LOS ANGELES Lakers forward LeBron James has set the record for the most career points in the American National Basketball League (NBA) history, surpassing Hall of Famer and fellow Laker Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
Late in the third quarter during their game in the early hours of today against the Oklahoma City Thunder, James scored his 36th point of the night, for a career total of 38,388 points to make history.
Abdul-Jabbar — who was in attendance at the historic game — set the record on April 5, 1984, and increased the record total to 38,387 points by the time he retired five years later.
James could hit as many as 40,000 points before he quits the game, as he does not appear ready to retire any time soon.
The 38-year-old superstar scored 27 points on Saturday against New Orleans to pull within 36 points of the record, which had stood since Abdul-Jabbar’s retirement in 1989.
When Abdul-Jabbar set the record in 1984 — passing Wilt Chamberlain — James had not even been born. And while Abdul-Jabbar held the record for 39 years, Chamberlain only held it for 11 years.
Former Utah Jazz forward Karl Malone is now third in the all-time list, but he was still nearly 1,500 points shy of the former Lakers center when he retired after 19 seasons in the NBA.
The late Kobe Bryant, with nearly 5,000 points fewer than James, is fourth all-time, with Michael Jordan rounding out the top 5.
Four of the top 5 players on the list — all but Jordan — played for the Los Angeles Lakers at one point in their careers.
James entered the league in 2003, already a sensation after a legendary high school career earned him the top overall selection in the NBA draft, and immediately became a top scorer. In his rookie season, he averaged 20.9 points per game and continued to rise.
He only led the league in scoring once — his 30 points per game in 2007-2008 — but has averaged at least 27 points per game 12 times, including this season. His highest single-season total was 31.4 points per game in his third season.
He scored 23,119 points in 11 seasons in Cleveland, split between two stays; scored 7,919 points in Miami; and now has just over 7,300 points in his time with Los Angeles.
James, who has made the playoffs in 15 of 19 seasons, already held the record for most points in NBA history combining the regular season and the playoffs.
He has won four championships, been named Most Valuable Player four times and an All-Star a record 19 times.
James has played for Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat and Los Angeles Lakers in his glittering career.
