LeBron James currently holds the All-NBA record, and as the four-time champion enters his 22nd season, is another All-NBA Team selection in his future? The panel on ESPN’s afternoon television show NBA Today discussed the topic this week with Kendrick Perkins in favor of King James.
King James Can Extend All-NBA Record In 22nd Season
LeBron Looks to Add to His All-NBA Record Streak
LeBron James holds the All-NBA record with 20 overall selections—the most all-time. On Monday’s ESPN’s NBA Today, analyst and panelist Kendrick Perkins gave his thoughts on LeBron James’ chances of reaching more All-NBA selections during the show’s “Cap Or No Cap?” segment.
“No cap…look, LeBron is gonna make a few All-NBA Teams until he retires, and I mean a minimum of two. Look, he’s gonna always pour everything into the game of basketball, and he said that himself.” Perkins continued,” As long he’s on the floor, LeBron James is gonna be an All-NBA caliber player, and he’s gonna make a few of them before he retires.”
Cap or no cap is an alternative saying, “no lie” or “lie.” So, clearly, Perkins, a former NBA player and champion with the 2008 Boston Celtics, has complete confidence in LeBron’s chances of extending his All-NBA record past his 22nd NBA season. In 2020, James was named to a record 16th All-NBA selection. He passed Kareem Adbul-Jabbar, Tim Duncan, and Kobe Bryant in the feat. Last season was his third consecutive year making the All-NBA Third Team. The All-NBA selections are just more accolades to pile onto King James’ lucrative and Hall of Fame career.
Perkins’ Argument Has Merit
Kendrick Perkins pointed out that as long as James is on the floor and playing basketball, he will remain an All-NBA player. Perkins is on to something here. On almost every night, LeBron looks and feels like the best player on the floor. Is he the best player in the game at this point in his career? No, there are several players who have surpassed him in that sense. However, still top five, or undoubtedly top ten, LeBron’s name should not be left out just yet. He was Team USA’s best player throughout the Olympic Games on a team crowded with some of the “other best.”
LeBron has never averaged less than 20 points per game. Last season—his 21st—he averaged 25.7 points. Averaging 25 points is kind of his thing, as NBA Today’s fill-in lead host Chiney Ogwumike alluded to in the back-and-forth conversation. It is difficult to imagine James not reaching those 25 points a-game peak again in the 2024-25 season. If it just so happens that he missed that mark, it will probably be 24 points, so it’s close enough.
Yes He Can
Perkins’ faith in LeBron is admirable. If health and availability shadow James throughout the upcoming NBA campaign, he will inevitably be in the All-NBA Team’s discussion. While the All-NBA first Team is a reach and the second unlikely, the third Team is well within LeBron’s grasp. Granted, the Lakers need to win. Making the playoffs will only further LeBron’s case. He’ll also need to achieve the 65-games played mark to be eligible. Considering he played 71 games last year, it is possible that he will do it again.
There’s no doubt that extending LeBron’s All-NBA record another year is also in the back of JJ Redick‘s mind. As the new coach of the LA Lakers, I’m sure Redick has some sort of plan to get King James his 21st All-NBA record selection.
