65 games into his 21st season, LeBron James somehow found a way to match one of the best marks of his career.
In a crucial late-season win over the Nets, James sank a career-high-tying nine 3-pointers en route to a 40-point, seven-rebound, five-assist performance. It was James’ third 40-point game of the 2023-24 NBA season, two of which came after his 39th birthday.
With his most recent scoring outburst, James became just the second player in NBA history to turn in multiple 40-point games after turning 39. It may not come as a surprise that the other is Michael Jordan, who turned in three such games during his Wizards stint.
In all, just four NBA players aged 39 or older have scored 40-plus points in a regular-season game. Take a look at the full list that’s headlined by two of the greatest to play the sport.
MORE: Explaining viral LeBron James ‘You Are My Sunshine’ TikTok meme
Oldest NBA players to score 40 points in a game
In addition to having the most 40-point games after turning 39, Jordan is the oldest player to score 40 points in an NBA game. Four days after his 40th birthday, Jordan finished with 43 points in an 89-86 win over the Nets.
Here is the full list, via Stathead.
| Player | Points | Age | |
| 1. | Michael Jordan | 43 | 40 years, 4 days |
| 2. | Michael Jordan | 45 | 39 years, 349 days |
| 3. | Michael Jordan | 41* | 39 years, 321 days |
| 4. | Karl Malone | 40 | 39 years, 231 days |
| 5. | LeBron James | 40 | 39 years, 92 days |
| 6. | LeBron James | 40 | 39 years, 77 days |
| 7. | Jamal Crawford | 51 | 39 years, 20 days |
*Jordan’s 41-point performance on Jan. 4, 2003, came in double overtime.
While Jordan is the oldest to score 40 points, Jamal Crawford is the oldest to score 50 points in an NBA game. The three-time Sixth Man of the Year came off the bench to score 51 points in what wound up being the penultimate game of his career.
Following his 40-point game in Brooklyn, James remarked “I don’t have much time left” in his NBA career but gave no indication that retirement was imminent.
If James, who will turn 40 on Dec. 30, 2024, returns for a 22nd NBA season, he gives himself a chance to jump to the top of the list.
MORE: What to know about Lakers’ chances of making the 2024 NBA Playoffs
LeBron James stats 2023-24
James is turning in the best season among the short list of NBA players to play 21 seasons.
- 25.4 points per game
- 8.1 assists per game
- 7.3 rebounds per game
- 1.2 steals per game
- 3.4 turnovers per game
- 53.3 percent field goal shooting
- 41.6 percent 3-point shooting
- 75.2 percent free throw shooting
In addition to the scoring, rebounding and assists numbers, James is shooting a career-high percentage from beyond the arc and is in line to play in the most regular-season games of his Lakers tenure — James has appeared in 65 of LA’s first 75 games in 2023-24.
As it stands, James’ current high of games played as a Laker is 67 during the 2019-20 season, which was impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
