LeBron James’ 40,000-point milestone arrived as expected, lacking surprise—because when he surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on February 9th last year, this day became inevitable.

I see it as a station on LeBron’s long journey. Perhaps in his youth, he never dared to dream of reaching it, but once he passed Abdul-Jabbar’s station, LeBron meticulously maintained his “train” to ensure a safe arrival. This season, he’s played 62 games and rested only 8.

LeBron was both eager and excited. Before the game against the Nuggets, he admitted, “It’s fake to say I’m not excited.” This station symbolizes validation for his 21-year career of hard work—like a top student cherishing their final diploma.

When his predecessor Abdul-Jabbar surpassed Wilt Chamberlain, he felt the same thrill; LeBron felt it too when he surpassed Abdul-Jabbar. When the station ahead belongs solely to you, the sense of completion is unmatched.

Doing what no one has done, achieving what no one has achieved—what a magical feeling. It’s like being the first to step on the moon, climb Mount Everest, raft the Yangtze River, leave your village to work, attend college, start a business, or score 40,000 points.

There are 40+ mountains over 7,000 meters, but only one Mount Everest. Who knows how many years of orogeny it will take for the next Everest to emerge.

Will there be a next Everest?

Yes, given enough time.

Most people might think this peak is too high for anyone else to climb. But in my view, records are meant to be broken, and summits are meant to be conquered. After LeBron conquered the 40,000-point peak, another person—maybe even more—will reach it.

I believe times always move forward, and basketball evolves. LeBron’s second half of his career coincided with the sport speeding up and three-pointers increasing, which helped him reach 40K. Now, young players enter a pro environment dominated by threes and pace. If someone is as dedicated, disciplined, and protective of their body as LeBron, harnessing their talent, they can achieve it too. Their objective conditions are more favorable than LeBron’s were.

Could this person be active now? Hard to say. Take Luka Dončić—does he have a shot?

Luka represents today’s apex-talent superstar, unstoppable on the court. But he has two drawbacks: First, though he also started at 19, his first four seasons didn’t hit 2,000 points (LeBron missed 2K only in his rookie year). Second, his weight raises injury risks, and asking him to abandon all indulgence and maintain his body non-stop like LeBron is tough.

But that doesn’t mean no one else will reach 40K—maybe the person hasn’t been born yet.

Thirty-odd years ago, when I started in basketball, Abdul-Jabbar’s 38,387 points seemed unreachable. I never witnessed his historic moment, but I treated 38,387 as a must-know for new hires. Back then, I never thought anyone could surpass it; it felt like the visual boundary of the basketball universe, the farthest place even light could reach.

But after three decades, I’ve learned: The world keeps evolving. Never say never.

Now, LeBron has two goals: winning another championship and sharing the court with his son, as a teammate or rival. These might not both happen—maybe one, maybe none. But they’re his new challenges.