LeBron James makes history as the first NBA player to score 40,000 career points, achieving the milestone during a critical game against the Denver Nuggets.
King James has done it all and now he's joined a club all by himself.
LeBron James is the first & maybe last player to ever join the 40K CLUB 👑
— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) March 3, 2024
Nick Wright: "For Giannis, he would have to average 30 PTS, playing 75 GMS a year for the next 11 years. For Luka: 35 PTS, 75 GMS, 12 years. For a new player: 35 PTS, 75 GMS, 15 and a half seasons." pic.twitter.com/DRpGZgKblD
LeBron James has now entered an exclusive group, surpassing 40,000 career points. The reigning king of basketball, James becomes the first to achieve this milestone, surpassing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's 38,387 points. Among a roster of elite basketball players, LeBron sits at the pinnacle, unmatched. It's truly the most astonishing record i've seen throughout my lifetime in sports. And that doesn't include the 8,023 points he's scored in the playoffs.
After his bucket, Laker nation celebrated LeBron and the moment in a time out. Grateful for the fans, the former Cavalier recognized how special it is.
"Being the first player to do something is pretty cool in this league", said James (NBA).
What an incredible feat, reaching 40,017 points. Since he was just 18 years old, LeBron has played in 1,475 career games, totaling 55,988 minutes, with 10,847 assists, and 11,046 rebounds. Even after playing over 55,000 minutes, the Lakers star continues to perform at a level reminiscent of his mid-twenties.
Although 40,000 is a heck of a lot of points, LeBron said "I was that on no kid. He emphasized the weight of expectations he faced at just 18 years old, acknowledging the pressure and scrutiny from those who hoped for his failure.
Just a few days after the big accomplishment, James was named Western Conference player of the week. Through week 19, James averaged 30.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 8.7 assists on 50 percent three-point shooting.
James has never missed an entire season in his career
While LeBron's achievement is undoubtedly remarkable, his durability stands out as his greatest attribute. Throughout his career, he has consistently been able to maintain a high level of performance despite the wear and tear of the game. LeBron managed to play in 74 games during 13 out of his first 15 NBA seasons. Remarkably, he has never missed an entire season due to injury, showcasing his remarkable resilience and commitment to the game.
Not many athletes can claim such durability. After setting the record with his 20th All-Star appearance, LeBron's game count began to decline only after he joined the Lakers. Nonetheless, this season, he has appeared in 54 games, averaging an impressive 35.1 minutes per game. The remarkable physical condition and high level of basketball he continues to demonstrate are truly extraordinary.
James, 39, is in his 21st NBA season. The oldest active player in the NBA, LeBron was drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers no. 1 overall in the 2003 draft. Throughout his career, he's played for the Cavaliers, Miami Heat, now the Los Angeles Lakers. The all-time leader in NBA points scored, the King has several personal and team accolades.
LeBron, a four-time NBA champion, four-time Finals MVP, four-time MVP, olympic gold medalist, and a 20-time All-Star, has lived up to his reputation as a generational talent since his 2003 debut.
As I forecasted on episode six of the Cook it and Book it Podcast, LeBron James reached his 40,000th point in classic LeBron style. With just over 10 minutes remaining in the second quarter, the King isolated Michael Porter Jr., executing a drive and spin move for a layup. Despite his recent success from beyond the arc, shooting at an impressive 51.1% over the past ten games, LeBron's athleticism and drives to the basket have always been his trademark.
LeBron James daughter was present for the Lakers "girl dad" night
FIRST-EVER.
— NBA (@NBA) March 3, 2024
40K Points for the Scoring King 👑 https://t.co/wKcT0F54Op pic.twitter.com/GKwU3xwIln
As LeBron returned to play defense, the crowd erupted in excitement, with his wife Savannah, mother Gloria, and daughter Zhuri all in attendance. Being an Akron native, LeBron expressed how meaningful it was to have his daughter there, emphasizing his pride in being a "girl dad."
"It's definitely special," said LeBron post game. "When I looked up there in the stands and seen her sitting up there and when the 40,000-point mark hit, definitely looked up there at my wife, looked at my daughter, my mom, and my daughter was just clapping and pumping her arms up in the air so that was a super cool moment."(NBA YouTube).
And on the Lakers first official girl dad night, LeBron was able to share a moment with his daughter immediately after he surpasses 40,000 points. With the special occasion, LeBron was able to share the moment up close and personal with his loved ones.
"Blew her a kiss, she blew one back to me," said James. "That's super cool for sure. Definitely a girl dad, and happy she's a part of the family. She runs everything, so what Z says goes." (NBA YouTube)
While it was a momentous occasion for LeBron James, it was also bittersweet as the Lakers suffered a defeat to the Nuggets, losing 124-114 on their home court. Despite LeBron's milestone, the Lakers' overall record stands at 33-29, placing them at the 10th position in the Western Conference. Losing a game after such a significant achievement is undoubtedly disappointing, regardless of the opponent.
And to make it worse, the Lakers were swept 4-0 by the Nuggets in last year's western conference finals. With the loss on Saturday, James led with a team high 26 points, 3 steals, 9 assists, and four rebounds. He finished the night on 12-20 from the floor. After maintaining a first half lead, the Nuggets were simply too much for the Lakers, outscoring them 67-48 in the second half. Not only did Denver dominate on the boards, but they had 64 points in the paint.
LeBron James is the first player in NBA history to score 40,000 regular season points
With this achievement, LeBron James has now exceeded some of the greatest players in basketball history, such as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Kobe Bryant, and Michael Jordan. In a class by himself, James gave some insight how he achieved 40k points, and whether he can see any current athlete surpassing him.
LeBron credits durability and longevity to hitting this major milestone
From the way LeBron James talks about it, he attributes his longevity and durability to his ability to play at such a high level for so long.
"Obviously you have to play the game quite a while and have some good luck as far injuries and things of that nature," James told the media. "You have to take care of your body, you have to be present on the floor. Then you have to be productive as well. Obviously we have a lot of great guys in our league that can score the ball. If they were able to stay healthy and they were to play a long time, then they can eclipse it." (NBA)
Just last February, James passed Abdul-Jabbar as the NBA all-time scoring leader in a loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
While LeBron James continues to be the face of the NBA, there has been considerable speculation about who will assume that role once he retires. Names like Luka Doncic, Nikola Jokic, and Jayson Tatum have emerged as potential successors to carry the torch for the league.
At the end of the day, LeBron was very fortunate for good influences despite hardships growing up. While James had a "great head on his shoulders," he thanked his mother and little league coaches for raising him the right way. He also adds his friends accountability and support from his now wife, Savannah kept him on the straight and narrow.
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Sara Jane Gamelli is a full-time Sportswriter, Content Creator and Social Media Manager for Ballislife Bets. She has a focus on the NBA, WNBA, NCAA Basketball, and the NFL. Sara Jane currently resides in Connecticut/NYC area with her Cat and Dog. SJ has her undergraduate degree from the University of Connecticut in Economics, with a minor in business administration.
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