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See the full story · 1 sources'A Modest, Arrogant Guy' -- NBA Legend Shaquille O'Neal Makes Blunt Observation About LeBron James' Historic Longevity
LeBron James has rewritten almost every standard for longevity in NBA history. He is set to play his 24th season, something no player has ever done before. The four-time MVP broke Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s long-standing all-time scoring record in 2023, became the first player ever to reach 40,000 regular-season points, and has continued to add to his total ever since.
NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal recently summed up James’ remarkable career with an unusual description, calling him a “modest arrogant guy” while explaining why he believes James could eventually push his scoring record beyond 50,000 points.
Shaquille O’Neal Breaks Down Why LeBron James’ Scoring Numbers Are Almost Unreal
James has spent more than two decades redefining what longevity looks like in professional basketball.
He enters the 2026-27 season with 43,440 regular-season points, making him the league’s all-time leading scorer by a wide margin.
James also owns the NBA record for the most combined regular-season and playoff points, another achievement that reflects not just his scoring ability but also his incredible consistency.
That remarkable accomplishment caught the attention of Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal.
Speaking on Wednesday’s episode of “The Old Man And The Three” podcast, O’Neal explained why he believes James won’t settle for being the league’s top scorer alone. Instead, he wants to push the record so far out of reach that no one will ever catch him.
“LeBron is a modest arrogant guy. For example, he’s loving the fact that he’s the No. 1 scorer in the league. But guess what? I’m going to put this [expletive] so far out of reach, nobody will ever do it,” O’Neal said . “Like, I ain’t going to lie, when I was playing, looking at Kareem’s number, I was like, ‘Man, 36K, 38K, I’ll never get to that.’ I looked the other day, LeBron’s at 45[K]. Still averaging 20 [points per game], he going to mess around and be at 50,000 points.”
O’Neal’s opinion carries extra weight because he played during an era when Abdul-Jabbar’s scoring record seemed impossible to break.
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Even O’Neal, a four-time NBA champion and one of the greatest centers in league history, admitted he never thought anyone would surpass Abdul-Jabbar’s total.
James not only broke that record but has continued to perform at an All-Star level into his early 40s.
A big reason is his consistency. Unlike many superstars whose production drops sharply with age, James has remained one of the league’s most reliable players, still averaging more than 20 points a night.
His work off the court has also become a huge part of his legacy. James is well known for investing heavily in recovery, nutrition, conditioning, and training, helping him stay healthy and productive year after year.
His move to the Philadelphia 76ers this offseason gives him another chance to add to that legacy. The 76ers paired James with Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and Jaylen Brown, giving the 22-time All-Star another opportunity to compete for his fifth NBA championship while continuing to add to his historic scoring total.
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