LeBron James is still out there, unsigned for the 2026-27 NBA season, but let’s be real, he’s landing somewhere, and when he does, get ready for history. Seriously, the man is about to climb the ranks in no less than *four* major all-time stat categories. It’s not just about getting signed, it’s about what happens on the court that year.
King James Chasing Icons in Assists and Steals
Right now, LeBron is fourth all-time in assists with 12,016. He’s looking up at John Stockton, Chris Paul, and Jason Kidd. Passing Kidd, who sits at 12,091, should be pretty easy. But pushing past a newly retired Chris Paul, who has 12,552 dimes? That’s gonna be tougher. If James plays around 60 games and wants to hit second place, he’ll need to average about 8.93 assists per game. Can he do it? You bet he can, but it won’t be a cakewalk.
Then there are the steals. LeBron is currently sixth with 2,417. He’s looking right at Gary Payton, who’s at 2,445. If James snags just 1.0 steal per game over those estimated 60 games, Payton is in the rearview mirror. But the real prize? Michael Jordan at fourth with 2,514 steals. Think James isn’t motivated to pass one of the greatest ever? He’d need a monster defensive season, roughly 100 steals, to catch MJ. Talk about a statement season.
Defensive Rebounds and the Ultimate Prize
James is also set to make moves in defensive rebounds, where he’s currently fifth all-time with 10,253. He’s behind guys like Kevin Garnett, Karl Malone, Tim Duncan, and Dwight Howard. Passing Howard, who has 10,476, should be no sweat for LeBron this season. It’s crazy to think this stat has only been tracked since 1973-74, and he’s still up there with elite big men. Don’t expect him to climb much further than fourth, but it’s another notch on the belt.
But here’s the absolute biggest one: wins. LeBron is sitting second all-time with 1,048 career wins, just passing Robert Parish and Tim Duncan. He’s staring down Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who leads with 1,074 wins. Think about that: LeBron needs only 27 wins in the games he plays next season to claim the top spot. Given he’s almost certainly going to pick a contender, a top team in their conference, can you imagine him *not* getting this done? As long as he stays healthy, that record is as good as his.
The 2026-27 season is going to be wild. Will James secure the ultimate win record? Can he really put up 100 steals and pass Jordan? No matter where he lands, James is chasing history, and we’re all gonna be watching.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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