only the LA Lakers (32), Boston Celtics (21) and Golden State Warriors (11) have appeared in more NBA Finals than 'The King'.

#3 LeBron James has the most All-NBA selections in NBA history

LeBron James with the Miami Heat during the 2013 NBA Finals.

LeBron James' longevity and consistency is definitely one of the greatest things ever seen in the NBA. There isn't much precedent in the history of the sport where a player continues to be dominant at such an advanced stage of his career. James is alongside a handful of sports legends who have managed to do something similar.

His consistent greatness in the regular season and postseason has been phenomenal and has earned him several accolades. James has the most All-NBA selections in NBA history, with 17 throughout his career.

Moreover, he's been a member of the first team All-NBA a record 13 times.

#2 With a healthy season, LeBron James will become a member of the 10,000-assist club

LeBron James making a pass during the 2020 NBA Finals.

LeBron James' 19th NBA season will definitely be historic for him, as there are some achievements which could enhance his already incredible resume. James, who is one of the best and most efficient scorers ever, has a career average of 7.4 assists per game.

Right now, he has 9,696 assists in his regular-season career, which ranks eighth in NBA history. If James can only maintain his career average of assists per game in the 2021-22 NBA season, he will most certainly join the 10,000-assist club.

Among the six current members of the 10,000-assist club, James would be the only one to do so having scored more than 20,000 points as well. He currently has 35,367 career points.

#1 LeBron James is the only player in NBA history to be Top 10 in career points and assists

This only shows how great LeBron James is in a lot of areas of the offensive game. Not only is he the best playmaker on his team and surely in the league, LeBron James can also take over the game with his ability to power into the paint, with his occasional outside touch or go on a scoring run..

James currently has 35,367 career points and 9,696 assists in his illustrious career, as mentioned before. He ranks third in points and eighth in assists in NBA history, becoming the only player to be in the Top 10 in both areas.

While catching John Stockton's 15,806 assists might be a bit too much even for 'King James', he could surpass Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's tally of 38,387 points and become the league's all-time leading scorer.

Also, if we count James' rebounds (9,751), he is the only player in league history with at least 30,000 points, 9,000 rebounds and 9,000 assists.

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