LEBRON James has set yet another NBA record.
During their game against the Denver Nuggets on Saturday, the Los Angeles Lakers star, 39, became the first player in NBA history to reach 40,000 career points.
LeBron James celebrates after becoming the first NBA player to score 40,000 pointsCredit: Getty
James is the first player in NBA history to accomplish this featCredit: Getty
LeBron James reached 40,000 career points on Saturday against the Denver NuggetsCredit: Getty
James entered the game needing just nine points to clinch the record.
He ultimately reached the mark in the second quarter with the Lakers up 37-32, after scoring five points in the first.
Moments later, as James headed to the bench, he was given a standing ovation by all in the arena, including his family.
All of this followed a hilarious interaction between James and Nuggets star Nikola Jokic prior to the game.
“We’re going to stop you, you’re going eight [points],” Jokic told James, prompting laughter from the four-time MVP, as captured by ESPN.
In February 2023, he became the NBA’s all-time leading scorer when he surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s long-standing scoring record of 38,387.
The NBA Hall of Famer had held the record since 1984.
Appropriately, Abdul-Jabbar was on hand to congratulate James during a pause in their game against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
For James, reaching the 40,000 mark is something he told reporters on Thursday would “Of course” mean something to him.
“Sor me to be in this position at this point in time in my career I think is pretty cool,” he admitted.
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“Does it sit at the top of things I’ve done in my career? No. Does it mean something? Of course. Absolutely. Why wouldn’t it?”
Perhaps the next record James could break is that of all-time appearances.
Currently held by Hall of Famer Robert Parish, who racked up 1,611 between 1976 and 1997, James still has 137 to go if he’s to tie his record.
James is also just one season away from tying Vince Carter’s record of 22 played.
James reached the mark in the second quarter, giving the Lakers a 37-32 lead in the processCredit: Getty