5 career milestones LeBron James can still reach this season
By Steve Zavala
5th career NBA MVP Award
It is difficult to fathom that it has been seven seasons since LeBron took home NBA MVP honors. At the time of his last win, he was just 28 years old with four NBA MVPs won in five seasons. Many presumed that he would go on to rack up possibly seven or eight award wins in this category, which would give him the most in league history.
It has not panned out the way LeBron had hoped since then, especially when considering that some MVPs over the years may have deservedly gone to him instead.
Still, he has another opportunity to finally bring home the coveted fifth NBA MVP Award of his career later this season, which would bring him to a three-way tie alongside Jordan and Bill Russell.
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However, reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo stands in his way of history. Basketball Reference’s NBA MVP tracker currently projects the Bucks forward to win the award by a 50.7 percent probability rate. It is due to his career-high 29.6 points per game average this season along with his relentless play on defense for the best record in the NBA Milwaukee Bucks.
LeBron has a not so favorable chance to win it this time around. But since voting for the award in years past has revolved more so around narratives than on-court performances, voters may sway towards the 4-time winner for his efforts in revitalizing the Lakers this season. If so, it would make him the first player in league history to win the award with three different teams.
All-time leader in NBA MVP win shares
This is a stat that is not put into much consideration for a player’s career resume. In this particular case with LeBron, it is somewhat significant because anytime one can surpass Jordan on an all-time list, it is history in the making.
Jordan is the sole leader in NBA MVP win shares with 8.115. LeBron is trailing right behind with an 8.067 rate. It is due to his consistency in finishing in the top five in MVP voting for 13 straight seasons that LeBron is now on the heels of ranking first in this category.
With LeBron set to finish in at least the top two in the MVP voting this season, he should figure to pass Jordan in yet another career leaderboard.