LeBron James's Success and Achievements in Timeline

A success timeline featuring the most significant achievements of LeBron James.

LeBron James, nicknamed "King James", is a professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers. He holds the distinction of being the NBA's all-time leading scorer. James has achieved remarkable success, securing four NBA championships across ten NBA Finals appearances, including eight consecutive appearances from 2011 to 2018. In 2023, he added another achievement to his legacy by winning the inaugural NBA Cup with the Lakers. Furthermore, he has earned three Olympic gold medals representing the U.S. national team, solidifying his status as one of basketball's greatest players.

Sections (6)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals

1976: Abdul-Jabbar's Lakers Record

In 1976, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was the last player in Lakers franchise history to achieve at least 30 points, 20 rebounds, and 10 assists in a game, a feat that LeBron James would replicate on January 27, 2024.

1981: Magic Johnson's Triple-Double Record

In 1981, Magic Johnson set a Lakers franchise record for consecutive triple-doubles, a record that LeBron James later tied on November 15, 2024.

1982: Third Reigning MVP to Change Teams

In 2010, LeBron James became the third reigning MVP to change teams and the first since Moses Malone did so in 1982.

April 5, 1984: Abdul-Jabbar sets scoring record

On April 5, 1984, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar set the record for all-time leading scorer in NBA history, a record he would hold until LeBron James broke it in 2023.

1987: Magic Johnson's Triple-Double Record

In 1987, Magic Johnson set a Lakers franchise record for consecutive triple-doubles, a record that LeBron James later tied on November 15, 2024.

2000: Mention of the 2000 Olympics

In 2008, Team USA won their first gold medal since 2000.

2003: Lakers' Biggest Comeback

In 2003, the Lakers had their biggest comeback since 2003. LeBron James beat the Lakers' record with a comeback on February 28, 2024.

2004: Rookie of the Year

At the conclusion of the 2003–2004 season, LeBron James received the NBA Rookie of the Year Award.

2004: First NBA All-Star Game Selection

In 2004, LeBron James earned his first NBA All-Star Game selection.

2004: Shaquille O'Neal's Postseason Game

In 2004, Shaquille O'Neal had a 20-20 game in Game 4 of the NBA Finals, a feat that LeBron James would later match in 2023 during a first-round series game.

2005: Time's 100 Most Influential People

In 2005, LeBron James was among Time Magazine's 100 most influential people in the world.

2005: Scored 56 points against the Toronto Raptors

On March 20, 2005, LeBron James scored 56 points against the Toronto Raptors, setting Cleveland's new single-game points record. He was also named to his first All-NBA Team.

2006: NBA All-Star Game MVP

In 2006, LeBron James was named the NBA All-Star Game Most Valuable Player, and he led the Cavaliers to the playoffs for the first time since 1998.

2007: Led Cavaliers to NBA Finals

In 2007, LeBron James led the Cavaliers to their first-ever Eastern Conference championship, earning them a matchup with the San Antonio Spurs in the Finals.

2007: FIBA Americas Championship

In 2007, LeBron James played at the FIBA Americas Championship where he averaged 18.1 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per game. During the championship game against Argentina, he scored 31 points, the most ever by an American in an Olympic qualifier. Team USA achieved a 10–0 record, securing the gold medal and qualifying for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China.

2007: James named All-Star Game MVP

In February of the 2007-2008 season, James was named All-Star Game MVP for the second time.

2008: All-Defensive Team

At the end of the 2008–2009 season, James made his first NBA All-Defensive Team, posting 23 chase-down blocks and a career-high 93 total blocks.

2008: Member of Redeem Team

In 2008, LeBron James was a member of the U.S. Olympic team known as the 'Redeem Team'.

2008: Won Scoring Title

In 2008, LeBron James won the NBA scoring title.

2008: 2008 Olympics

In 2008, before being named to the Olympic team, LeBron James was given an ultimatum to improve his attitude. The USA team went unbeaten at the Olympics, winning their first gold medal since 2000. In the final game against Spain, James recorded 14 points, six rebounds, and three assists.

2008: Became Cavaliers' All-Time Leading Scorer

On March 21, 2008, LeBron James became the Cavaliers' all-time leading scorer in a game against the Toronto Raptors.

2009: Won MVP Award

In 2009, LeBron James became the first Cavalier to win the NBA MVP Award.

2009: Temporary Point Guard Role

In 2009, LeBron James temporarily assumed the point guard role for the Cavaliers due to injuries in the team's backcourt, maintaining the team's momentum and helping them finish with the league's best record.

2009: Earned All-Defensive Honors Every Season From 2009

LeBron James earned All-Defensive honors every season from 2009 to 2014.

2012: 2012 Olympics in London

In 2012, LeBron James rejoined Team USA for the Olympics in London, England. He led the team, facilitating the offense and providing scoring. He recorded the first triple-double in U.S. Olympic basketball history during a game against Australia with 11 points, 14 rebounds, and 12 assists. Team USA won their second straight gold medal, defeating Spain in the final game. James contributed 19 points, becoming the all-time leading scorer in U.S. men's basketball history. He also joined Michael Jordan as the only players to win an NBA MVP award, NBA championship, NBA Finals MVP, and Olympic gold medal in the same year.

2012: Third MVP Award

In 2012, LeBron James was named MVP for the third time, averaging 27.1 points, 7.9 rebounds, 6.2 assists, and 1.9 steals per game on 53 percent shooting.

2012: Won First NBA Championship with Heat

In 2012, LeBron James won his first NBA championship with the Miami Heat, also earning MVP and Finals MVP honors.

2012: Versatile Defensive Player in 2012

In 2012, while in Miami, LeBron James developed into a more versatile defensive player, and the Heat relied on him to guard all five positions.

2012: "Month for the Ages"

In February of the 2012-13 season, LeBron James' performance was described as a "month for the ages" by Sports Illustrated. He averaged 29.7 points and 7.8 assists per game while setting multiple shooting efficiency records.

2013: Time's 100 Most Influential People

In 2013, LeBron James was among Time Magazine's 100 most influential people in the world.

2013: Won Second NBA Championship with Heat

In 2013, LeBron James won his second NBA championship with the Miami Heat, also earning MVP and Finals MVP honors.

2013: Career-High 61 Points

On March 3, 2013, LeBron James scored a career-high and franchise-record 61 points in a game against the Charlotte Bobcats, setting a record for most three-point field goals made in a 60-point game and the most points in a single game while wearing a mask.

2014: James Named Most Popular Male Athlete in America

In 2014, LeBron James was named the most popular male athlete in America according to the Harris Poll.

2014: Earned All-Defensive Honors Every Season Through 2014

LeBron James earned All-Defensive honors every season from 2009 to 2014.

2016: Ranked Among Top Three Defenders Through 2016

From 2012 through 2016, LeBron James was ranked among the top three defenders in the NBA by general managers.

2016: Led Cavaliers to First Championship

In 2016, LeBron James led the Cleveland Cavaliers to their first-ever NBA championship, overcoming a 3-1 deficit against the Golden State Warriors.

2017: James Receives J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award

In 2017, LeBron James received the J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award from the NBA for his outstanding service and dedication to the community.

2017: Time's 100 Most Influential People

In 2017, LeBron James was among Time Magazine's 100 most influential people in the world.

November 2019: Previous Triple-Double Record

In November 2019, LeBron James set a record for the oldest player to record a triple-double, which he later broke in November 2024.

2019: Time's 100 Most Influential People

In 2019, LeBron James was among Time Magazine's 100 most influential people in the world.

July 2020: James' Rookie Card Sells for $1.8 Million

In July 2020, one of LeBron James' rookie cards was sold for $1.8 million at auction, briefly setting a record as the most expensive modern-day sports card.

2020: Won Championship with Lakers

In 2020, LeBron James won another NBA title with the Lakers, becoming the first player to win Finals MVP with three different teams.

February 18, 2021: James reaches 35,000 career points

On February 18, 2021, LeBron James became the third player in NBA history to reach 35,000 career points, joining Hall of Famers Abdul-Jabbar and Karl Malone. At 36 years and 50 days old, he was the youngest player to reach this milestone.

2021: Russell Westbrook's Triple-Double Record

In 2021, Russell Westbrook set a Lakers franchise record for consecutive triple-doubles, a record that LeBron James later tied on November 15, 2024.

February 26, 2022: Streak of 25-point games

From December 19 to February 26, 2022, LeBron James had a streak of 23 consecutive 25-point games, playing 23 out of 27 games during this period.

August 18, 2022: James re-signs with the Lakers

On August 18, 2022, LeBron James re-signed with the Lakers on a two-year, $97.1 million contract, making him the highest-paid athlete in NBA history at $528.9 million, surpassing Kevin Durant in all-time earnings.

2022: 2022-23 Season

During the 2022-23 season, LeBron James finished the regular season with averages of 28.9 points per game, 8.3 rebounds per game, and 6.8 assists per game, becoming the oldest player in NBA history to average at least 25 points, five rebounds, and five assists in a season.

2022: All-Star Game Victory

In 2022, at the NBA All-Star Game held in Cleveland, LeBron James led all players in fan votes with his 18th All-Star selection. His team achieved its fifth consecutive All-Star victory, defeating Team Durant 163–161, with James hitting the game-winning shot.

January 9, 2023: 66th Player of the Week Award

On January 9, 2023, LeBron James received his 66th Player of the Week award, doubling the career total of Kobe Bryant.

February 7, 2023: James becomes all-time leading scorer

On February 7, 2023, LeBron James surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the all-time leading scorer in NBA history, marking a monumental career milestone.

June 2023: Most Followed Basketball Player on Instagram

As of June 2023, LeBron James is the most followed basketball player on Instagram, with over 155 million followers.

2023: Lakers reach Western Conference Finals

In 2023, LeBron James led the Lakers to the Western Conference Finals, marking their second Conference Finals appearance in five seasons. They were ultimately swept by the Denver Nuggets.

2023: Became NBA's All-Time Leading Scorer

In 2023, LeBron James surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to become the NBA's all-time leading scorer.

2023: Won NBA Cup

In 2023, LeBron James won the inaugural NBA Cup with the Los Angeles Lakers.

January 25, 2024: 20th NBA All-Star Selection

On January 25, 2024, LeBron James was named an All-Star starter for the 2024 NBA All-Star Game, marking his 20th NBA All-Star selection and surpassing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the most All-Star selections in NBA history.

2024: 20 All-NBA Teams as of 2024

As of 2024, LeBron James has been named to 20 All-NBA Teams, including 13 times to the First Team, which are both NBA records.

2024: James' Career Averages Mentioned

As of 2024, LeBron James' career averages are 27.0 points, 7.5 rebounds, 7.4 assists, 1.5 steals, and 0.7 blocks per game.

2024: Olympics MVP

In 2024, LeBron James won the Olympics MVP award.

2024: James Rejoined National Team on 2024 Olympic Squad

In 2024, after a 12-year gap, LeBron James rejoined the national team on the Olympic squad in Paris as Team Captain. He was named as one of the two Team USA flag-bearers for the opening ceremony of the games. James led the team in rebounds and assists, recording his second Olympic triple double in a comeback win in the semi-final against Serbia. Team USA went on to win their fifth straight gold medal, defeating France 98–87 in the final game. James recorded 14 points, 6 rebounds and 10 assists and was named the FIBA Men's Olympics MVP and was selected to the FIBA Men's Olympics All-Star Five. James became the third male basketball player to win three gold medals at the Olympics.

January 3, 2025: Most 30-point games in NBA history

On January 3, 2025, LeBron James surpassed Michael Jordan for the most 30-point games in NBA history with 563 games.

March 4, 2025: 50,000 Career Points

On March 4, 2025, LeBron James surpassed 50,000 career points across the regular season and playoffs during a 136–115 win against the New Orleans Pelicans.

2025: Inducted into Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame

In 2025, LeBron James was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a member of the 2008 U.S. Olympic team (also known as the "Redeem Team").