In 2018, LeBron James made the decision to join the Lakers, which came as a surprise to many fans since the Lakers were a rebuilding team at the time. Following James' arrival, the Lakers quickly rose and successfully won the championship in 2020. Unbeknownst to many, James has now been with the Lakers for seven years. So, how do his accumulated statistics measure up in the team's history? His total points have yet to enter the top ten.
When he joined the Lakers in 2018, James was surrounded by a group of young talents who, although gifted, lacked a cohesive system and mature playing style. At 34 years old, James' body had already started to decline, and he only played 55 games that year, averaging 27 points, 8 rebounds, and 8 assists per game. Due to not playing enough games, the team's record was not ideal, and they failed to make the playoffs in his first season. However, after the team traded for Anthony Davis, James switched to playing point guard in 2020, averaging 25.3 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 10.2 assists per game, becoming the league's assist leader and successfully leading the Lakers to the championship that year.
The Lakers' peak was relatively short-lived, however, as injuries prevented the James-Davis duo from reclaiming the top spot. After trading for Russell Westbrook, the team struggled with compatibility issues, resulting in poor performance. After Westbrook's departure, the team managed to reach the Western Conference Finals but failed to advance to the NBA Finals. This year's Lakers are still not championship contenders, and James, now 40 years old, is officially entering the final stages of his career.
Over these seven years, James has maintained a decent attendance rate, playing a total of 384 games and averaging 35 minutes per game. He has put up impressive numbers, averaging 26.8 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 8.1 assists per game with a shooting percentage of 51.3%. Overall, despite some decline, he remains a superstar-level player, known for his sharp scoring, efficient offense, all-around playmaking and rebounding, though his defense has slipped.
In terms of accumulated stats, James has scored 10,205 points with the Lakers, which has not yet placed him in the top ten in team history. However, with the tenth-place holder, Wilkins, having scored 10,601 points, James is expected to enter the top ten by the end of this season. In total rebounds, James has 3,013, while the tenth-place holder, West, has 5,366, making it unlikely for James to break into the top ten. In total assists, James has a clear advantage with 3,085, ranking eighth in Lakers history, living up to his reputation as a passing master. In total steals, James has 434, while the tenth-place holder, AC Green, has 657, keeping James out of the top ten. In total blocks, James has 241, while the tenth-place holder, Pau Gasol, has 607, showing a significant gap.
Overall, James has maintained a superstar level of play during his seven years with the Lakers. While he is projected to enter the top ten in both scoring and assists in team history, other stats are less likely. It must be said that the Lakers' history is incredibly illustrious, making it difficult even for a player as strong as James to secure a prominent place.