by Cedric ‘BIG CED’ Thornton
November 23, 2023
King James keeps adding to his legacy in his 21st NBA season
His place in the NBA Hall of Fame is already solidified, and he is making sure that entry is a unanimous one in the first year he is eligible. Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James just became the first NBA player ever to score 39,000 points in the league.
According to NBA.com, the feat occurred in the first quarter of the Lakers 131-99 victory over the Utah Jazz on Nov. 21. James connected on a 3-point shot to make history once more. He was christened King James long before becoming an NBA legend, and it certainly fits now.
With LeBron James becoming the first player in NBA history to reach 39,000 points, look back at his journey to becoming the NBA’s all-time leading scorer! 👑 pic.twitter.com/t3YTnJIccF
— NBA (@NBA) November 22, 2023
With the Lakers’ victory, they have won every game played in the inaugural NBA In-Season Tournament. James was only on the floor for 24 minutes and finished with 17 points.
“I got congratulated by my teammates and coaches, (but) I haven’t had an opportunity to really wrap my head around what that means,” James said after doing what was perceived as impossible many years ago. “There’s been so many great players that came across this league since the beginning of time, and so many great scorers. To be able to accomplish something that’s the first of anything, I think that’s always pretty cool. It’s a wild moment, that’s for sure.”
James is playing at a level not shown for someone who has been playing for more than 20 years. He has stated in the past that he wants to compete in the NBA long enough to play on the same team as his oldest son, Bronny James, who is currently a freshman at USC (University of Southern California). If this level of play continues, he might be around when his second son, Bryce, who is a senior in high school, is eligible for the NBA.
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