LeBron James' 22nd NBA season was nothing short of remarkable. At 40 years old, he averaged 24.6 points, 8.4 assists, and 8.0 rebounds per game, shooting an efficient 51.2% from the field. His performance on the court helped guide the Los Angeles Lakers to a 50-32 record—their first 50-win season since 2020—and securing the third seed in the highly competitive Western Conference.
Despite the team's early playoff exit, James' individual excellence did not go unnoticed. The NBA announced that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder won the 2024-25 MVP award, with Nikola Jokic finishing second and Giannis Antetokounmpo rounding out the top three.
James secured the sixth spot in MVP voting, receiving one fourth-place vote and 13 fifth-place votes.
Fans took to social media to express their reactions to James' MVP ranking:
"And there’s 'Lakers' that think the team would be better off without him smh," one fan wrote.
"Not bad for a 40 year old," another fan mentioned.
"Can’t imagine him finishing outside the top 5 if he didn’t have the Groin Injury and this prob means all NBA second team," another fan added.
"Impressive honestly," another fan said.
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23).
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23).
Candice Ward-Imagn Images
"Why would he even think about retiring now?" a fan questioned.
"Crazy part is he was a guaranteed top 3 candidate before the injury," another fan posted.
"Yet there are actual people begging an all NBA 2nd team player to sign a $20M contract," a fan wondered.
"And some fans want to move on from him for a misery of cap space lol," another fan remarked.
James' continued high-level performance, even in his 22nd season, speaks to his enduring impact on the game. Despite discussions about potential retirement, there are talks around the league that James is likely to return for a 23rd season, aiming to further solidify his legacy.