LeBron James became the first NBA player to achieve 40,000 career points on a driving layup in the LA Lakers’ home game against the Denver Nuggets.

James became the NBA’s all-time scoring leader more than a year ago, passing former Lakers player Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in a home game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on February 7, 2022. Abdul-Jabbar scored 38,387 points over 20 seasons.James entered Saturday’s game with a lifetime average of 27.1 points per game in 1,474 games across 21 NBA seasons.

With nine points needed to attain his newest milestone, the Akron, Ohio native scored five points on 2-of-3 shooting in the first quarter.

James opened the second quarter with a layup before passing the Nuggets’ Michael Porter Jr with a spin and making a left-handed layup with 10:39 remaining.


He described the unprecedented effort as “bittersweet” because it came in a losing fight. James scored 26 points, but the Lakers fell to the Nuggets 124-114.

“Being the first player to do something, it’s pretty cool in this league ’cause you just know the history, you know the grace that has come through the league,” James told reporters after the game.

“But the main thing is always the main thing, and that’s the victory.” And I despised that it had to happen in a defeat, especially against a squad that plays so well.

“We played some good basketball but wasn’t able to close it out, so bittersweet, but I enjoyed every moment though, while on the floor.”S.James is a four-time NBA champion, four-time NBA Most Valuable Player, and the league’s oldest active player, currently in his 21st season.

The 39-year-old has been on a scoring spree of late, averaging 30.8 points in his past four games. James entered the game with a season average of 25.3 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 7.9 assists.

On October 29, 2003, he scored his first career points for the Cleveland Cavaliers against the Sacramento Kings. He scored 10,000 points in February 2008 and 20,000 in January 2013. James scored his 30,000th point in January 2018.


“I’m just delighted for him. “It was a hell of an accomplishment,” Lakers coach Darvin Ham stated. “I wish we could have won to cap it off. But my hat is off to him. “Amazing run that continues to this day.”

During a timeout, James received a standing ovation, and the ball he used for the milestone hoop was taken from the game.