LeBron James has nothing left to prove when it comes to personal accolades. Throughout a legendary 22-year NBA career, the Los Angeles Lakers star has amassed just about every individual honor imaginable. But as he prepares for what could be his final season, both James and the Lakers are focused on chasing one more NBA title before he hangs it up.
In today’s NBA, debates around greatness often revolve around championship rings and individual awards. Yet with the depth of talent across the league, not every elite player ends up with the recognition their game deserves.
That very reality recently led James to float a fresh idea: the introduction of a new NBA award to spotlight offensive excellence. Speaking on the Mind the Game podcast alongside Steve Nash, the four-time MVP suggested the NBA take a page from the NFL’s playbook and introduce an Offensive Player of the Year award.
“I was thinking about how the NFL separates MVP from Offensive Player of the Year,” James said. “I think that might be something the NBA should consider, because it gets confusing. Is MVP about team success or just the best individual player? Maybe Offensive Player of the Year highlights the guy who had the best offensive season overall, regardless of where their team finished.”
James pointed out that statistical dominance doesn’t always align with team success, and that deserving players can be overlooked when team records play too big a role in MVP voting. He hopes that additional awards could provide more opportunities for elite players to receive recognition.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has shown openness to changes in recent years, including the introduction of the Clutch Player of the Year and rebranding of existing trophies with the names of legendary players. While the league currently has other priorities — most notably expansion talks and the potential addition of teams in new cities — James’ suggestion may eventually spark real consideration.
For now, the idea remains on the table. And as someone who has already claimed every major honor the NBA offers, James seems more focused on helping the next generation of stars get their due.
LeBron’s Future with Lakers Still on Track for 2024-25 Season
Despite a whirlwind offseason and questions about whether he might seek a trade, all signs now point to James staying in Los Angeles, at least for the start of the upcoming season.
He exercised his $52.6 million player option earlier this summer, but uncertainty was stirred when Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul publicly questioned the Lakers’ competitiveness. That statement triggered a wave of speculation about James’ commitment to the franchise entering Year 23.
However, the Lakers expect the 20-time All-Star to report for training camp and begin his eighth season in purple and gold.
