NBA

LeBron James Sets an Astonishing Unbreakable Record- 40,000 Career Points

Photo of Mikayla Kaliser Mikayla Kaliser03/03/2024 - 07:43 am

Los Angeles Lakers star player LeBron James just accomplished what was once unthinkable as he clinched a once-in-a-lifetime career and NBA-high of 40,000 career points. LeBron has yet again etched his name in the NBA record books after setting this seemingly unbreakable record for future NBA players. 

The 39-year-old shocked the NBA world when he surpassed Kareem Abdul Jabbar’s all-time top-scoring record of 38,387 points on February 7, 2023, and a little over a year later, James set his new record of 40,000 points. At 39 years old, LeBron has spent the past 21 years in the NBA and has been compared to the great Michael Jordan when talking about the GOAT in the NBA. 

From a young age, it was evident that James would make a name for himself in the league as he was the first draft pick in the 2003 NBA Draft. At just 18 years old, he became the second high school draftee to be the first overall pick after the Cleveland Cavaliers selected the young prodigy. 

Let’s look at some of James’ career records and highlights he has amassed throughout his 21 years in the NBA. 

25 Points in His NBA Debut

LeBron started his NBA career off strong by setting a record in his very first NBA debut. Having been drafted straight out of high school at 18, James made his NBA debut with the Cleveland Cavaliers in their game against the Sacramento Kings. The Cavs lost to the Kings 106-92, yet James set a new record for NBA rookies that night.

At 18 years old, James scored 25 points and set the record for the most points scored in a debut performance by a player who got drafted straight from high school to the NBA. Not only was he the first prep-to-pro NBA rookie to score 25 points, but at the end of the 2003-2004 NBA season, James became the first player on the Cavaliers to receive the NBA Rookie of the Year Award. 

40K Points, 10K Rebounds, and 10K Assists Club

On March 13, 2022, in the Los Angeles Lakers’ game against the Phoenix Suns, LeBron passed the ball to Carmelo Anthony for a 3-pointer, marking his second assist of the night and his 10,000th assist of his career. 

That night, James became the first player in the NBA to surpass 10,000 career points, 10,000 rebounds, and 10,000 assists. In typical LeBron James fashion, this feat was not enough, and James set a new, seemingly unbreakable NBA record that night by recording over 30,000 career points, 10,000 rebounds, and 10,000 assists. 

At the end of the March 13th game, James sat at 36,824 points, 10,150 rebounds, and 10,004 assists. Since LeBron has now hit the 40,000 mark, he has made his record even more unbreakable for future NBA players. 

20 NBA All-Star Selections

LeBron James holds the record for the most NBA All-Star selections, as the 39-year-old has been selected to an All-Star team on 20 separate occasions. LeBron received his first All-Star selection in the 2004-2005 season, which was his second year in the NBA, and he went on to receive 19 more selections. 

James is the only player to have been selected 20 consecutive times and the only player to have started on his respective team 20 times. Not only does he hold the record for the most All-Star selections, but the 39-year-old has scored the most out of any player competing. James has amassed 434 points throughout his numerous appearances. 

4 Times NBA Finals MVP Award Recipient

Throughout his 21 years in the NBA, LeBron clinched 4 NBA Championship titles and 4 NBA Finals MVP awards. While James is tied with Steph Curry, Draymond Green, and Klay Thompson for the most championship titles out of any active NBA player, he has received the most NBA Finals MVP awards out of any active player. 

James is also the only player in the NBA to have won the prestigious award with three different teams after claiming the award with the Heat, Cavaliers, and Lakers. 

Michael Jordan amassed 6 NBA Finals MVP awards throughout his 15-season career, and James is behind the legendary player with 4 awards. LeBron has clinched the most Finals MVP awards out of any active NBA player, receiving his last award in the 2020 NBA Finals after the Lakers beat the Miami Heat 106-93 in the sixth game. 

1,203 Ten-Point Games

James holds the record for the NBA player with the most consecutive 10-point games after scoring in the double digits in 1,203 successive matches. The 39-year-old began this feat in January 2007 and has not scored less than 10 points in a single regular season NBA game since. 

No player has come close to James’ accomplishment as Kevin Durant is the closest active player to LeBron’s record. Durant has recorded 562 consecutive games in which he scored more than 10 points. 

8 Consecutive Finals Appearances

LeBron holds the record for the most consecutive NBA Finals appearances in the Modern Era. Starting in 2010, James led his team to every NBA Finals match for the following eight years. 

This feat had not been accomplished in the NBA Modern Era, and the only players appearing in five or more consecutive games were players from the 1950s to 1960s Boston Celtics dynasty. Legendary player Bill Russell holds the record for the most consecutive Finals appearances after competing in the Finals in 10 back-to-back seasons. 

James made four consecutive Finals appearances with the Miami Heat from 2011-2014, and then his following four appearances occurred when he returned to Cleveland in 2014. 

8,023 Postseason Points

Throughout his 21-year NBA career, the 39-year-old has appeared in 16 NBA Playoff tournaments. Amidst his 16 Playoff appearances, James has amassed 8,023 points, setting a record for the most points scored in the NBA postseason. 

It seems that LeBron will hold this record for years to come, as no other NBA player has come close to James’ feat. Michael Jordan currently holds the spot for the second-most points scored in the postseason after having clinched 5,987.

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Photo of Mikayla Kaliser Mikayla Kaliser03/03/2024 - 07:43 am

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