3 things that LeBron James could do in the upcoming 2021-22 NBA season to solidify his GOAT status 

#2 LeBron becomes the oldest regular season MVP at age 37

LeBron won his last two regular season MVPs with the Miami Heat in 2012 and 2013

LeBron has four regular-season MVP awards to his credit. He trails on that count to Kareem, who has a record six MVP honors; Russell and Jordan, who both have five MVPs each to their name. LeBron is tied with Chamberlain, who has four regular-season MVP trophies as well.

One way in which LeBron could add an edge to his GOAT claim is by winning a fifth MVP. He would still be tied with Jordan and Russell and would continue to trail Kareem by one MVP honor in that scenario, but should LeBron win MVP in 2021-22, he would become the oldest recipient of the award in NBA history.

Currently, Karl Malone is the NBA’s oldest regular season MVP. Malone achieved this distinction when he won MVP at age 35 for the 1998-99 lockout-shortened, 50-game NBA season. If LeBron wins the award at age 37, he would really give his fans some extra ammunition to arm themselves with whenever any GOAT discussion takes place.

#3 LeBron leads the Lakers to an NBA-best 18th championship

LeBron led the Cleveland Cavaliers to thier first NBA title in 2016

LeBron has won an NBA title with three different franchises. He won his first two titles with the Miami Heat in 2012 and 2013. He won his fourth and final ring with the Lakers in 2020. But his best NBA championship was the one that he won with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016. That ring would be extra special to LeBron because not only did he win a championship for his home state of Ohio, it was Cleveland’s first NBA title in their franchise history. Also, the manner in which he led the Cavs to that title, helping them overcome a 1-3 deficit to win the series 4-3 against a historic Golden State Warriors team, was really a special effort by LeBron.

Now, having led the Lakers to their 17th championship in 2020, if LeBron can help the Lakers go one better than their arch rivals the Boston Celtics (the Celtics also have 17 NBA titles), it would really add to LeBron’s legend. Counting the one with Cleveland, LeBron would then have two historic NBA titles against his name, clearly elevating his status to numero uno among the NBA’s Mount Rushmore.