LeBron James scores 38,000th level, inches nearer to all-time report

LeBron James reached one other milestone on Sunday because the Los Angeles Lakers took on the Philadelphia 76ers.

With 5:47 left within the first quarter and the Lakers up 18-17, James bought a go from Russell Westbrook proper in entrance of the three-point line and drained a leap shot. The two-pointer would put him within the 38,000-point membership with solely Lakers legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar forward of him.

LeBron James #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives to the basket in the course of the recreation in opposition to the Philadelphia 76ers on January 15, 2023 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California.
(Adam Pantozzi/NBAE by way of Getty Images)

James completed the quarter with 16 factors, 4 assists and three rebounds. He is just a pair hundred factors away from Abdul-Jabbar’s report with 38,387 factors.

The Lakers celebrity talked about the potential for breaking Abdul-Jabbar’s report again in October. He mentioned he and the Basketball Hall of Famer had “no relationship” however defined what the mark meant to him.

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Jan 15, 2023; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers ahead LeBron James (6) controls the ball in opposition to Philadelphia 76ers guard James Harden (1) in the course of the first half at Crypto.com Arena.
(Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports)

“To sit right here and to know that I’m on the verge of breaking in all probability probably the most sought-after report within the NBA, one thing that folks say will in all probability by no means be carried out, I feel it’s simply tremendous like humbling, for myself,” he mentioned. “I feel it’s tremendous cool.

“And , clearly Kareem has had his variations, with a few of my views and a few of the issues that I do. But pay attention, on the finish of the day, to have the ability to be proper in the identical breath as a man to put on the identical [Lakers] uniform, a man that was a staple of this franchise together with Magic and Big Game [James Worthy] over there for therefore a few years, particularly within the 80s, and a man that does so much off the ground as effectively. I feel it’s simply tremendous duper dope for myself to be even in that dialog.”

LeBron James #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers dribbles the ball in the course of the recreation in opposition to the Philadelphia 76ers on January 15, 2023 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California.
(Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE by way of Getty Images)

Abdul-Jabbar had been crucial of James previously – notably when it got here to urging Americans to get the COVID-19 vaccine.