NBA superstar LeBron James believes he is the basketball GOAT.

The Lakers star, 37, is currently second on the all-time scoring charts behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

2

James is one of the NBA’s most decorated starsCredit: EPA

2

LeBron is targeting a fifth NBA title this seasonCredit: AP

James heads into the new season hoping to inspire LA to another NBA championship after a dismal campaign last year.

The Lakers missed out on the playoffs for the first time since winning the title in 2020.

Despite their struggles, LeBron continued to be a dominant force at both ends of the court.

The basketball superstar is a four-time league MVP and an eighteen-time All-Star, while away from the game he was estimated by Forbes this year to have a net worth of $1billion.

James was honored as being one of the 75 greatest players of all-time for the NBA’s 75th Anniversary earlier this year.

Following the 2022 All-Star game, the former Cavaliers star opened up on why he thinks he’s No1.

And he cited his role in bringing Cleveland back from a 1-3 deficit in the 2016 Finals as the reason he is the basketball GOAT.

LeBron said: “That moment [in 2016] I was like I am the greatest basketball player people have ever seen in all the facets.

“Like I can play 1 to 5, I can guard 1 to 5, just literally like doing something that’s never been done in the history of the sport.

“Teams that go down 3-1 were like 0 for 32 in finals history.

“There was nobody ever coming out of there and nobody gave us a chance. I just felt like ain’t nobody better than me at this.

“That’s what I felt. I was super, super ecstatic to win won for Cleveland because of the 52-year drought.

“The first wave of emotion, when everyone saw me crying, that was 52 years of sports and everything that’s gone on in Cleveland.

“And then after I stopped, I was like – that one right there made you the greatest player of all time.”

The Lakers have made a slow start to pre-season, going 1-4 as they prepare to face the Sacramento Kings on October 14.

LeBron and his LA teammates will begin their NBA challenge against last season’s champions Golden State on Tuesday, October 18.