'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The NBA's all-time leading scorer, LeBron James, continues to get significant separation up top after breaking the record in February 2023. Since passing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, LeBron has already breached the 39,000 points mark and is inching closer to the 40,000 points mark.
Earlier this season, LeBron scored his 39,000th point on Nov. 21 vs. the Utah Jazz. He became the first player to hit that record in NBA history. The next record for the NBA legend is breaching the 40,000 points barrier. That may keep him above the league's all-time scoring list forever.
LeBron James is getting closer to that record with each passing game. The four-time MVP is on a gradual decline, but it isn't that steep. In year 21, he continues to be a reliable presence for the Lakers, having tallied a team-high 24.9 points per game this season.
LeBron has done so while missing eight games. He's looking in sublime form and could score his 40,000th point soon.
What date will LeBron James cross the 40,000 career points mark? Exploring all possibilities
When LeBron James started the 2023-24 NBA season, he had 38,652 points. Factoring things like age, health and availability made it seem difficult for LeBron to breach the 40,000 career points mark this season. He hadn't played over 60 games in the last three years. In year 21, LeBron was also expected to miss games frequently, mostly citing rest.
However, LeBron has played all but seven games. He's played in back-to-backs, through injuries and logged in heavy minutes with the Lakers struggling to stay above the .500 mark. LeBron's scoring rate has dropped, but his availability has allowed him to score 1338 points. He's now 9 points away from the 40,000 career-points goal.
Based on LeBron James' scoring average, he could hit the 40,000 career points mark in three to four games. Provided he plays those many consecutive games, LeBron will score 40,000 NBA career points against the Denver Nuggets on Mar. 2. The game is at the Lakers' homecourt so it is the perfect opportunity and moment. LeBron also passed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar during a home game and passed the 39,000 points record at Crypto.com Arena.
LeBron James' top-scoring milestone so far
With LeBron James a game or two away from his 40,000 regular season point, we look back at some of his other scoring milestones in this article.
LeBron has been the youngest NBA player to breach every 1000-point scoring milestone until the 39,000th-point. The same will follow for his 40,000th point.
LeBron has scored a 40-point game against all 30 teams in the NBA, an achievement only he's had. He's averaging at least 25 points against 29 teams except the Detroit Pistons.
He's averaged 26 points per game for multiple teams, being the only player to record this feat.
