On the latest episode of the Mind the Game podcast, LeBron James addressed criticism about his playing style by pointing to his unmatched scoring record.
Seated next to teammate Luka Doncic and speaking with co-host Steve Nash, the 40-year-old forward pushed back against the recurring narrative that he lacks an offensive “bag.”
“I’m sitting here with 50 billion points—leading scorer all-time in the NBA. No bag? That proves the point,” James said, via HoopsHype.
James currently holds the all-time scoring record in the NBA, having surpassed 50,000 combined points across regular season and postseason play on March 4 in a win over New Orleans.
The comment came during a wider discussion about how former players have critiqued the modern game, particularly regarding skill development and physicality.
“Now, that generation talks so much s*** about the game today, it makes you go back and watch those old games — and it makes you not even want to appreciate them the way you did as a kid,” James added.
James has repeatedly pushed back on commentary from NBA legends. In April, he publicly challenged critiques that undervalue the talent of current players.
His latest remarks come months after another milestone-filled season. James re-signed with the Lakers in July 2024 on a two-year, $104 million deal with a player option and a no-trade clause.
During the 2024–25 campaign, he averaged 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 8.2 assists while shooting 51.3% from the field. He also posted five triple-doubles and reached several key achievements, including passing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for most regular season minutes played.
In postseason play, James averaged 25.4 points and 9 rebounds in five games as the Lakers were eliminated in the first round by Minnesota.
He also became the oldest player in league history to score 40+ points in a single game and passed multiple legends on the all-time lists, including Dirk Nowitzki, Scottie Pippen, and Wilt Chamberlain.
