LeBron James has scored more points than any NBA player in history, as he passed fellow Los Angeles Laker Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s career 38,387 points on Tuesday night in front of an enthusiastic home crowd.
Abdul-Jabbar had been atop the career points list since April 5, 1984, when he broke the mark previously held by Wilt Chamberlain. Now James has that record.
It wasn’t until nearly nine months after Abdul-Jabbar wrested the record away from Chamberlain that LeBron James was born. Abdul-Jabbar used his sky-hook to keep amassing points until he retired in 1989, at age 42.
James came into Tuesday’s game against the Oklahoma City Thunder needing to score 36 points to surpass Abdul-Jabbar’s career total of 38,387. He finished with 38. James, 38, broke the career record late in the third quarter when he scored his 36th point on a fadeaway jumper against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Abdul-Jabbar was in attendance to witness the accomplishment, along with countless other celebrities.
Despite missing 11 games this season, James has already blown past Abdul-Jabbar’s point total during his entire 20th and final season. James scored 1,326 points in 44 games in 2022-23; Abdul-Jabbar scored 748 for the 1988-89 season. James broke the record which has stood for nearly 39 years, roughly halfway through his 20th NBA season. Over his career, James has shot 50.5% from the field and averaged 27.2 points per game.
Now LeBron James occupies the top spot on a list that, after Abdul-Jabbar, runs to Karl Malone, Kobe Bryant, and Michael Jordan. Add Dirk Nowitzki and Wilt Chamberlain, and have the only seven NBA players to score more than 30,000 points.
The NBA stopped the game for an on-court ceremony with Abdul-Jabbar and James embracing. James addressed the crowd and was emotional about what he’d just done.
Luka Doncic said after the game –
It’s just amazing to watch him. It’s his 20th season, and what he’s doing — he’s scoring 30, or 40 almost every night. He’s just incredible
