“I could have averaged 50” — LeBron James makes bold claim about his high-school basketball years after Los Angeles Lakers playoff exit

LeBron James has rightfully earned the status of a legend in his basketball career, being at the top of the ladder. Arguably, James has been the greatest of all time in the NBA, while some fans place Michael Jordan over him. The battle for the GOAT is never-ending, but James has recently made a huge claim about his high-school basketball career, stating that he could have easily averaged 50 but refrained from doing so for one particular reason.

LeBron James says he could have easily averaged 50 points per game in high school

LeBron James and his Los Angeles Lakers ’ playoff run came to an abrupt end after they lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves 103-96. While the playoff elimination gloom for the Lakers was over, James grabbed headlines with his recent claim. In a recent episode of his Mind The Game podcast , James shared details of his basketball run in high school.

“I never averaged 30 points a game in high school… I could have averaged 50 but it was never about that. How can I get the most out of my teammates for all of us to be successful,” James shared.

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“I never averaged 30 points a game in high school… I could have averaged 50 but it was never about that. How can I get the most out of my teammates for all of us to be successful.”

(Via @mindthegamepod) pic.twitter.com/ukdMumcCof

— Fullcourtpass (@Fullcourtpass) May 15, 2025

Of course, winning games matters most in a team, and James understood the value of teamwork rather than showing his individual scoring. Still, James has maintained the status of an elite player throughout his career. LeBron has scored a gargantuan 50,473 points in the regular season and playoffs. It is no easy task to achieve for any NBA star.


Back in 1999, a young LeBron took the court for St. Vincent-St. Mary, a small Catholic high school in Akron, Ohio. From the start, he played with a dominance rarely seen at that level. His raw talent and advanced skill set quickly made waves, earning him national attention.

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James, who is now 40, has come a long way. He has added several stunning NBA records to his name. The 21-time NBA All-Star has recently ended his 2024-25 season with a stunning 24.4 points per game, 7.8 rebounds, 8.2 assists, and a 51.3 field goal percentage.