NBA: LeBron James makes history becoming first player ever to score more than 40,000 points
/dnl.eurosport.com/sd/img/placeholder/eurosport_logo_1x1.png){kind=logo}
ByOli Gent
Updated 03/03/2024 at 09:24 GMT
LeBron James became the first player in NBA history to reach 40,000 points, but his 26 was not enough to stop the Los Angeles Lakers losing 124-114 to the Denver Nuggets at the Crypto.com Arena. The four-time NBA champion and MVP passed the milestone a year on from when he overtook Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for most career points. Nikola Jokic top-scored for the Nuggets with 35 points.
LeBron James festeggia i 40mila punti in carriera
Image credit: Getty Images
LeBron James became the first player in NBA history to reach 40,000 points on Saturday evening, but his 26 was not enough to stop the Los Angeles Lakers losing 124-114 to the Denver Nuggets.
The star broke yet another NBA record at the Crypto.com Arena, but he was outshone by Nikola Jokic, who top-scored with 35 points, ten rebounds, and seven assists.
James had four rebounds and nine assists himself, and surpassed the milestone with a driving left-hand lay-up as he received a standing ovation.
It comes merely a year after he overtook Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s 38,387 for most career points.
"Being the first player to do something, it's pretty cool in this league," said James.
"You just know the history, you know the greats that have come through.
"The main thing is always the win, and I hated that it had to happen in a defeat especially versus a team that plays extremely well.
"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.
"You have to play the game quite a while and have some good luck with injuries and things of that nature.
"You have to take care of your body. You have to be present on the floor and then you have to be productive as well."
James is the oldest player in the NBA at 39, playing his 21st season, and he is a four-time champion and a four-time MVP.
"Just happy for him. It was a hell of an accomplishment," Lakers coach Darvin Ham said.
"I wish we could have got the win to cap it off. But my hat's off to him. Amazing, amazing run that continues to this day."
Elsewhere, the Portland Trail Blazers beat the Memphis Grizzlies 107-100, with Anfernee Simons scoring 20 of the 30 points he put up in the second half and overtime.
The Trail Blazers came back from 13 points down in the final nine minutes to snatch the win, with Jabari Walker registering 18 points and 12 rebounds, and Toumani Camara supplementing with 15.
Santi Aldama and Vince Williams Jr both scored 21 points for the home side, who slipped to their fifth consecutive defeat.
A Jalen Green-inspired Houston Rockets overcame the Phoenix Suns 118-109 at the Footprint Center.
Green, the shooting guard, netted 34 points, with Fred VanVleet adding 24, while Kevin Durant top-scored for the Suns with 30 points.
- - -
TNT Sports presents the premium live sports rights previously carried by BT Sport including the Premier League, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Conference League, Gallagher Premiership Rugby, Investec Champions Cup, EPCR Challenge Cup, MotoGP, Cricket, UFC, Boxing and WWE. The streaming home for TNT Sports in the UK is discovery+, where fans can enjoy a subscription that includes TNT Sports, Eurosport and entertainment in one destination.
Scan me
Related Topics
Share this article
Advertisement
Advertisement