LeBron James becomes second ever NBA player to hit 38,000 career points

LeBron James has added yet another accolade to his belt.

The NBA icon secured a massive scoring milestone during Monday’s (January 16) game against the Philadelphia 76ers.

The Lakers player became just the second player in history to surpass the 38,000-point mark in the league’s history.

That’s a whole lot of net.

HISTORY MADE 👑

LeBron James becomes only the second player in NBA history to score 38,000 career points. pic.twitter.com/uqLckZ9LY0

— NBA (@NBA) January 16, 2023

He joins basketball legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the only two men to hit the milestone with his 38,000th and 38,001st career points.

The 38-year-old has stood second on the NBA’s all-time scoring list since he surpassed Karl Malone in March.

Now, Abdul-Jabbar’s record of 38,367 points is the only scoring milestone left for LeBron to overtake to secure his position as the greatest scorer in NBA history.

And if he stays fit, that record will surely be his.

Abdul-Jabbar was the league’s MVP throughout the 1970s and 80s, spending the majority of his career at the LA Lakers.

He played 1,560 games in the league, averaging 24.6 points per game.

As for LeBron, he’s played 1,398 games so far in his NBA career and this season has averaged 29 points per game.

That’s the third-highest rate of his 20-year career.

LeBron James is the second player in NBA history to score 38,000 career points.

Greatness. pic.twitter.com/XgvALhcuON

— NBA (@NBA) January 16, 2023

It puts him on pace to surpass Abdul-Jabbar this season with 39 games remaining after Sunday’s fixture against the 76ers.

So we could very well be getting set to celebrate James as the greatest scorer in basketball history.

Not bad for someone who has admittedly seen themselves as more of a playmaker than a scorer.

In a recent interview with ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, he touched on the potential milestone that could come as soon as next month.

He said: “I don't know because I have not set out to do that — it wasn't a goal of mine when I entered the league.

"Making All-Star team, being Rookie of the Year, being First Team All-NBA, First Team All-Defense, winning a championship for sure, being MVP of the league (were goals).

"The scoring record was never ever even thought of in my head because I've always been a pass-first guy. I've always loved the excitement of seeing the success of my teammates."