LeBron James achieved a significant milestone on Saturday night, surpassing 40,000 regular season points. Even in his remarkable 21st NBA season, James continues to demonstrate his enduring prowess on the court, with the goal of establishing a career scoring record that may prove insurmountable.
With 10:39 remaining in the second quarter of the Los Angeles Lakers’ game against the Denver Nuggets, James effortlessly bypassed Michael Porter Jr. and successfully scored a layup, marking a significant milestone in his career.
James was showered with praise and applause as he received a standing ovation during the next timeout. Coach Darvin Ham congratulated him with a friendly pat on the chest, acknowledging his exceptional performance. The crowd erupted in excitement as an in-arena video presentation showcased James’ remarkable achievement. With the ball held high above his head, James basked in the well-deserved recognition.
In his first shot of the game, James missed the mark with an airball. However, he quickly bounced back by sprinting down the court and scoring a layup for his first points. This impressive play forced the Nuggets to call a timeout. James continued his strong performance by sinking a 3-pointer from the corner before being substituted out with 3 minutes and 19 seconds remaining in the first quarter.
James made his way back onto the court at the beginning of the second quarter, wasting no time in driving towards the basket. Just 14 seconds into the period, he made a move that would go down in history.
On February 7, 2023, James made history by surpassing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s record of 38,387 points, becoming the all-time leading scorer in the league. It was during a game against the Oklahoma City Thunder that James achieved this remarkable feat. Continuing his dominance, he reached the impressive milestone of 39,000 points on November 21 in an In-Season Tournament game against the Utah Jazz. James continues to rewrite the record books with his incredible scoring prowess.
As a young fan, Ham witnessed Abdul-Jabbar’s final years in basketball and never imagined that his record would ever be challenged, let alone surpassed, in the way James has accomplished.
“But here we are,” Ham exclaimed prior to the game. “It truly speaks to Bron’s dedication, the amount of time and effort he invests in taking care of himself, ensuring not only his overall health but also his peak physical condition.”
At 39 years old, James has also accumulated the second-highest number of regular season minutes and the most playoff minutes in the history of the league. In addition, he stands alone as the only NBA player to have achieved the remarkable feat of scoring over 10,000 points, grabbing over 10,000 rebounds, and dishing out over 10,000 assists.
Nuggets coach Michael Malone, who served as an assistant coach for the Cleveland Cavaliers from 2005-2010, spent five seasons working closely with James. Even now, he continues to be amazed by James’ ability to maintain a remarkably high level of play.
According to Malone, he doesn’t focus solely on the number itself, but he can’t help but be amazed by the ongoing greatness.
At this stage of his career, what he is doing is truly remarkable. It’s astonishing to see that he shows no signs of slowing down, which is quite intimidating. When you take a moment to reflect on it, you can’t help but be in awe of his longevity. It’s not just about playing the game, he is playing it with great effectiveness.
