LeBron James Now Holds the NBA’s Record for All-Time Leading Scorer
How many records does one player have to break before they’re considered the all-time, undisputed G.O.A.T of their sport? How many championships do they need to win? How many times do they need to be named MVP? Most importantly, how many points do they have to score before they go down in history as the best?
When it comes to points scored in the NBA, the answer to that last question is simple: 38,387. That is the total number of points scored by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar during his career in the NBA, and it also happens to be the NBA’s all-time scoring record.
That is, until Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James broke that record on February 7th, 2023, while playing at home against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
With 38,390 scored and counting, LeBron has officially surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the NBA’s all-time leading scorer — a testament to his longevity and sustained excellence, and yet another hallmark of his success in the league.
The significance of this moment cannot be overstated. Abdul-Jabbar’s record of 38,387 points had stood for over three decades, and many thought it would never be broken.
Now that LeBron has broken this record and made this once-unimaginable feat a reality, he has cemented his legacy among the all-time greats of basketball, and his place as one of the greatest, if not the greatest of all time, is undeniable.
LeBron’s journey to this record has been marked by countless highlights and milestones. Indeed, this is far from his first brush with greatness.
A (Not So) Brief History of LeBron’s Professional Accolades
From his early days in Cleveland, where he led the Cavaliers to their first-ever NBA Finals appearance, to his four MVP awards and multiple championship wins in Miami and Cleveland, LeBron has consistently pushed the limits of what is possible on the court.
Throughout his career, he has proven to be one of the most dominant and versatile players in the game, with a rare ability to impact the game in multiple ways, whether it be through scoring, passing, rebounding, or defense.
LeBron currently ranks in the Top 5 for most career triple-doubles in NBA history with 106, which is certainly nothing to scoff at, and he recently became the first player in the history of the NBA to achieve 10,000 career points, rebounds, and assists.
If those achievements aren’t enough to be considered the G.O.A.T of the NBA, what is? Well, how about the fact that at the age of 33, LeBron James became the youngest player in NBA history to score 30,000 career points?
Or that he’s scored 10+ points in 1,124 consecutive games and counting, which is by far the longest 10-point streak in NBA history? In other words, even at the seasoned age of 38, LeBron James is still consistently scoring in the double digits and has been since 2007, which speaks volumes about his consistency and longevity.
On top of that, LeBron also holds the record for the most games played with 20+ points scored (non-consecutively), with 1,158 games.
LeBron has also played the most career playoff games with 266, beating Derek Fisher’s record of 259, and is tied with the late Kobe Bryant for most All-Star Game selections with 18, second only to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s record of 19.
When it comes to actually playing in All-Star Games, LeBron James is tied with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar with 18 games, another all-time NBA record.
Throughout his career, LeBron has won four regular season MVP awards, four NBA Finals MVP awards, three All-Star MVP awards, and two Olympic gold medals. He has also won four NBA championships, including one with Cleveland in 2016, two with the Miami Heat in 2012, 2013, and the most recent with the LA Lakers in 2020.
But Who Is LeBron James As A Player?
With all these achievements under his belt, it’s easy to forget that LeBron is human, too.
He was born on December 30, 1984, in Akron, Ohio as the only child of Gloria James, who raised him on her own. From a young age, he showed exceptional talent and athleticism on the basketball court. In high school, he was heavily recruited by colleges and was eventually selected first overall in the 2003 NBA draft by his hometown team, the Cleveland Cavaliers.
In his rookie season, LeBron was immediately hailed as a future star, earning Rookie of the Year honors in 2004 after playing a major role in leading the Cavaliers to the playoffs that season.
Over the next several years, he continued to improve and established himself as one of the best players in the league.
In 2010, he became a free agent and during an ESPN television special titled “The Decision,” James announced that he had chosen to sign with the Miami Heat, where he teamed up with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh to form one of the most dominant super teams in NBA history.
During his four seasons in Miami, LeBron won two NBA championships and made four trips to the NBA Finals. In 2014, he opted out of his contract with the Heat and returned to Cleveland, where he led the Cavaliers to their first-ever NBA championship in 2016, coming back from a 3-1 deficit against the Golden State Warriors.
LeBron James currently plays for the Los Angeles Lakers, and has had a significant effect on the team since he joined in 2018.
In his first season with the Lakers, he led them to the NBA championship and was named the Finals MVP. In the following seasons, he continued to perform at a high level and was selected for the All-Star team in each of those years. He has also been a key contributor to the team’s success, helping the Lakers reach the playoffs in each of his seasons with the team.
Final Thoughts
LeBron’s impact on the game of basketball cannot be overstated. He has been a dominant force for nearly two decades and continues to play at a high level. He is widely considered one of the greatest basketball players of all time and will likely continue to make a lasting impact on the sport for years to come.
With LeBron having now surpassed Abdul-Jabbar’s record for most points scored in NBA history, it’s undoubtedly a proud moment for both him and his fanbase. It also serves as a powerful reminder of his legacy and his impact on the game of basketball.
For years to come, fans will look back on this moment as a defining point in NBA history, and as proof of LeBron’s status as one of the greatest players of all time.
Why not celebrate this momentous achievement with LeBron James all-time scoring record apparel and memorabilia from our collection here at Fanatics? We have signature tees and hoodies in a variety of colors that you can wear to the next Lakers game to show your support for what many would consider the greatest active player in the NBA, a definite future Hall of Famer, and one of the irrefutable G.O.A.Ts of basketball as a whole.
Oh, and if you’re still not sure who the real G.O.A.T is, be sure to check out our article on LeBron vs. Jordan.
