In Saturday’s game against the Denver Nuggets, LeBron James became the first player in NBA history to achieve 40,000 career points in the regular season.
However, following his Los Angeles Lakers team’s 124-114 loss against the reigning NBA champions, he called it “bittersweet”.
“It’s pretty cool to be the first player to do something in this league,” the 39-year-old, who finished the game with 26 points, said.
“You just know the history; you know the greats that have come through.”
With 10 minutes and 39 seconds left in the second quarter, James made the game-winning basket with a driving lay-up from the left side of the hoop to give the Lakers a 37-32 lead.
During a timeout, James received a standing ovation from the crowd, and the ball he used to reach the milestone was taken out of the game.
James, though, felt conflicted because Nikola Jokic’s 35 points helped the Nuggets extend their winning streak to six games.
“The main thing is always the main thing, and that’s the win,” he stated. “It was unfortunate that it had to occur during a loss, particularly against a highly proficient team.”
“We played some good basketball but weren’t able to close it out, so it’s bittersweet, but I enjoyed every moment on the floor.”
In February 2023, James broke Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s long-standing record of 38,387 points to become the NBA’s all-time leading scorer.
Entering his 21st season, the four-time NBA champion and four-time Most Valuable Player is the oldest current player in the league.
James stated that he was unsure if any other NBA player will be able to get 40,000 points.
“You have to play the game quite a while and have some good luck with injuries and things of that nature,” he stated.
“You must look after your physical needs. In addition to being present on the floor, you also need to be productive.”
Darvin Ham, the coach of the Lakers, was one of those who honored James.
“I’m only glad for him. It was an incredible feat,” he remarked.
“Wish we could have finished with the victory. But I give him my best. Incredible run that is still going strong today.”
