Father Time is once again vanquished by none other than LeBron James, as the legendary NBA player wrote history today by becoming the first player to score 40,000 points in his career.
James entered the court for the first time during the Denver Nuggets game, and he quickly went on an offensive blitz to score five points in the first quarter before being benched for the rest of the game.
With just 4 points separating him and the historic mark in sight, the fans watched in utter suspense. James easily handled the Nuggets defenders in the first 14 seconds of the second quarter, cutting through them for a quick basket, but he missed a free throw to claim the and-1.
The audience were left waiting impatiently as LeBron, who seemed to be dying to cross the finish line, attempted to complete the task with a three-point shot but was unsuccessful.
And with 10:39 remaining in the game, James finished the shot with ease and made history by cutting to the hoop with a smooth spin move.
With 9:16 remaining in the game, Lakers coach Darvin Ham signaled for a timeout, and James walked back to his bench in a subdued celebration while the audience erupted into thunderous ovation.
The supporters, many of whom were sporting their Lakers, Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, or St. Vincent–St. Mary High School jerseys, were ecstatic as James raised the ball over his head before and after the in-arena film presentation.
On February 7, 2023, against the Oklahoma City Thunder, James surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s record of 38,387 points to become the league’s top scorer. On November 21, during an In-Season Tournament game against the Utah Jazz, he reached 39,000 points. With this achievement, LeBron has now reached a peak that it appears will not be surpassed for years to come.
