Love him or hate him, there is no denying him. LeBron James set the NBA record for most points scored when he made a jumper with 10.9 seconds left in the third quarter against the Oklahoma City Thunder on February 7th, giving him 38,388 points and breaking the record Kareem Abdul-Jabbar held since 1984. Unfortunately for his team’s more immediate concern, the Lakers lost at home to the Thunder 133-130.

The game was paused for several minutes as James was honored by NBA commissioner Adam Silver and greeted by his mother, wife, and children. Abdul-Jabbar was also on hand.

Entering the game, James was fourth all-time in assists, ninth in steals, 32nd in rebounds, and 91st in blocks, reinforcing his place among those considered to be the greatest player ever in their particular sport. His propensity for running his mouth regarding social and racial issues notwithstanding, James’ accomplishments on the basketball court cannot be denied by even his fiercest detractors.

James has played in 10 Finals for three different teams, winning four times: once with the Cleveland Cavaliers, twice with the Miami Heat, and once with the Lakers. This year will be his 19th consecutive All-Star Game appearance,

What is unlikely is an 11th NBA Finals appearance. The Lakers, as demonstrated in the game where James set the record, are not a playoff-caliber team let alone a championship contender. The Thunder, playing the night after getting blown off the court by 27 points by a Steph Curry-less Golden State Warriors squad, showed zero concerns for their opponent as Oklahoma City scored almost at will. Defensively lackadaisical and offensively far too reliant on James for scoring, the present Lakers team is a mess not even James can carry forward. James is contractually bound to the team through the 2023-2024 season, and his immense contract makes a trade all but impossible, so enjoying the L.A.weather is most likely James’ sole activity come post-season time both this year and the next.

As a quick glance through the RedState archives reveals, this site is decidedly not home to the LeBron James fan club. That said, his greatness on the court is undeniable.