LeBron James, the legendary basketball player, has once again etched his name in the history books. On Saturday night at Crypto.com Arena, James reached an unprecedented milestone, becoming the first player in NBA history to score 40,000 career points. Despite the Los Angeles Lakers’ 124-114 loss to the Denver Nuggets, James’s achievement was a testament to his enduring greatness and longevity in the sport.
James entered the game needing just nine points to reach the remarkable feat. With a driving layup at the 10:39 mark of the second quarter, he surpassed the milestone and solidified his status as one of the greatest players to ever grace the court. Reflecting on his accomplishment, James expressed his gratitude and disbelief at still being able to perform at such a high level after two decades in the league.
“I feel like I’m still that threat out on the floor and I am still able to do the things that I was doing 10 years ago,” James said. “And some things I was doing 20 years ago, which is weird to say.”
James finished the game with 26 points, bringing his career total to an astounding 40,017 points. When asked about the significance of this achievement, James acknowledged its importance while humbly recognizing that it doesn’t overshadow other milestones in his career.
“No one has ever done it,” James said. “And for me to be in this position at this point and time in my career, I think it’s pretty cool. Does it sit at the top of the things I’ve done in my career? No. But does it mean something? Of course. Absolutely. Why wouldn’t it? To be able to accomplish things in this league, with the greatest players to ever play in this league, the NBA, this has been a dream of mine, and to hit feats and have milestones throughout my career, they all mean something to me.”
Throughout the game, the arena kept a running tally of James’s countdown to 40,000 on the videoboard, adding to the excitement and anticipation. And when he finally reached the milestone, the crowd erupted in applause, giving him a standing ovation. James was then presented with the game ball, a gesture that symbolized his incredible achievement.
Interestingly, James achieved this historic feat on the 62nd anniversary of Wilt Chamberlain’s legendary 100-point game. In a nod to Chamberlain, James posed for a photograph while holding a piece of white paper with “40,000” handwritten on it, reminiscent of Chamberlain’s iconic photo from March 2, 1962.
This latest record adds to James’s already impressive list of accolades. Last season, he surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s career scoring total of 38,387 points to become the league’s all-time scoring leader. James’s ability to consistently perform at such a high level has earned him the admiration and respect of his peers and coaches.
Lakers coach Darvin Ham expressed his appreciation for James’s contributions to the game. “We’re not going to see this for a lot longer and have to appreciate him while he’s here,” Ham said. “Just appreciate him for what he’s given to the game, what he continues to give to the game and his knowledge, his performance. I’m honored to be able to coach him and see it firsthand.”
With no other active player even close to reaching 30,000 career points, James’s record seems untouchable. Phoenix Suns star Kevin Durant is currently the closest with 28,342 points, placing him at the ninth spot on the all-time leading scorer list. Lakers big man Anthony Davis expressed doubt that anyone would surpass James’s scoring total.
“I mean, you would think possibly Steph [Curry], the way he shoots the ball, but I guess not?” Davis said, referring to Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry, who has yet to reach 25,000 points. “That gap is only going to get bigger and bigger. … As of right now, I don’t see anybody breaking his record.”
However, James remains humble and believes that records are meant to be broken. He acknowledged the talent of current players in the league and their potential to surpass his scoring record.
“Obviously we have a lot of great guys in our league that can score the ball, and if they were to stay healthy and they would play a long time, then they can eclipse it,” James said. “And then, records are always meant to be broken. You can never say never for any record.”
Despite the significance of his achievement, James couldn’t help but express disappointment that it came in a loss. Throughout his career, James has often found himself breaking records during defeats, a trend that he hopes to reverse in the future.
“For me, the main thing is always the main thing, and that’s the win,” James said. “I hated that it had to happen in the defeat,