How LeBron James Became the NBA’s Career Leading Scorer
Mark J. Terrill / AP Photo
It was supposed to be an unbreakable record. Over and over, we heard Los Angeles Lakers center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s NBA regular-season scoring record of 38,387 points could never be broken.
“Never” ended up being almost 39 years. Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James broke Abdul-Jabbar’s career scoring record on Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2023, against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Los Angeles, hitting the record-breaking basket on a stepback jumper with 10.9 seconds left in the third quarter. James needed 36 points to break the record and finished with 38 points on 13-of-20 shooting to go with seven rebounds, three assists and three steals.
Here’s a closer look at how James, who already holds the NBA career playoff scoring record, became the greatest scorer in NBA regular-season history.
Oct. 29, 2003: The Very First Points
Few debuts in the history of professional sports have been as anticipated as when Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James took the floor for a road game against the Sacramento Kings on Oct. 29, 2003.
James, an Akron, Ohio, native and the No. 1 overall pick in the 2003 NBA draft had been projected as the top pick and “talent of his generation” since his sophomore year at Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary High School.
James wasted little time in his NBA debut, hitting a pull-up jumper for his first points just seconds into the game. He finished with 25 points, nine assists, six rebounds and four steals in a 106-92 loss.
Quotables: Sacramento Kings Owner Joe Maloof
“This is the biggest regular-season game we’ve ever had (in Sacramento). LeBron is a breath of fresh air.” —Sacramento Kings owner Joe Maloof in The Cleveland Plain Dealer
Jan. 21, 2006: Youngest to 5,000 Career Points
LeBron James woke up on the morning of Jan. 21, 2006, in Salt Lake City, Utah, with a sore knee. He was not even sure if he would be able to play.
He went to bed that night as the youngest player in NBA history to reach 5,000 career points after torching the Utah Jazz for 51 points, five rebounds, eight assists and two steals in a 108-90 win for the Cavs.
James, 21 years old, entered the game needing 45 points to break Kobe Bryant’s record as the youngest player to score 5,000 career points. Bryant set the record when he was 22 years old.
Quotables: Utah Jazz Forward Andrei Kirilenko
“He got dunks. He got 3-point shots. He got mid-range shots. He did … just everything he wants. He’s amazing, and I think he’s the guy that won the game (for the Cavs). He drives, he shoots, he scores, he goes to the line, he rebounds the ball. He’s not like anybody else.” —Utah Jazz forward Andrei Kirilenko