Lakers star LeBron James sinks this 1st-quarter jumper to cross the 38,000-point mark in his career.
LeBron James continued his march toward the NBA’s all-time scoring mark on Sunday and, along the way, picked up another milestone.
James surpassed the 38,000-point mark with a first-quarter jumper, becoming the second player in league lore (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is the other) to cross that scoring mark. He nailed the shot — a 20-foot jumper over P.J. Tucker off an assist from Russell Westbrook — with 5:43 left in the first quarter to give the Lakers a 20-17 lead.
38,000 career points.
👑 x #PhantomCam pic.twitter.com/2J6NqaDYZh
— NBA (@NBA) January 16, 2023
Congrats to @KingJames of the @Lakers for becoming the second player in NBA history to score 38,000 career points! pic.twitter.com/JpaJ9GftNe
— NBA (@NBA) January 16, 2023
LeBron tonight:
35 PTS
8 REB
10 ASTOnly the second player in NBA history to score 38,000 career points 👑 pic.twitter.com/W7DvUvFB7s
— NBA (@NBA) January 16, 2023
However, the milestone ultimately came in a defeat as the Philadelphia 76ers won the game, 113-112, behind a 35-point, 11-rebound performance from Joel Embiid.
James finished with 35 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds for the depleted Lakers, who have lost three straight after a five-game winning streak. James historic jumper was part of his 8-for-9 start with 16 points in the first quarter.
“It’s just frustrating to get into those positions and not be able to come out with the victory,” James said. “We got the stop, gave ourselves a chance to win, and didn’t execute. … We’re playing good basketball. We’re just not winning games.”
Game Recap: 76ers 113, Lakers 112
After the game, James did not want to talk about reaching 38,000 career points, but he remains on pace to surpass Abdul-Jabbar for the all-time scoring mark. He is 364 points away from No. 1 and, based on his current output, could collect the top perch sometime in early February.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
