Current:Home > StocksLeBron James becomes the first NBA player to score 40,000 points -GlobalInvest
LeBron James becomes the first NBA player to score 40,000 points
View
Date:2025-04-17 02:08:04
LeBron James reached 40,000 regular season points Saturday night, still going strong in his 21st NBA season as he tries to put the career scoring record out of reach.
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 received a standing ovation at the next timeout, while coach Darvin Ham gave him a congratulatory pat on the chest. There was an in-arena video presentation, which was preceded and followed by James raising the ball over his head.
James shot an airball on his first attempt of the night but responded by getting out in transition for a layup for his first points and prompting the Nuggets to use their first timeout. He then knocked down a corner 3-pointer before subbing out with 3:19 left in the first quarter.
James checked back in to start the second quarter, attacking the basket 14 seconds into the period to set up the historic basket.
James passed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's mark of 38,387 points to become the league's leading scorer on Feb. 7, 2023, against the Oklahoma City Thunder. He reached 39,000 points on Nov. 21 in an In-Season Tournament game against the Utah Jazz.
Ham was a young fan when Abdul-Jabbar was finishing out his career and assumed the record would never be challenged, let alone surpassed in the way James has.
"But here we are," Ham said before the game. "It's a testament to Bron, just the time and resources he spends on himself, making sure not only he is healthy but he's healthy at a high level."
James, 39, has also played the second-most regular season and most playoff minutes in league history. He is the only NBA player with at least 10,000 points, 10,000 rebounds and 10,000 assists.
Nuggets coach Michael Malone spent five seasons with James as an assistant coach for the Cleveland Cavaliers from 2005-10 and remains in awe of how he is able to still play at such a high level.
"I don't get caught up in the number per se, but you just have to marvel at the continued greatness," Malone said.
"Just to do what he's doing at this stage of his career, and it doesn't appear like he's slowing down at all, which is even scarier. Really, when you take a step back, you just have to marvel at the longevity. But he's just not playing at this. He is playing effectively."
- In:
- LeBron James
- Los Angeles Lakers
- NBA
- Basketball
veryGood! (7387)
Related
- Who's hosting 'Saturday Night Live' tonight? Musical guest, how to watch Dec. 14 episode
- Stretch marks don't usually go away on their own. Here's what works to get rid of them.
- Israel continues bombardment, ground assault in southern Gaza
- Senator: Washington selects 4 Amtrak routes for expansion priorities
- 'Malcolm in the Middle’ to return with new episodes featuring Frankie Muniz
- Teen and parents indicted after shootout outside Baltimore high school that left 3 wounded
- Love Buddy from 'Elf'? This company will pay you $2,500 to whip up a dish inspired by him.
- Mexican gray wolf at California zoo is recovering after leg amputation: 'Huge success story'
- Arkansas State Police probe death of woman found after officer
- Fantasy football Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em: 15 players to start or sit in Week 14
Ranking
- Taylor Swift Eras Archive site launches on singer's 35th birthday. What is it?
- NBA In-Season Tournament an early success with room for greater potential with tweaks
- Tuohy family claims Michael Oher of The Blind Side tried to extort $15 million from them
- Families of 3 Black victims in fatal Florida Dollar General shooting plead for end to gun violence
- Could your smelly farts help science?
- Hamas officials join Nelson Mandela’s family at ceremony marking 10th anniversary of his death
- George Santos trolls Sen. Bob Menendez in Cameo paid for by Fetterman campaign
- Tyler Goodson, Alabama man who shot to fame with S-Town podcast, killed by police during standoff, authorities say
Recommendation
Federal court filings allege official committed perjury in lawsuit tied to Louisiana grain terminal
Roger Goodell says football will become a global sport in a decade
Divers map 2-mile trail of scattered relics and treasure from legendary shipwreck Maravillas
House Speaker Johnson is insisting on sweeping border security changes in a deal for Ukraine aid
Israel lets Palestinians go back to northern Gaza for first time in over a year as cease
Coast Guard suspends search for missing fisherman off coast of Louisiana, officials say
In a rare action against Israel, US says extremist West Bank settlers will be barred from America
Residents in northern Mexico protest over delays in cleaning up a mine spill