A’ja Wilson, LeBron James
A’ja Wilson’s run through the 2025 season already stood alone in basketball history. TIME’s decision to name her its 2025 Athlete of the Year only amplified the scale of her dominance and the cultural weight behind it. The Las Vegas Aces star didn’t simply lead a title team. She completed a sweep of achievements no player in the WNBA or NBA ever matched, and her impact reached well beyond the court. That impact even drew a pointed reaction from LeBron James, whose comments added another layer to Wilson’s growing legacy.
Wilson entered the season as an established force. She ended it with a resume that stretched belief. She won her second scoring title and became the fastest player in league history to score 5,000 points. She then collected her third Defensive Player of the Year award, her fourth MVP, her second Finals MVP, and a third championship. TIME highlighted that she joined Bill Russell, Kareem Abdul Jabbar, and James as the only players in either league to win four MVP awards before turning 30.
That level of dominance powered the whirlwind that followed the Aces’ title parade. Wilson walked through the celebration with Thanos’ Infinity Gauntlet on her left hand, each stone labeled with one of her 2025 honors. She called the glove the perfect symbol of a year in which she “collected everything.” Give her props, that’s pretty cold. Her father Roscoe joked that Hollywood should prepare awards of its own. Wilson said she usually lets her work speak for her, but she knew she needed to send a clear message. “No one’s ever done what I’ve done,” she explained. “People needed to understand that.”
LeBron Highlights Wilson’s Reach Beyond the Court
James echoed that sentiment when TIME spoke with him about Wilson’s influence. He described her as “the definition of female Black excellence,” pointing to the way her success reaches his home. He shared that he recently watched his daughter, Zhuri, study Wilson on TV. That moment struck him harder than any statistic or accolade. “Her greatest impact isn’t what I see, it’s what Zhuri sees,” he said.
Gabrielle Union added her own take by calling Wilson a “culture shifter” who forces people to pay attention without spectacle. That praise aligned with Wilson’s broader role in moving the WNBA forward during a period of heightened visibility and conversation around representation. Her bestselling memoir, Dear Black Girls, her leadership in CBA discussions, and the launch of her Nike A’One signature shoe all supported that shift. She became the first Black WNBA player in more than a decade to receive a signature model and used the design to honor her Southern roots.
Why This Moment Feels Bigger Than an Award
Wilson’s gauntlet, her historic season, and the voices rallying behind her created one unified storyline. She didn’t just dominate. She established a blueprint for what sustained excellence, cultural influence, and leadership can look like for a modern superstar. LeBron’s comments reflect that evolution, because Wilson now inspires the next generation in the same way legends inspired him.