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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 amount.
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, 2025Opponent: Indiana Pacers
Date: January 31, 2002Opponent: Cleveland Cavaliers
Date: January 6, 1985Opponent: San Antonio Spurs
Tim DeFrisco/Allsport/Getty Images
Date: March 29, 1991Opponent: Cleveland Cavaliers
Date: February 27, 2019Opponent: Golden State Warriors
Date: December 10, 2003Opponent: Dallas Mavericks
Date: February 3, 2011Opponent: Los Angeles Lakers
Date: December 8, 2010Opponent: Los Angeles Clippers
Date: March 28, 2000Opponent: Cleveland Cavaliers
Date: April 6, 1986Opponent: Boston CelticsÂ
Date: February 28, 1986Opponent: Dallas Mavericks
Date: February 24, 2014Opponent: New York Knicks
Manny Rubio-USA TODAY Sports
Date: January 18, 1974Opponent: Kansas City-Omaha Kings
Al Bello /Allsport
Date: January 26, 2000Opponent: New Jersey Nets
Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images
Date: March 27, 1992Opponent: Minnesota Timberwolves
Date: January 24, 2007Opponent: Utah Jazz
Stephen Dunn /Getty Images
Date: March 13, 1991Opponent: Seattle SuperSonics
Date: February 13, 1998Opponent: Atlanta Hawks
Date: February 08, 2016Opponent: Denver Nuggets
NBA Photo Library/NBAE via Getty Images
Date: January 02, 1967Opponent: Detroit Pistons
