Giannis Antetokounmpo Sets His Sights on LeBron’s Scoring Crown-But Is It Realistic?
Giannis Antetokounmpo has never been one to shy away from lofty goals. After dropping 29 points in a win over the Brooklyn Nets to become the sixth-youngest player in NBA history to hit the 21,000-point mark, the two-time MVP made it clear: he’s not content with just joining elite company-he wants to stand alone at the top.
Specifically, Giannis has his eyes on LeBron James’ all-time scoring record. That’s right, the Greek Freak is aiming to eclipse the NBA’s current scoring king, and he’s not talking about doing it in a decade. He’s talking four to five years.
“I think to get to the top of the scoring list is not six, seven, eight years,” Antetokounmpo said after the game. “In my opinion, four years away.
Four, five years away. I think I'm going to be 35 years old sitting in this chair having a discussion of ‘I am the top [of the all-time scoring list].’
I would have talked that into existence. And not just talked it into existence, because I believe I'm going to do it.
It’s something that I want to do.”
Ambitious? Definitely.
Impossible? Not quite-but let’s break it down.
The Numbers Game
Right now, Antetokounmpo sits at 21,002 points. LeBron James, still active and still adding to his total, stands at 42,251. That’s a gap of 21,249 points-essentially, Giannis would need to double his current career output to catch him.
Let’s entertain the idea of doing that in four or five years, as Giannis suggested. To get there in four seasons, he’d need to average 64.7 points per game-every game-assuming he plays all 82 games each season.
Stretch that to five years, and the average drops to 51.8 points per game. For context, Wilt Chamberlain’s legendary 50.4 points per game in the 1961-62 season remains the highest single-season scoring average in NBA history.
So, unless Giannis is planning to channel prime Wilt every night for the next half-decade-and never miss a game-it’s safe to say the four- or five-year window is more about mindset than math.
A More Realistic Path
Let’s pivot to a more grounded projection. Over his 13-year career, Giannis has averaged 67.2 games per season. If he maintains that level of durability and keeps scoring at a high clip, he could realistically make a run at the record-just not quite on the timeline he mentioned.
To reach LeBron’s current total, Giannis would need to average:
- 31.7 points per game over the next 10 seasons, or
- 28.8 points per game over the next 11 seasons
That’s not outlandish, especially considering he’s averaged over 30 points per game in each of the last four seasons. If he stays healthy and continues to evolve his offensive game-something he's done every year-those numbers are within reach.
But here’s the catch: to make that happen, he’d need to play until he’s 41 or 42 years old. That’s LeBron territory, and very few players have managed to sustain elite production into their 40s.
The good news? Giannis takes care of his body like a true professional.
He’s built like a tank, and his game has matured in a way that suggests he could adapt as he ages, much like LeBron has.
The LeBron Factor
There’s also the moving target element to consider. LeBron isn’t done yet.
Every point he scores adds to the mountain Giannis would have to climb. That makes the chase even tougher, but not necessarily impossible-especially if Giannis is in it for the long haul.
And let’s not overlook the fact that Giannis is already on a trajectory to reach 30,000 points within the next five years. That alone would put him in rarefied air.
Only eight players in NBA history have reached that milestone. Passing that mark would cement his place among the all-time greats, even if he falls short of the ultimate record.
The Bottom Line
Giannis Antetokounmpo isn’t just chasing greatness-he’s plotting a course to redefine it. Saying he wants to break LeBron’s all-time scoring record isn’t just about numbers; it’s about legacy, ambition, and belief. He’s not content with being one of the best of his generation-he wants to be the best.
Is it likely he catches LeBron in four or five years? No.
But could he do it in 10 or 11? If the stars align-if health holds, if motivation stays high, if he keeps averaging 30+ per night-it’s absolutely within the realm of possibility.
And if there’s one thing we’ve learned about Giannis over the years, it’s this: don’t bet against him.