“I used to call him Iron Man; He’s starting to look like Plastic Man” - Skip Bayless doubts LeBron James’ durability will allow him to surpass Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s all-time scoring record this season
The basketball world is unanimous in its belief that LeBron James will dethrone Kareem Abdul-Jabbar this season as the all-time scoring king. He just has to stay healthy enough to accomplish the feat.
The four-time MVP has already missed five games this season due to left foot soreness and left adductor strain, respectively. James’ current injury, a strain to his groin, has forced the team to sideline him over the last four games. He is now set to miss his fifth straight game as the LA Lakers want to be overly cautious with the superstar’s latest impairment.
Skip Bayless, on “The Undisputed,” had this to say about James’ status and how it could affect his chase of the all-time scoring mark:
(Starts at the 7:10 mark)
“It would be a spectacle to see LeBron pass Kareem, it would be just great theater. I used to call him Iron Man but I can’t call him Iron Man anymore. He’s starting to look like Plastic Man.”
The LA Lakers will be playing their 16th game tonight, leaving them with 66 more this season. LeBron James is averaging 24.9 points, which will potentially allow him to at least tie Abdul-Jabbar for the record in the next 44 games. He is 1,076 points off of arguably the NBA’s most hollowed record.
James could even be hobbled, averaging just 16.3 points in 66 games, and he should still be able to get the all-time scoring record. The Lakers will likely not risk that given how extra careful they are with their franchise player who’s playing in his 20th season.
LeBron James has had more injuries in his last four seasons, coincidentally all with the Lakers, than in his previous 15 years. “King James” averaged 76.2 per game from his rookie season until 2017-18, his last year with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Since wearing the purple and gold jersey, he’s only averaged 55.6 games a season.
The GOAT candidate has insisted that Father Time hasn't beaten him yet, but it remains to be seen how this season will turn out. There’s plenty of room yet for the 18x All-Star to become the NBA’s all-time scoring king, but his window diminishes with each missed game.
The LA Lakers have not set a specific date for LeBron James’ return
LA Lakers coach Darvin Ham is adamant they will not prematurely allow LeBron James to return if the four-time champ is not 100% healthy. He said that the worst they can do is cause any lingering issues to his groin.
In James’ first season with the Lakers, he also strained his groin. Out of the 27 games he missed in that campaign, 20 of those were due to the same injury. He still averaged 27.4 points per game and finished with 1,505 for the season.
During the 2020-21 season, when LeBron James played only 45 games, the lowest of his career, he still ended with 1,126 points.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s all-time scoring record is well within reach, but he will have to sustain his scoring average and play at least 44 games.