LeBron James Makes NBA History: First Player to Score 40,000 Points

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James made NBA history on Saturday by becoming the first player to score 40,000 points. He achieved this milestone during the Lakers’ game against the Denver Nuggets, driving past Michael Porter Jr. for a layup in the second quarter. Despite James’ remarkable feat, the Lakers fell short, losing 124-114 to the Nuggets.

Reflecting on his achievement, James expressed disappointment that it occurred in a loss, emphasizing the team’s efforts in the game. This marks the second time in over a year that James has captured the attention of the basketball world, following his surpassing of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the all-time leader in career points in February 2023.

Abdul-Jabbar, who remains second on the NBA’s career points list, previously held the record with 38,387 points. Another Lakers legend, the late Kobe Bryant, ranks fourth with 33,463 points. James reached the 40,000-point milestone in his 1,475th career game, fewer than the 1,560 appearances it took Abdul-Jabbar to achieve the same feat.

In a media interview after the Lakers’ overtime victory against the Washington Wizards, James reflected on his scoring record, noting that it happened organically over the course of his career. While becoming the all-time leading scorer was not a specific goal for him initially, James acknowledged that he continues to play at a high level and intends to contribute until he decides to retire from the game.

James’ illustrious career includes four NBA championships, one of which he won with the Lakers in 2020. Additionally, he has earned four NBA Finals MVP awards, four regular-season MVP honors, and has been named to the All-NBA First Team 13 times. As a future first-ballot Hall of Famer, James’ impact on the game of basketball extends far beyond his scoring prowess.

Highlights