Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James made NBA history on Saturday by becoming the first player to score 40,000 career points. The milestone was achieved during the team’s 124-114 home loss against the Denver Nuggets at Crypto.com Arena. James, who came into the game nine points away from the milestone, scored the historic basket on a left-handed layup in the second quarter.
After reaching the milestone, James received a standing ovation from the crowd and his teammates, along with a tribute video played in the arena to honor his achievement. The 20-time All-Star expressed his gratitude for the milestone but emphasized that winning is always his main focus.
Despite the loss, James finished the game with 26 points and nine assists, extending his NBA-record double-digit scoring streak to 1,205 games. The 39-year-old surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to become the NBA’s all-time leading scorer in 2023 and reached the 39,000-point milestone earlier this season.
Lakers center Anthony Davis praised James’ accomplishment and doubted that anyone would surpass his scoring record, given his ongoing career success and consistency in scoring. Head coach Darvin Ham also commended James for his incredible career and expressed excitement for his continued success.
The Lakers currently have a 33-29 record and are placed 10th in the Western Conference standings. James, playing in his 21st season, is averaging 25.3 points, 7.9 assists, and 7.1 rebounds per game this season, becoming the first player to be named to 20 NBA All-Star Games.