If LeBron James does decide to hang up his shoes during the offseason – and I'm highly skeptical that he actually walks away – one of the most incredible careers in North American pro sports will end. Here's a look back at the best single-game performances of the King James era.
Is it time to say LeBye?
James was predictably non-committal about his NBA future following Monday's 113-111 Lakers loss to the Nuggets that completed a Denver sweep and sent Nikola Jokic and Co. into the NBA Finals for the first time in franchise history.
James' resume is easily one of the most impressive of any player in league history, regardless of whether we've seen the last of him on the court. Not only is he the league's all-time scoring leader, but James' 10 greatest single-game showings all came in different seasons. That&# 39;s the ultimate testament to not only his sheer dominance, but the king's unparalleled consistency.
Here's a look at the 10 greatest single-game James performances over his sensational 20-year career, ranked by Game Score (a metric John Hollinger created, and it's featured prominently on Basketball Reference):
(Source: Basketball Reference)
10. Lakers vs. Warriors, March 5, 2022
| PTS | FG-FGA | REB | AST | GmSc |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 56 | 19-31 | 10 | 3 | 44.1 |
LeBron has been knocked for not being more of a pure scorer like Michael Jordan or Kobe Bryant. But even into his late 30s, the man could still fill the hoop. James went off against the Warriors, knocking down three straight 3-pointers late to cap off his huge night and put the Lakers up for good.
At 37 years and 65 days, LeBron became the fourth-oldest player in NBA history with a 50-burger during the Lakers' 124-116 victory over Golden State. Then he did it again just six days later, dropping an even 50 in a win over Washington to reach that plateau for the 15th time in his career.
9. Heat vs. Kings, Feb. 26, 2013
| PTS | FG-FGA | REB | AST | GmSc |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40 | 14-23 | 8 | 16 | 44.2 |
LeBron became a much more effective facilitator later in his career, with five of his top six single-game assist performances coming at age 32 or older. But James provided a glimpse of his dime-dropping potential here, setting a then-career high in a 141-129 double-overtime win.
It was the capper to an absolutely incredible February for James, who shot 64.1% – the highest rate during any month in his career. He also became the first player since Kevin Johnson in 1994 to finish with 40-plus points and 16 assists in a game.
8. Lakers vs. Trail Blazers, Nov. 14, 2018
| PTS | FG-FGA | REB | AST | GmSc |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 44 | 13-19 | 10 | 9 | 44.3 |
Think what you will about James, but the divisive superstar seems to have a knack for making history while he's making history. This incredible performance not only stands as one of his best ever, but the 44 points also moved him past Wilt Chamberlain for fifth on the all-time list.
This game also came with greater meaning than what you'll find in the box score. It was just James' 14th career outing as a Laker, and passing The Stilt in front of his new home fans proved to be the first real galvanizing on-court moment shared between James and the L.A. faithful.
7. Lakers vs. Rockets, Jan. 16, 2023
| PTS | FG-FGA | REB | AST | GmSc |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 48 | 16-26 | 8 | 9 | 44.5 |
When I turned 38, I treated myself to a new heating pad.
When James turned 38, he went on a wild scoring spree featuring this 48-point gem during a 140-132 win over Houston. It was the 100th 40-point game of his career.
This performance is even more legendary because James was not only playing the second night of a back-to-back set, but he had also been dealing with a nagging ankle injury. He saved his best for last, racking up an absurd 20 points during the pivotal fourth quarter.
6. Cavaliers vs. Hawks, Dec. 30, 2009
| PTS | FG-FGA | REB | AST | GmSc |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 48 | 15-23 | 10 | 6 | 44.7 |
LeBron sure does know how to celebrate a birthday.
King James rang in his 26th year in style, erupting for 48 points on just 23 shot attempts and coming away with his first NBA birthday win thanks to Anderson Varejao's first career 3-pointer late in a 106-101 victory over the Hawks.
James was typically deferential after the game, but this was easily one of the most well-rounded efforts of his career up to that point. He knocked down four 3-pointers while adding two steals and two blocks to lead Cleveland to its 11th win in 12 games.
5. Cavaliers vs. Magic, May 20, 2009
| PTS | FG-FGA | REB | AST | GmSc |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 49 | 20-30 | 6 | 8 | 44.7 |
This is the only contest on the list that resulted in LeBron's team being defeated, and you can't blame him at all for the result. Fresh off being named league MVP, he erupted for 49 points before Cleveland fell short, and Rashard Lewis's go-ahead bucket with 14.7 seconds left gave Orlando the win in the opener of the Eastern Conference final.
The loss was just the third on home court over 46 games for the Cavaliers that season, but it was all the Magic needed. They won all three of their home affairs to upend Cleveland in six games.
That might have been the most bitter pill to swallow of James' career. It came after he averaged 35.3 points and 9.1 rebounds while shooting 51% in the postseason.
Check out our NBA Finals odds and NBA Finals MVP odds.
4. Cavaliers at Grizzlies, Jan. 15, 2008
| PTS | FG-FGA | REB | AST | GmSc |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 51 | 18-28 | 8 | 9 | 45.0 |
More than 15 years before LeBron sent Dillon Brooks and the Grizzlies packing in hilarious fashion, Memphis fans were soberingly aware of what The King can do when motivated.
James was a one-man wrecking crew late in Cleveland's 132-124 overtime win over Memphis, racking up 25 of his 51 points in the fourth quarter and OT for the fourth 50-point showing of his already-impressive NBA career.
In what might have been the highest praise of James's abilities to that point, Grizzlies head coach Marc Iavaroni was even more impressed with LeBron's distributing than his scoring, suggesting that James “(has) more passing ability than Magic (Johnson).”
3. Heat at Magic, Feb. 3, 2011
| PTS | FG-FGA | REB | AST | GmSc |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 51 | 17-25 | 11 | 8 | 46.7 |
While it's true that closers close – and LeBron is pretty good at that – it doesn't hurt to get off to a red-hot start, either. And that's exactly what James did in the latest edition of the Heat-Magic rivalry, blasting Orlando for 23 first-quarter points before Miami held on for a 104-100 win.
Afterward, LeBron gave a rather compelling explanation for why he was extra motivated. “There were a lot of things said about us in the offseason that came from this organization,” he said. This was James' first year in Miami, so it's easy to guess what those things were.
2. Heat vs. Bobcats, March 3, 2014
| PTS | FG-FGA | REB | AST | GmSc |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 61 | 22-33 | 7 | 4 | 48.8 |
You have to feel for Glen Rice. He not only lost his Heat single-game franchise scoring record, but then Rice saw LeBron beat that mark against one of his former teams (though technically this version of the Hornets Bobcats was the 2004-05 expansion edition, and not the original franchise that moved to New Orleans in 2022. Does your head hurt? My head hurts.)
There was no stopping James in this one. He knocked down his first eight 3-point attempts to go into the break with 24 points. A 25-point third quarter not only put the game out of reach, but James was also within striking distance of his career high. And he hit that milestone shot with 5:46 left, making it the highlight of his lone 60-plus-point NBA game.
1. Cavaliers at Wizards, Nov. 3, 2017
| PTS | FG-FGA | REB | AST | GmSc |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 57 | 23-34 | 11 | 7 | 53.2 |
James didn't set any major individual statistical records in this game, but it's still comfortably the greatest of his career when you put all of the numbers together.
LeBron's second-highest single-game scoring output was just the tip of an opponent-crushing iceberg. He added 11 rebounds, seven assists, three steals, and two blocks while hitting all nine of his free throws.
When asked if the outburst was connected with Washington guards John Wall and Bradley Beal suggesting the Cavaliers didn't want to face the Wizards in the postseason, James wouldn't take the bait.
But we know the truth, LeBron.
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