It was probably not the type of game-winning buzzer-beater kids dream of while shooting hoops in their front yards, but LeBron James‘ tip-in on Wednesday, March 26, 2025, gave the Lakers a 120-119 win over the Indiana Pacers last night.
It also gave James yet another record, one that – again – came at the expense of his main rival in the GOAT debate, Michael Jordan, that of oldest player in NBA history to hit a game-winning buzzer-beater.
Jordan was 38 years and 358 days old when he hit his last game-winning buzzer-beater back on January 31, 2002. James was 40 years and 86 days old yesterday, beating MJ’s record by a fair.
Apparently, this is one thing GOAT candidates like to one-up each other with, because Jordan had previously beaten Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s record in this very same category.
For James, it was his first regular-season game-winning buzzer-beater since February 7, 2018, and somehow only his third ever in the regular season. Strangely enough, he has more in the playoffs (five) than in the regular season.
James now has eight career game-winning buzzer-beaters, one behind Jordan, who holds the all-time record with nine. James is now tied with Kobe Bryant and Joe Johnson for the second-most game-winning buzzer-beaters ever.
Fun fact: James is the first player in NBA history to have three buzzer-beating game-winners against the same team… all while playing for different teams himself.
Below, check out the oldest players to have a game-winning buzzer-beater in NBA history.
Date: March 26, 2025
Opponent: Indiana Pacers
Date: January 31, 2002
Opponent: Cleveland Cavaliers
Date: January 6, 1985
Opponent: San Antonio Spurs
Tim DeFrisco/Allsport/Getty Images
Date: March 29, 1991
Opponent: Cleveland Cavaliers
Date: February 27, 2019
Opponent: Golden State Warriors
Date: December 10, 2003
Opponent: Dallas Mavericks
Date: February 3, 2011
Opponent: Los Angeles Lakers
Date: December 8, 2010
Opponent: Los Angeles Clippers
Date: March 28, 2000
Opponent: Cleveland Cavaliers
Date: April 6, 1986
Opponent: Boston Celtics
Date: February 28, 1986
Opponent: Dallas Mavericks
Date: February 24, 2014
Opponent: New York Knicks
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Date: January 18, 1974
Opponent: Kansas City-Omaha Kings
Al Bello /Allsport
Date: January 26, 2000
Opponent: New Jersey Nets
Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images
Date: March 27, 1992
Opponent: Minnesota Timberwolves
Date: January 24, 2007
Opponent: Utah Jazz
Stephen Dunn /Getty Images
Date: March 13, 1991
Opponent: Seattle SuperSonics
Date: February 13, 1998
Opponent: Atlanta Hawks
Date: February 08, 2016
Opponent: Denver Nuggets
NBA Photo Library/NBAE via Getty Images
Date: January 02, 1967
Opponent: Detroit Pistons
