As the final seconds ticked away in the Cleveland Cavaliers final regular season game, LeBron James was sharply dressed watching the final dribbles from the bench. The three-time champion didn’t take to the floor, but still managed to create NBA history on Wednesday night.
It has been a historical season in the NBA, so much so, we may not fully understand the magnitude of what some individual superstars have done until we look back years from now. With all the plaudits and praise going to Oklahoma City Thunder superstar Russell Westbrook and Houston Rockets maestro James Harden, the kid from Akron has quietly gone about making NBA history himself.
James made history by becoming the first player in NBA history to register career highs in rebounds and assists in their 14th NBA season, and also became the first and only player in NBA history to average 26 points, eight rebounds and eight assists whilst shooting better than 54% from the field. It was an unbelievable campaign for the King, and perhaps his greatest individual season ever.
He also had his most dunks in a single season at 165, the most 10+ assist games in a single season with 29, and also the most assists on three-pointers with 349. Throw in his single season career bests of 42 double-doubles and 13 triple-doubles, and James has had one of the truly outstanding campaigns in his illustrious career.
Despite the jaw-dropping numbers, James also extended an NBA record he already owned – the most consecutive seasons averaging 25+ points per game. No one in NBA history has had more than 11 in a row (Karl Malone), but as this regular season has come to an end, he has extended it to 13 straight seasons. After recently passing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the second all-time in consecutive games scoring 10+ points, James has again highlighted his dominance in scoring the basketball with this ongoing NBA record.
With no signs of slowing down, it seems as though the four-time MVP will extend on that record yet again next season, but that will have to wait, as his favorite time of the year is finally here.
Get ready to see James lock in this postseason as he does every year, and reach a level very few players in the history of the game can reach. He may have had another historical season within the NBA, but James may continue to break records this postseason also as the Cavs look to defend their title.