LeBron James Becomes NBA's First Player to Reach 40,000 Career Points
Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James has made history by becoming the first player in NBA history to score 40,000 career points.
James Hits Historic Milestone
During the Lakers' 124-114 loss to the Denver Nuggets, LeBron James became the first player in NBA history to reach 40,000 career points. He achieved this milestone with a left-handed layup in the second quarter.
The crowd at Crypto.com Arena erupted in cheers as James reached the historic mark. Following the basket, both teams continued to play until the Lakers called a timeout, during which James received a standing ovation from the audience and high-fives from his teammates.
The Lakers also honored James with a video tribute during the timeout to recognize his accomplishment.
Uncharted Territory for James
LeBron James has been in uncharted territory since surpassing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's record as the NBA's all-time leading scorer last season. The 39-year-old has now added another milestone to his illustrious career.
Entering the game against the Nuggets, James needed just nine points to reach 40,000 career points. Reflecting on this achievement, he expressed his gratitude and acknowledged the significance of being the first player to achieve such a feat in the league's history.
Though James values the milestone, his main focus remains on winning games and he expressed disappointment that it came in a loss against a talented Nuggets team.
Records Set to Keep Growing
LeBron James finished the game with a total of 26 points, bringing his career total to 40,017 points. He also extended his NBA-record double-digit scoring streak to 1,205 games, dating back to January 2007.
Teammate Anthony Davis doesn't believe anyone will surpass James's scoring record, citing his ongoing career and continuous scoring. He also praised James for his impact as the number one option on his teams.
Lakers head coach Darvin Ham congratulated James on his achievement and expressed regret that the milestone didn't come with a win for the team. With a record of 33-29, the Lakers currently sit in 10th place in the Western Conference standings.
