The LA Lakers forward reached the milestone in his 21st NBA season, but called it “bittersweet” as it came in a loss against the Denver Nuggets.
LeBron James has become the first NBA player to reach 40,000 career points, scoring with a layup in the LA Lakers' home game against the Denver Nuggets.
James became the NBA's all-time scoring leader more than a year ago when he passed former Lakers star Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in a home game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on February 7, 2022. Abdul -Jabbar scored 38,387 points in 20 seasons.
James entered Saturday's game with a career average of 27.1 points per game in 1,474 games over 21 NBA seasons.
Needing nine points to reach his latest milestone, the Akron, Ohio, native scored five points on 2-of-3 shooting in the first quarter.
James drove to the basket for a layup to open the second quarter and then reached the 40,000 mark when he beat the Nuggets' Michael Porter Jr. with a spin and then made a left-footed layup with 10:39 left in the second quarter. .
He called the historic effort “bittersweet,” as it came in a lost cause. James finished with 26 points, but the Lakers lost to the Nuggets 124-114.
“Being the first player to do something, it's cool in this league because you know the history, you know the grace that's come through the league,” James said after the game.
“But the main thing is always the main thing and it is victory. And I hated that that had to happen in a loss, especially against a team that plays very well.
“We played good basketball but we couldn't close out the game, it was bittersweet, but I enjoyed every moment while I was on the court.”
congratulations to @King James of the @Lakers For becoming the first player to earn 40,000 career points! pic.twitter.com/gShSHPICS8
—NBA (@NBA) March 3, 2024
James is a four-time NBA champion and four-time NBA Most Valuable Player, as well as the league's oldest active player, now in his 21st season.
The 39-year-old has been on a scoring spree of late, averaging 30.8 points in his previous four games. James entered the game averaging 25.3 points per game this season with 7.1 rebounds and 7.9 assists.
He scored his first career points as a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers on October 29, 2003, against the Sacramento Kings. He reached 10,000 points in February 2008 and 20,000 points in January 2013. James scored his 30,000th point in January 2018.
“Just happy for him. It was a great accomplishment,” Lakers coach Darvin Ham said. “I wish we could have gotten the win to finish this off. But I take my hat off to him. An amazing, amazing career that continues to this day.”
The crowd gave James a standing ovation during a timeout and the ball James used for the hoop was removed from the game.
