Jan 17, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) throws powdered chalk into the air before the game against the Dallas Mavericks at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James is entering the final years of his career, but remarkably, he can still play at a high level 21 years later.
James has had a historic career, last year becoming the league’s all-time leading scorer. Now, the four-time champion is looking to add on a championship or two to solidify his resume. Coming off a Western Conference Finals appearance, L.A. may be able to get their 18th championship sooner rather than later.
His popularity has also not decreased, despite the fact that James has had to deal with attention all of his basketball playing career—even going back to his time at St. Vincent-St. Mary’s. The Ohio native continues to rank third among the league’s best-selling jerseys despite being the icon that he is and donning the purple and gold.
It is also worth noting that the Lakers rank No. 1 in the league for top-selling merchandise, which is not surprising due to L.A. being one the most popular franchises in all of sports.
But it is extremely impressive for James to still be near the top of the top-selling jerseys as his years in the league are limited. With all the accolades, there will never be another player like LeBron as his career is far from ordinary.
It will be interesting to watch if James’s sales are surpassed by the new faces of the league, such as Devin Booker, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jayson Tatum, and Luka Doncic, as long as he plays in the league. However, it is remarkable that the Lakers star has managed to maintain this ridiculous fame for 21 seasons and counting.
