Lebron James continues to break records in the NBA. The Los Angeles Lakers franchise player became the first player in the American basketball league to score more than 39,000 points. After last night's game, James has scored 39,012 points in his 21-year career, a number that puts him well ahead of the league's all-time top scorers, and even further from current players.
With LeBron James becoming the first player in NBA history to reach 39,000 points, look back at his journey to becoming the NBA’s all-time leading scorer! 👑 pic.twitter.com/t3YTnJIccF
— NBA (@NBA) November 22, 2023
James, 17 points, 7 rebounds and 9 assists in 24 minutes
James reached the milestone in the game when the Lakers beat the Utah Jazz 131-99. In the 24 minutes he was on the court, he scored 17 points and made 7 rebounds and 9 assists, leading his team to victory. Crypto.com arena was packed with fans eager to see the star player break a new record.
Fans did not have to wait too long to celebrate the event. A few minutes into the game, James set himself up, after receiving a pass from a teammate, and made a three-pointer.
With this triple LeBron James has now scored 39,000 points in his NBA career 👏
🏆 NBA In-Season Tournament
🏀West Group A action on TNT pic.twitter.com/xfRaMOE1f7— NBA (@NBA) November 22, 2023
"A wild time"
Since beating the Jazz, James leads the list of scorers with 39,012 points. He is followed very far behind by the now legendary and retired Abdul-Jabbar (38,387), Karl Malone (36,928), Kobe Bryant (33,643) and Michael Jordan (32,292). Current players are even further away from these records. The first current player after Jordan is Kevin Durant, with 27,300 points.
After the game, James said that "I got congratulated by my teammates and coaches, (but) I haven't had an opportunity to really wrap my head around what that means. There's been so many great players that came across this league since the beginning of time, and so many great scorers... To be able to accomplish something that’s the first of anything, I think that’s always pretty cool. It’s a wild moment, that’s for sure.”" he said.
