LeBron James 40,000th-Point Betting: When Will LeBron Reach the Milestone?

As one of the greatest athletes of the modern generation, LeBron James is once again approaching unprecedented territory.

With James in his 21st NBA campaign (and sixth for the Los Angeles Lakers), "The Chosen One" is currently just 203 regular-season points shy of 40,000 lifetime. Obviously, this is a scoring threshold that no player has ever crossed.

Fortunately for you, FanDuel Sportsbook is offering multiple NBA Specials pertaining to LeBron's 40,000th-Point Betting, such as when (which game) and how (method of basket) this feat will be accomplished.

Keep in mind, this market could fluctuate a bit since we are still more than a handful of games out of striking distance. Additionally, James and the Lakers are hosting the Denver Nuggets tonight (Thursday) in a contest where FanDuel has Los Angeles priced as a 3.5-point home underdog.

Before LeBron gets back in action this evening, let's dive into the aforementioned 40,000-point markets while looking for authentic betting value.

NBA odds via FanDuel Sportsbook.

LeBron James 40,000th-Point Betting

In Which Game Will LeBron James Score his 40,000th Regular Season Point?

Of course, a majority of James' supporters are probably most interested in which game this scoring achievement will be fulfilled. As noted in the intro, LBJ is a little more than 200 short of 40,000 regular-season points.

James has produced 39,797 career points prior to Thursday's affair against Denver (which is the first contest of a back-to-back for LAL). Simply, unless he starts going absolutely nuclear, we likely won't see LeBron cross 40k until the end of February -- or possibly early March.

Through the better part of 21 seasons in the league, James is a 27.1 PPG scorer. In this campaign, the Akron native is still getting 24.9 PPG; that's impressive for any NBA player, let alone a 39-year-old. That 2023-24 scoring clip also leaves LeBron approximately 8.15 contests away from reaching 40,000 lifetime points.

At his current annual pace, James could eclipse this scoring mark on February 28th versus the roommate Los Angeles Clippers. That game is also the first in a back-to-back, as the Lakers play on Leap Day (Feb. 29) at home against the Washington Wizards.

Still, both of the aforementioned bids are showing long-shot odds at FanDuel Sportsbook despite sitting eight and nine games removed entering Thursday. Of course, that is likely due to James' tendency to sit out multiple games each month.

In the past 30 days, LeBron has missed three contests. Most recently, he sat out the Lakers' road upset of the Boston Celtics on February 1st. With that, I think it can be safe to assume that James will be unavailable at least once more before eclipsing 40,000. That makes LAL's home tilt on March 2nd versus the Nuggets (+310 odds) a prime choice in this market at FanDuel Sportsbook -- it also yields the shortest pricing at the moment.

Here is an overview of the market, along with which plays stand out amongst the rest.

• February 28 at Los Angeles Clippers (+750)

• February 29 vs. Washington (+440)

• March 2 vs. Denver (+310)

• March 4 vs. Oklahoma City (+350)

• April 6 vs. Cleveland (+15000)

Method of LeBron James' Basket to Score his 40,000th Regular Season Point

For a wrinkle here, FanDuel Sportsbook is also offering odds on how LeBron will score his 40,000th regular-season point. Naturally, James is a diverse scorer. Sure, it may have been his iconic slam dunks that first took the league by storm, but at age 39, the Laker utilizes myriad skills and moves to put the ball in the cup.

This season, James has shot 52.1% from the field on 432 total attempts. Of that crop, 57.6% of his field goals have come from behind the arc. As a three-point shooter, LeBron is converting at a 39.0 % clip in 2023-24, which is nearing a personal best for James. With that, "Three-Point Field Goal (+270 odds)" appears to have value here.

Also, a three gives us a slightly larger striking range, as a make from deep with LeBron at 39,997 provides a winning ticket, whereas a two-pointer in that specific instance falls short.

Admittedly, it would be awesome if "The Chosen One" could cash this market with one of his signature slam dunks. Still, that is obviously a less likely scenario. This year, LeBron has attempted 58 dunks -- or 1.26 per game -- while converting 54 times.

Considering he is averaging 18.0 shots each time out right now, it is quite unlikely James' 40,000th regular season point comes from a slam dunk -- how thrilling would it be if he did, though? At the moment, FanDuel has that selection priced at +650 odds.

As a layup in this market, "Layup (+175 odds)" is currently the shortest-priced option here. Obviously, it is one of the most common actions in the game of basketball, as there are various iterations of the layup. Still, I believe "Free Throw (+420 odds)" is another selection at FanDuel Sportsbook that has some value.

Bringing back $4.20 on the dollar, LeBron scoring his 40,000th point via free throw is priced as a long shot. Still, James -- and the Lakers as a whole -- gets to the charity stripe with consistency. In 2023-24, he's attempted 5.5 FT per game so far. Additionally, if James notched 40,000 at the free-throw line, it would certainly make for a dramatic moment, which we know "King James" has a flair for.

Below, you'll find the entirety of the method market for LeBron's 40,000th regular-season point.

• Layup (+175)

• Three-Point Field Goal (+270)

• Other (+300)

• Free Throw (+420)

• Dunk (+650)

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The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author's advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.