LeBron James Makes History as First NBA Player to Score 40,000 Points
Via NPR
Summary
On March 2, 2024, LeBron James became the first player in NBA history to score 40,000 career regular-season points, reaching the milestone during the Los Angeles Lakers' game against the Denver Nuggets. James hit a layup with 10:39 left in the second quarter to cross the threshold, finishing the game with 26 points — though the Lakers ultimately lost 124-114 to the defending champions. The 39-year-old James called the moment "bittersweet" given the loss.
The achievement came roughly a year after James had already broken Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's all-time scoring record of 38,387 points, a record that had stood since 1989. James is the only player in NBA history with at least 10,000 career points, 10,000 rebounds, and 10,000 assists. His career scoring milestones have redefined the upper limits of NBA longevity and consistent excellence.
