{"id":123577,"date":"2025-02-15T13:56:35","date_gmt":"2025-02-15T18:56:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=123577"},"modified":"2025-02-15T13:56:35","modified_gmt":"2025-02-15T18:56:35","slug":"lebron-james-lakers-statue","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/02\/15\/lebron-james-lakers-statue\/","title":{"rendered":"LeBron James Has Cemented His Lakers Statue"},"content":{"rendered":"

Los Angeles Lakers luminary LeBron James<\/a> is the only one player who ranks top-10 in scoring for three different franchises.<\/p>\n

He remains the Cleveland Cavaliers\u2019 all-time leading scorer with 23,119 points. His college-like four-year stint with the Miami Heat left him fourth in franchise history with 7,919 points. However, James has slid down to fifth, as Heat franchise cornerstone Bam Adebayo<\/a> has scored 8,367 points in his eight-year career. This week, the 40-year-old passed Hall of Fame forward Jamaal Wilkes<\/a> for 10th-place in Lakers history, as he\u2019s now scored 10,603 points for the iconic franchise.<\/p>\n

LeBron James Has Cemented His Lakers Statue<\/h2>\n

For those who are mentally immersed in the NBA\u2019s GOAT debate, James\u2019s latest accomplishment is another feather in his cap.<\/p>\n

In a way, it\u2019s similar to Hall of Fame shooting guard Michael Jordan<\/a> going 6-0 in the NBA Finals. Jordan\u2019s sparkling record isn\u2019t impossible to match but exceedingly difficult to match. One could say the same about James\u2019s latest statistical record.<\/p>\n

With that in mind, the discourse about the greatest player of all-time<\/a> is pretty subjective. Who\u2019s to say that being a statistical anomaly like James is better than being an unbeaten six-time NBA champion? Who\u2019s to say that Jordan\u2019s excellence outweighs Hall of Fame center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar\u2019s?<\/p>\n

Numbers Don\u2019t Lie<\/h3>\n

Objectively, James has already been immortalized. A larger-than-life living legend, his success, style, and longevity have cemented him as a basketball icon. One whose greatness will likely lead to him having at least one statue built in his honor.<\/p>\n

In 2018, fans started a GoFundMe hoping to raise the capital<\/a> for a statue of James in Akron. In 2023, Cleveland mayor Justin M. Bibb tweeted that it\u2019s time to start thinking about erecting one for him in front of the Cavs arena.<\/p>\n

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I think it\u2019s time to start planning for the @KingJames<\/a> statue in front of @RMFieldHouse<\/a>. Congrats to the \ud83d\udc10\ud83d\udc10\ud83d\udc10 on passing Kareem\u2019s record. #WitnessGreatness<\/a> https:\/\/t.co\/zrwT1f5iCG<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Justin M. Bibb (@JustinMBibb) February 8, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n