Hall of Famer Steve Nash, who won two MVPs with the Phoenix Suns, believes LeBron James has “had the greatest career in NBA history.”
James was the first overall pick in the 2003 NBA Draft. He’s played for the Cleveland Cavaliers (twice), Miami Heat and Los Angeles Lakers. The future Hall of Famer is a four-time MVP, four-time champion and four-time Finals MVP.
“He’s had the greatest career in NBA history,” Nash told TIME. “You combine his peak and his longevity, and there’s nobody that comes close.”
James is first in NBA history in points, field goals, games and minutes. He’s the only player to rank top five all-time in points and assists, the only player to win three Finals MVPs with three teams, the only player with 40,000 points, 10,000 rebounds and 10,000 career assists and the only player to score 50,000 points combining the regular season and playoffs.
The GOAT debate between James and Michael Jordan is among the most discussed topics in basketball discourse. It often gets ugly because Jordan fans bash James to uplift MJ and James fans rip Jordan to praise LeBron.
James, who grew up idolizing Jordan, told TIME that he’s taking himself over Jordan and other NBA icons in the GOAT debate.
“I’m not taking nobody over me,” James said. “There’s no question. But I think Mike will say the same thing. Rest his soul, Kobe [Bryant] will say the same thing. Magic [Johnson] will say the same thing. [Larry] Bird will say the same thing. Shaq [Shaquille O’Neal] could say the same thing. The late great Wilt [Chamberlain]. Kareem [Abdul-Jabbar]. I don’t think none of us are going to take somebody else. If there’s a general manager and he’s eyeballing all of us on a baseline, with the No. 1 pick, it’s gonna be hard not to take me, champ.”
James becomes an unrestricted free agent after the 2026 NBA Finals for the first time since 2018. Most people who cover the NBA believe that if James doesn’t retire this offseason, he will either re-sign with the Lakers or return to the Cavaliers for a third and final stint.
A 22-time All-Star, James played in 60 games this season for the Lakers. He averaged 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 7.2 assists per game while shooting 51.5% from the field, 31.7% from beyond the arc and 73.7% from the free-throw line, once again proving that he has conquered Father Time.
James is the oldest active player in the NBA at 41. He turns 42 in December.
