LeBron James Makes NBA History With Feat Even Michael Jordan Couldn't Do

LeBron James has created a piece of NBA history that not even Michael Jordan could match.

James has played for the Los Angeles Lakers since 2018, and is currently in the final year of a two-year, $104 million contract.

There has been speculation over whether he will stay with the team next season, having exercised a $52.6 million player option to remain with the Lakers throughout 2025/26.

On the court, the Lakers sit in fourth place in the NBA Western Conference with a 19-8 win/loss record from 27 games.

Their latest match saw them lose 103-88 to LA Clippers, where they trailed after all four quarters.

But despite the defeat, James put in a strong performance, scoring 36 points.

That means he has become the oldest player in NBA history, at 40 years and 355 days old, to score a 30-point game, breaking Dirk Nowitzki's record.

Nowitzki had held the record since 2019, though the entirety of the remaining top 10 entries have been taken up by James since he turned 40 in December 2024.

Lebron James vs the clippers:
36PTS
4REB
3AST pic.twitter.com/ri9Rm1FH76

— Laker Performances (@LALPerformance) December 21, 2025

Jordan's final 30-point game was achieved on March 9, 2003, when he was 40 years and 20 days old.

Jordan played in his final NBA game just over a month later, on April 16, before his retirement from professional basketball.

Had he continued for another season, Jordan would likely have held the oldest 30-point record, but James is now the new holder of the incredible statistic.

Back in September, James conceded that retirement for him is coming 'a lot sooner than later' - though it is unclear as to whether he has any plans of calling time on his career in the immediate future.

"However the journey plays out this year, I'm super-invested," he said (via Sky Sports). "Because I don't know where the end is. I know it's a lot sooner than later.

"It's pretty cool to know how many miles I've got and still be able to play at a high level. For me, age is kind of just a number, but it is reality, too."

"There's not been many guys at my age, especially going into year 23, that have been able to play at a level like that. I just try not to take it for granted and just try to give the game as much I can, inspire whoever I can."