Few would argue that LeBron James is overlooked in any way. The Los Angeles Lakers star, however, thinks he does not get nearly enough credit for one part of his game.
James revealed in the newest episode of “The Shop” that he is bothered at not receiving more recognition for his scoring prowess. James holds the NBA record for points scored when his playoff totals are combined with his regular season ones. Despite this, he feels he is not mentioned enough as one of the best scorers of all time, a fact that he admits annoys him.
“I’m not a natural scorer. I love getting my guys involved. I’ve always been that way,” James said. “I’ve always liked the point of seeing my teammate succeed off my pass. … To sit at the top of the food chain in the most points scored in the history of the game is weird to me. When they talk about the best scorers of all time, they never mention my name. Yeah, it pisses me off.”
While Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is the official holder of the NBA record for career points, that does not include playoff totals. James is about 1,700 points shy of that record and has a good chance of beating it. That’s partly down to his longevity, and one reason he may not get the credit he wants is down to his lack of huge scoring seasons. He has only led the league in scoring once in 2008, which also happens to be the only season of his career that saw him average 30 points per game.
There is also an argument that James’ accomplishments are sometimes overshadowed by other things he does, fairly or not. He’ll get his due someday if he isn’t getting it now.
Photo: Jan 21, 2022; Orlando, Florida, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (6) against the Orlando Magic during the first quarter at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
