For the first time in four decades, the NBA has a new name atop its list of all-time leading scorers, as LeBron James eclipsed the previous standard of 38,387 career points set by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
It is impossible to put into perspective the pantheon-level combination of skill and longevity it requires to score that many points in a career, but here we try with a deep dive into the numbers behind the record.
[Trivia Question 1 (answers at the end of story): In the surname game, James has played with two Anthonys, two Davises, two Greens, two Hamiltons, two Howards, two Ingrams, two Johnsons, two Smiths, two Thomases, two Wagners, three Harrises, three Jacksons, six Browns, seven Joneses and seven Williamses. How many can you name?]
Tale of the tape: LeBron vs. Kareem
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Points: LeBron 38,390 • Kareem 38,387
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Seasons: LeBron 20 • Kareem 20
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Age (at time of record): LeBron 38 years, 39 days • Kareem 42 years, 7 days
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Games: LeBron 1,410 • Kareem 1,560
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Minutes played: LeBron 53,741 • Kareem 57,446
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FGA-FGM (FG%): LeBron 14,053-27,829 (50.5%) • Kareem 15,837-28.307 (55.9%)
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3PA-3PM: LeBron 2,237-6,494 (34.4%) • Kareem 1-18 (5.6%)
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FTA-FTM: LeBron 8,047-10,949 (73.5%) • Kareem 6,712-9,304 (72.1%)
NBA scoring kings
Joe Fulks led the NBA in scoring in the league’s first two seasons and held the career points record until the second game of the 1952-53 season, when George Mikan eclipsed his total of 7,024 on Nov. 2, 1952.
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George Mikan’s reign: 1,816 days (Nov. 2, 1952, to Oct. 22, 1957)
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Ed Macauley’s reign: 41 days (Oct. 22, 1957, to Dec. 1, 1957)
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Dolph Schayes’ reign: 2,261 days (Dec. 1, 1957, to Feb. 8, 1964)
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Bob Pettit’s reign: 738 days (Feb. 8, 1964, to Feb. 14, 1966)
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Wilt Chamberlain’s reign: 6,626 days (Feb. 14, 1966, to April 5, 1984)
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Abdul-Jabbar’s reign: 14,188 days (April 5, 1984, to Feb. 7, 2023)
LeBron’s NBA debut
On Oct. 29, 2003, three minutes into his NBA career, James received a pass from Cleveland Cavaliers teammate Ricky Davis in the right corner, drove baseline to evade Sacramento Kings guard Mike Bibby and pulled up for his first-ever shot attempt — a successful 16-foot jump shot over two-time All-Star center Brad Miller.
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Final score: Sacramento Kings 106, Cleveland Cavaliers 92
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LeBron James: 25 PTS (12-20 FG, 0-2 3P, 1-3 FT), 9 AST, 6 REB, 4 STL
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Days since: 7,041 (19 years, 3 months, 9 days)
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No. 1 movie in the box office: “Scary Movie 3”
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No. 1 song on the Billboard Hot 100: “Baby Boy” by Beyoncé, featuring Sean Paul
[Trivia Question 2:…
