LeBron James turns 40 on Monday, marking a significant moment in his illustrious career with the Los Angeles Lakers. He is set to join a select group of NBA players who have played in the league at this age, showcasing his remarkable longevity and skill.
Here are some notable statistical milestones for NBA players who have reached their 40s:
Scoring 40 at 40
Only one player has scored 40 points in a game while in their 40s. That honor goes to Michael Jordan, who, just four days after his 40th birthday on February 21, 2003, scored an impressive 43 points for the Washington Wizards in a tight 89-86 victory over the New Jersey Nets.
Triple Doubles
Triple doubles are also a rarity for players over 40, with only one recorded in NBA history. Karl Malone achieved this feat with 10 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists, leading the Lakers to a 103-87 win against San Antonio on November 28, 2003.
Total Points After 40
LeBron James is poised to climb the ranks in terms of total points scored after turning 40. Excluding Tim Duncan and Danny Schayes—who played in the playoffs at 40 but never in a regular-season game—29 players have scored in the NBA after their 40th birthday.
LeBron Won’t Be the Oldest
The record for the oldest player to compete in an NBA game belongs to Nat Hickey, who played two games for the Providence Steamrollers in January 1948, just days before his 46th birthday. In those brief appearances, Hickey went 0 for 6 from the field and 2 for 3 from the free-throw line, committing four fouls in only three minutes during his second game.
40 in the Finals
In the past two decades, only one player has participated in an NBA Finals game at 40 years old: Udonis Haslem of the Miami Heat. He played in the 2023 Finals against Denver just two days shy of his 43rd birthday. Before Haslem, Karl Malone was the last fortysomething to appear in the Finals in 2004.
An Average Night
The average performance for an NBA player after turning 40 includes 6.6 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.4 assists. LeBron James, however, is expected to exceed these averages significantly. Throughout his thirties, he averaged 26.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 8.1 assists per game.
Who’s Next?
Following LeBron, the next NBA player set to reach 40 is Chris Paul of the San Antonio Spurs, who will celebrate this milestone on May 6. For him to play at 40 this season, he would likely need to be part of a second-round playoff run. Additionally, Taj Gibson from Charlotte turns 40 on June 24, but he would need to return for the next season to play at that age. Philadelphia’s Kyle Lowry is also on the horizon, turning 40 on March 25, 2026, if he continues his career into a 20th season.
