‘Witnessing history’: LeBron James second player to 38,000 NBA points

LeBron James is in rare air after becoming the second player in NBA history to reach a magic milestone few thought was possible.

LeBron is in exclusive company. Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images

LeBron James became only the second player in NBA history to score more than 38,000 career points on Sunday but his Los Angeles Lakers fell to a third straight defeat with a 113-112 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers.

James is now second only to fellow Laker Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s record of 38,387 points on the NBA’s all-time career scoring list and he is expected to surpass that total in the coming weeks.

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James put up 35 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds for the Lakers, passing the 38,000-mark in the first quarter, and his achievement was acknowledged by the crowd and players.

LeBron James passes 38,000 career points with an outstanding 35/8/10 show and is now 364 points from Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s all-time record. We’re witnessing history every night and we should appreciate a 38yo making #NBA history pic.twitter.com/lIr9Syjd7R

— Davide Chinellato (@dchinellato) January 16, 2023

But after the game ended in defeat for the Lakers, with Joel Embiid getting 35 points and 11 rebounds for the 76ers, James was in no mood to reflect on his personal milestone.

Asked whether he had thoughts on the achievement he replied simply in the negative and chose to reflect on his team’s disappointing form.

“It’s just frustrating to get into those positions and not come out with a victory,” James said.

LeBron is so close now. Photo: Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images/AFP

Russell Westbrook was unable to make a play in the final seconds of the game for the Lakers.

“We got a stop, gave ourselves a chance to win the game and didn’t,” he said.

James has finally passed the magical 38,000 mark and, at time of writing, is 363 points behind Abdul-Jabbar’s record.

The Lakers star has continued to stun the league, putting up huge numbers of 29.2 points per game, which is seventh in the NBA.

But James said he never set out to beat the historic mark.

“I don’t know because I have not set out to do that — it wasn’t a goal of mine when I entered the league,” he said in an interview with ESPN recently.

“Making All-Star team, being Rookie of the Year, being First Team All-NBA, First Team All-Defence, winning a championship for sure, being MVP of the league (were goals).

“The scoring record was never ever even thought of in my head because I’ve always been a pass-first guy. I’ve always loved the excitement of seeing the success of my teammates.”