LeBron James all time scoring thread

[SamH]

Hoping that people with only a passing interest in the NBA will be keenly following the countdown as LeBron closes in on the all time NBA scoring mark held by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

I thought it deserved a thread as he's now under 200 points away from taking the record. But not only that, it's about marvelling at what he's still doing at age 38.

Just look at this extract from last night's game report:

LeBron James hit a career-high nine 3-pointers while scoring 46 points, but the Los Angeles Clippers hit 19 3-pointers of their own on the way to a comfortable 133-115 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night.


James scored at least 40 points against the Clippers for the first time in his 20-year career, giving him a 40-point game against all 30 teams in the NBA. James hit his record ninth 3-pointer with 6:45 to play, setting a career high from distance in his 1,404th game.

That is unbelievable, surely! 9 threes and another 40+ point game. It's astonishing what he's doing this season in his 20th year. No one has been close to this kind of output at his age, ever.

I'm excited to see him break the record. Kareem being the all time scoring leader is all I've ever known, two guys I didn't like (Malone, Kobe) threatened it briefly but never really looked like they would get there, so I wondered if it was even possible. LeBron isn't just going to break the record, I think he'll easily pass 40,000 points too. It's awesome to be here for the moment as this is a record that may stand for decades.

[dandayr]

pointless stat, comparing apples with oranges, nothing to get excited about imho

[SamH]

The all time scoring record is a pointless stat? I need to hear this rationale!

[LTfan]

I guess there's an argument that the game is different now to how it was back then...

But personally I still think it's a significant achievement. And to be performing as he is now, in his 20th season and at 38 years old, is incredible. 
I'm not saying he's the G.O.A.T, but I can certainly see why he's included in that discussion.

What surprises me most about all this is that he's playing for one of the worst teams in the league. But when it comes to the Lakers I guess it's more about global brand recognition and not necessarily about success. I suspect for a man on the (UK) street the Lakers would be one of just a handful of NBA teams he could name, and he'd assume they're one of the biggest teams in the NBA. Thinking about it, I suppose they still are. Just not one of the best.

[tallerman]

Imagine how universally loved he'd be without the decision.

Undeniable how great he is. Its not when he surpasses itll be where does he stop

[dandayr]

Jan 26, 2023 1:08:55 GMT SamH said:

The all time scoring record is a pointless stat? I need to hear this rationale!

as someone else has mentioned - the game has changed so much so if you want to do a true compare and get super excited about it, then need to use the stats that are less influenced by a) introduction of opportunity to score 3pts b) introduction of 48min to score your points instead of 40min

so instead have a look at FGM stats.
How many field goals were made per game or per minute played.
in both you will find Kareem is and always will be ahead of Lebron
so Kareem will remain the holder of scoring record on baskets made and Lebron will achieve and hold the scoring record on points

dont get me wrong, I think what what LBJ is about to do is an amazing achievement as many others have played in this period of the 48min game and the 3pt shot and they haven't reached the total points score levels he has or the longevity and staying at the level he is at as he ages.

[SamH]

I don't think it matters that much because it's an amazing achievement anyway. But if you look at the stats LeBron has played 1366 games, Kareem played 1560 games and I don't know where you got 40 minutes from, it's always been 48 in the NBA.

Part of it for me is his longevity. We can look at Jordan and say had he played 20 seasons, he most likely would have surpassed 40,000 points. But we don't know, his body may well have broken down sooner and his production drop off. That's certainly what happened to just about everyone else who played 20 years. Yet LeBron just keeps going at this insanely high level without having had any years out, even for injury.

Obviously it's a different era now, just as it was when Kareem passed Wilt, who I think is without question the greatest scorer ever but only over a shorter period of time.

They all have different claims to greatness, so Kareem's might be field goals per game. Not sure as the stats seem to show both players on 10 per game, with LeBron attempting 1 more shot per game but as you say, he's taking longer range shots.

It isn't really about comparing the 2 players anyway, just celebrating a great moment in our sport's history that's coming up and may not happen again in our lifetime.

[dandayr]

every days a school day - never knew the 48min was how they started, thought it was just another of the diversifies from FIBA that NBA did over the years. I guess my ignorance of that just reflects I grew up watching scottish and british basketball anything else was not an option or consideration.

Have been lucky through business trips to tie in seeing a number of NBA games - was never in town when Lebron was visiting so not had the privilege of seeing him live as the team superstar. Was lucky enough to be in Manchester for GB v USA so saw him then.

I do think his longevity is amazing, i do also think it is a milestone that wont happen again (unless a globetrotters 4 or 5pt shot is introduced )
So yeh a mark worth celebrating when it happens given the focus on such things in the sport.

[SamH]

I think NBA was always 48 minutes, unless in the very early days it was 40 but I've never read that was the case. I imagine the NBA came before FIBA too so maybe it's them differentiating the rules rather than the other way around! Although then NCAA has different setups again so who knows.

For me what's great about this is, I've been lucky enough to be on the whole journey. I remember seeing highlights of LeBron in high school as they hyped him up as the number one draft choice in 2003. I remember following the draft, with Carmelo, Wade and Bosh also all being drafted. And I remember watching highlights of his first game, played in Sacramento randomly. And then everything since.

Whereas I came into basketball in 1996 right near the end of MJ's career. Was blessed to see his work in the 2nd threepeat but missed the early days. Obviously missed Bird and Magic altogether. So it's kinda cool to have been around for the whole of lebrons career.

[SamH]

Just 89 points to go, it could be done in the next 2 games but more likely 3. Meanwhile he's put in another triple double last night in new York... just ridiculous!🏀🏀🏀

[tallerman]

The goat has done it, nothing left to debate now

[spacejammer]

Feb 8, 2023 8:04:13 GMT tallerman said:

The goat has done it, nothing left to debate now

All I can say is congratulations to King James.
Whether you say he is the actual G.O.A.T is another debate altogether.
But he's certainly going to go down as one of the greatest of all time when his career is done.

[dexter]

Amazing achievement. I’m wearing my Lakers jacket today.

[jt]

What an achievement! For context to beat the record you would need to average 30 points a game for 16 seasons without missing a game.. crazy

[SamH]

Yep, wasn't sure if he would do it as he needed 36 points but he did it by the 3rd quarter! Nice that it came against the Thunder AND we still won the game!

What a moment - now the next one will be when he goes past 40,000 points.

Does it make him the GOAT? No more than Bill Russell's 11 rings make him the GOAT, in my opinion. I think for his longevity as an elite player that definitely counts for soemthing, and he reached the scoring mark in 150 fewer games than Kareem did. For me personally he sits 2nd behind MJ but I already had him there even before he got the scoring mark. I put MJ first for a few reasons - he went 6 for 6 in the finals, which in turn means he has 2 more rings than LeBron. He also has more MVPs despite playing fewer seasons, and obviously 2 more finals MVPs. And I just think MJ, certainly in the 2nd half of his career, really found a way to not only get his numbers but also make players around him better, something he learned that he wasn't doing in the first half. I'm not sure LeBron has ever really quite done that. I also think there is an argument to say MJ would have passed Kareem had he played more seasons but that's where you give credit to LeBron for his conditioning and ability to keep going all this time.

So yeah my top 3 are probably going to be Mike, LeBron then Kareem or maybe Magic, its so difficult to separate them but Kareem had 6 MVPs which has to count for something!

[SamH]

Here is the historical moment!

[tugger]

Why does the NBA split regular season and play-off stats?

If you add them both together LeBron passed Kareem ages ago!

Also why stop the game? Would they have done it if he'd broken the record with 10 seconds left to put the Lakers up by one?

I really don't understand why it's such a big thing. Harry Kane just got on with the game last Sunday!

And the Lakers lost!

[baldereagle]

Great pub question - how many 3s did Kareem score in his record total ?

[SamH]

I believe he scored 1 didn't he? Same as Shaq.

I think it's a big deal when a record nearly 40 years old gets broken. Sometimes games do get stopped to celebrate the moment - I remember when AC Green broke the iron man streak of games played without missing one, the game was stopped 1 second after tip off!

[tallerman]

Sam i know you really know your nba but surely ypu can see Lebron makes others around him way better, or are you saying he carried below par teams to the finals playing 1 on 5?

I joke callong him the goat, its obviously bait but as far as im concerned if you call lebron the goat you're correct, if you call mj the goat you are also correct. There is nothing between them at all, its all preference now