LeBron James achieves milestone as first NBA player to hit 40,000 points

LeBron James, the renowned forward for the Los Angeles Lakers faced the audience in the wake of scoring in the second half of a heated NBA basketball game against the Denver Nuggets on Saturday, March 2, 2024, in Los Angeles. This captured moment was more significant than a mere basketball game as it had solid significance for James' career. But something unexpected occurred right in the middle of this thrilling game...

James, despite being 39, achieved an unparalleled feat that night, as he became the first NBA player to exceed a whopping 40,000 regular-season career points. Although proud of his accomplishment, James characterized the game as "bittersweet". The Los Angeles Lakers experienced a defeat of 124-114 against the Denver Nuggets, the defending NBA champions. "Being the first player to do something, it's pretty cool in this league..." he reflected, although his main goal was always victory, and he lamented this personal triumph was colored by a loss.

James preceded to share about the tremendous pressure he had experienced since his initial journey as a young player more than two decades ago. He recounted a commercial aired before his debut game, in which he was compared with the all-time basketball greats like Big O, Michael, Kareem, Kobe, and others. This put astronomical expectations on his young 18-year-old shoulders. "That expectation on an 18-year-old kid... that was insane to think about," he recalled.

Last February, James had broken Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's record of 38,387 NBA career points, which had remained unbroken since 1989. Yet, that wasn't his only impressive stat. He enjoyed a coveted fourth position in career assists with 10,847 and boasted a high average of 7.35 per game.

Reflecting on his career, James concluded that most people would not have dreamed he would have surpassed 40,000 points. He attributed his ground-breaking accomplishment to a combination of luck, skill, and intense dedication to the game both mentally and physically. "When I come on the floor and feel pretty good, I feel I can make plays." he said. However, the big question remains - will anyone ever eclipse James' record, or will he reign supreme as an unbeatable legend?