Longevity in any field of work often comes with dedication and countless hours of preparation. Those words ring especially true in the NBA. Players in the association either have the staying power required for success or fall to the reality of a fizzled dream.
Over his illustrious 14-year NBA career, LeBron James has poured in some of the most impressive stats in history. The 12-time NBA All-Star’s current accolades are listed as follows:
38,942 minutes (37th all-time)
27,138 points (10th all-time)
7,174 rebounds
6,938 assists (17th all-time)
1,672 steals (23rd all-time)
780 blocks
Four-time NBA MVP
Three-time NBA champion (2012, 2013, 2016)
199 playoff games
195 win shares (www.basketball-reference.com)
On Friday night, James suited up for his 1,000th career game in the NBA, becoming just the 13th active player to have 1,000 career games to their credit (706 in a Cavaliers uniform).
Tomorrow, the Cavs will square off against the Philadelphia 76ers inside the Wells Fargo Center for a matinee show-down, where James will breach the 1,000 career regular season starts threshold.
Most NBA fans are familiar with the man that claims to be “Just a kid from Akron, Ohio”. Growing up in Akron, James saw poverty and violence in the community first-hand, but he somehow managed to stay focused on his dream of becoming a professional athlete.
With seemingly endless gallons of gas left in his tank, it seems James is poised to ride off into the sunset as one of the greatest players to have ever graced the hardwood floor.