When LeBron James passed Karl Malone for second on the NBA’s career regular-season points list, he set his sights firmly on Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the NBA’s current all-time leading scorer.
Abdul-Jabbar has been atop the career points list since April 5, 1984 — eight months before James was even born — when he broke the mark previously held by Wilt Chamberlain. Now James has that record within reach, needing 460 points to surpass Abdul-Jabbar’s career total of 38,387.
At his career scoring average of 27.2 PPG, James would need 17 games to rack up that total, putting him on track to break the record on Feb. 9 against the Milwaukee Bucks. James has missed nine games this season. If he misses games at the same rate he did last season, the record-breaking game would come March 7 against the Memphis Grizzlies. Through 30 games this season, James is averaging 28.9 PPG, putting him ahead of his career pace.
We’ll have ongoing coverage of LeBron’s quest, including updated game-by-game projections and complete stats, throughout the season.
JAMES VS. ABDUL-JABBAR
Despite James missing nine games this season, he has already surpassed Abdul-Jabbar’s point total during his entire 20th and final season. James has scored 866 points in 30 games in 2022-23; Abdul-Jabbar scored 748 for the 1988-89 season.
JAMES
ABDUL-JABBAR
YEAR-BY-YEAR POINT TOTALS
20TH YEAR COMPARISON
TYRONN LUE
LA Clippers coach
Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images
After lighting up the Hawks for 47 on his birthday last week, James settled for 25 points Friday — his 12th consecutive game with at least 25 points.
LAST 5 GAMES
sought-after record in the NBA, things that people say would probably never be done, I think it’s
just super humbling for myself. I think it’s super cool.”
LeBRON JAMES
On passing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images
ADAM PANTOZZI/NBAE VIA GETTY IMAGES
James scored 31 points when these two teams met last month, his 14th career 30-point game against the Kings.
MORE LEBRON JAMES
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