Lakers’ LeBron James becomes first NBA player to score 40,000 career points
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The King has added another record to his already impressive NBA repertoire.
On Saturday, Lakers forward LeBron James became the first player in league history to score 40,000 points. James drove past Michael Porter Jr. and hit a layup with 10:39 left in the second quarter of the Los Angeles Lakers’ game against the Denver Nuggets for the historic basket. James finished the game with 26 points and 9 assists in the Lakers 124-114 loss to the Nuggets.
“I hate it that it had to happen in a defeat, especially versus a team that plays extremely well,” James following the defeat. “We played some good basketball tonight, but weren’t able to close it out.”
This is the second time in a little more than a year that all eyes of the basketball world have been on James. The King became the all-time leader in career points when he surpassed another Lakers legend — Kareem Abdul Jabbar — in February of 2023.
Abdul-Jabbar remains second in NBA history with 38,387 career points, while another L.A. icon — the late Kobe Bryant — sits in fourth on the list with 33,463 points.
James passed the 40,000-point mark in his 1,475th career game. For comparison, it took Abdul-Jabbar 1,560 appearances to reach his mark.
LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrates with his teammates after winning the 2020 NBA Championship in Game 6 of the 2020 NBA Finals at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on Oct. 11, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images) Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, center, lifts the the NBA Cup while celebrating with teammates after they defeated the Indiana Pacers 123-109 in the championship game in the NBA basketball In-Season Tournament on Saturday, Dec. 9, 2023, in Las Vegas.(AP Photo/Ian Maule) LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers and Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers react after winning the 2020 NBA Championship in Game Six of the 2020 NBA Finals at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on October 11, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images) In this Sunday, Sept. 20, 2020, file photo, Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James celebrates with teammate Anthony Davis after an NBA conference final playoff basketball game against the Denver Nuggets in Fla. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File) Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, front right, drives to the basket against Los Angeles Clippers forward Paul George (13) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Los Angeles, Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer) Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, right, shoots as Miami Heat forward Kevin Love defends during the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) celebrates after making a 3-point basket against the New Orleans Pelicans during the first half of a semifinal in the NBA basketball In-Season Tournament, Thursday, Dec. 7, 2023, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Ian Maule) Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James reacts after being fouled in the second half of Game 4 of the NBA basketball Western Conference Final series against the Denver Nuggets Monday, May 22, 2023, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
James also owns the NBA record for most consecutive games scoring at least 10 points, reaching double-digits in 1,161 straight appearances.
James spoke with the media following the Lakers 134-131 overtime win over the Washington Wizards on Thursday.
“No, I never thought about getting the scoring record. It just happened organically,” he said. “I played the game the right way and went out and played the game and let the game come to me and the scoring record happened organically for me. It was never a goal of mine when I came into the league, like I wanted to be the all-time leading scorer. But I’m still playing. And I can still score the ball so it’s going to go up until I’m done playing.”
James has won four NBA titles, including one with the Lakers in 2020. The future first-ballot Hall of Famer has also won four NBA Finals MVPs, four regular season MVPs, and 13-time All-NBA First Team honors.
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