LeBron James became the first NBA player to score 40,000 career points on Saturday with a layup off the glass in the second quarter of the Los Angeles Lakers’ home game against the Denver Nuggets.
Needing nine points to reach the milestone early in the game, James used a spin move to separate himself from Denver’s Michael Porter Jr., then used his left hand as the all-time leading player continued to take hits, pushed the ball into the goal. His record is even further out of reach.
When James hit the long-awaited shot to reach 40,000 points, the packed downtown Los Angeles crowd cheered and gave him a standing ovation as he headed to the bench at the next intermission.
Four-time champion “King James” became the league’s leading scorer, passing Lakers star Kareem Abdul-Jabbar just a year before him.
At 39 years old, he is the oldest player in the NBA, but he continues to be a top performer in his 21st season, averaging around 25 points per game.
James scored 19 points in the fourth quarter to overcome a 21-point deficit against the Clippers on Wednesday as the 10th-seeded Lakers battled for a playoff spot in a crowded Western Conference.
The Akron, Ohio, native was drafted into the league as a teenager and has more than lived up to the lofty expectations placed on his broad shoulders at such a young age.
A versatile forward, he helped usher in the era of positionless basketball by winning his four titles, four of his MVP awards, and four of his Finals MVP awards with three different teams.
James has a player option for the 2024-25 NBA season, giving him the power to decide whether to remain with the Lakers for another year or become an unrestricted free agent.
So far, he has refrained from committing to the Lakers beyond this season.
In January, James was among 41 names listed for USA Basketball’s roster for the Paris Olympics.
James hasn’t played for Team USA since he won the gold medal at the 2012 London Olympics.