Former NBA champion and analyst Matt Barnes is hailing LeBron James’s sustained dominance, coining a new term—”Bron-gevity”—to capture the unparalleled consistency of the superstar as he prepares to enter his 23rd professional season.
In a recent interview, Barnes made it clear that what James has achieved throughout his career, which includes breaking the all-time NBA scoring record, is likely an impossible feat to duplicate.
The Phenomenon of ‘Bron-gevity’
For Barnes, the sheer longevity and high level of performance James has maintained is what truly sets him apart in basketball history. James is set to enter his 23rd season in the league, a duration that, combined with his level of play, leaves Barnes in awe.
“Oh no. The fact that he’s been able to stay this consistent for not just the 23 years in the game, but overall,”Barnes stated. “I mean, his numbers have been AMAZING across the board since we’ve heard about him as a kid.”
He believes what James has accomplished over two decades in the NBA will likely stand alone.
“So, what he’s been able to do in the league for the last 21 years I don’t think we’ll ever see again; I’d like to call it ‘Bron-gevity’, you know?” Barnes said. “This guy is STILL a 26-28 points a game scorer at 38-39 years old and 21 years this guy is STILL amazing.”
The Scoring Record: A Challenge for the Ages
James’s most monumental achievement to date has been surpassing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s nearly four-decade-old NBA scoring record. While acknowledging the nature of records, Barnes emphasized the massive effort it would take for any future player to unseat James.
“I mean, records are meant to be broken and no one ever thought that Kareem’s record would be broken but, it’s going to take a lot of work,” Barnes noted.
He stressed that mere talent is not enough; James’s unprecedented consistency over time is the key ingredient. “You saw it took LeBron 20 years and a LOT of consistency to be able to do that so I would love to see in 10, 15 or 20 years down the road someone knock it off.”
