LeBron James was born 35 years ago today. Throughout his three-and-a-half decades on earth, James has appeared in an NBA game seven times on his birthday. During those seven games, he’s averaged 33 points, eight rebounds and six assists. There were two games–in 2014 and 2018–where his team played on his birthday but James was inactive due to injury.
After defeating the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday, the Los Angeles Lakers will not play against until New Years Day against the Phoenix Suns. But to celebrate LeBron’s birthday in the meantime, we’ve ranked the best born day performances of his career.
No. 7: December 30, 2003 (19 year-old birthday)
LeBron Stats: 22 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists
The day LeBron James turned 19 years old he recorded a double-double against Reggie Miller and the Indiana Pacers. James finished his first birthday extravaganza with the Cleveland Cavaliers by pouring in 22 points and grabbing 10 rebounds to go along with four assists. His scoring total was a game-high as Jermaine O’Neal paced Indiana with 21. But James and the Cavaliers would lose by three despite 17 points and 11 rebounds in support of the King from a young Carlos Boozer.
No. 6: December 30, 2013 (29 year-old birthday)
LeBron Stats: 26 points, 10 assists, 6 rebounds
LeBron James has turned in one monster performance after another on his birthday. That’s why a 26-point, 10-assist effort during a three-point win on the road qualifies as his sixth-best born day performance. In a matchup with the Denver Nuggets, James shot 53% from the field while helping his Miami Heat to a 97-94 win. Chris Bosh shot 8-of-12 to score 17 points for Miami in the victory while Ty Lawson added 26 for Denver in defeat.
No. 5: December 30, 2017 (33 year-old birthday)
LeBron Stats: 29 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists
LeBron scored 29 points during his last birthday game for the Cleveland Cavaliers. He also collected eight rebounds in the contest while dishing out six dimes. But his Cavs team would eventually fall to Donovan Mitchell and the Utah Jazz by a score of 104-101. Kevin Love went for 20 points and 10 rebounds while Mitchell paced the Jazz with 29 points of his own.
No. 4: December 30, 2006 (22 year-old birthday)
LeBron Stats: 33 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists
LeBron James has scored 30 or more points on his birthday four times. The first time he accomplished this feat was on the day he turned 22. Playing against Luol Deng and the Chicago Bulls, LeBron exploded for 33 points to go along with nine rebounds. He knocked down 3-of-4 three-pointers and shot over 57% from the floor but it wasn’t enough. His Cleveland Cavaliers would eventually lose 103-96 to the Bulls who were fueled by 32 points from Deng.
No. 3: December 30, 2008 (24 year-old birthday)
LeBron Stats: 38 points, 7 assists, 2 rebounds
The second-highest scoring birthday performance of LeBron’s career came on the day he turned 24. With his Cleveland Cavaliers matched up against Dwyane Wade and the Miami Heat, James shot 12-of-24 from the floor overall while knocking down three triples to finish with a game-high 38. Wade countered with 21 points and 12 assists while helping his Miami team defend home court against LeBron and the Cavs, however, and earn the victory.
No. 2: December 30, 2011 (27 year-old birthday)
LeBron Stats: 34 points, 10 assists, 8 rebounds
The Miami Heat played only their fourth game of a lockout-shortened season on LeBron’s 27th birthday but James was already in midseason form. Competing on the road against the Minnesota Timberwolves, LeBron poured in a staggering 34 points to go along with 10 assists and eight rebounds. He shot 62% from the floor and was a +14 during a 103-101 win over the Timberwolves. He also lobbed a game-winning alley-oop to his good friend and teammate, Dwyane Wade, that decided the outcome.
No. 1 – December 30, 2009 (25 year-old birthday)
LeBron Stats: 48 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists
LeBron’s birthday performance in 2009 against Joe Johnson and the Atlanta Hawks is one of the best regular-season efforts of his career overall. On the day he turned 25, LeBron connected on 4-of-6 shots from beyond the arc while posting a 65% field-goal percentage overall to total 48 points. He would also collect 10 rebounds while dishing out six dimes. Despite 35 points from Johnson in response, the Cavaliers held off the Hawks 106-101 to secure the birthday win for James in Cleveland.
