LeBron James Becomes NBA’s 5th All-Time Leading Scorer

LeBron James made NBA history during the Los Angeles Lakers 126 117 win over Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday night. With 44 points, LeBron James moved ahead of Wilt Chamberlain and into 5th in the all-time NBA top scorers list.

LeBron James tied Chamberlain’s record with 3:55 left in the fourth quarter. Then, from the resulting free throw, he surpassed him. His 44 points on the night were the most by a Lakers player since Kobe Bryant scored 60 in his last game.

It also took him to 31,425 for his career. As well as that, he had 10 rebounds and 9 assists.

Want $250 to bet on the NBA?

Michael Jordan is the fourth top scorer in NBA history with 32, 292. So, LeBron needs 867 more points to surpass his boyhood idol. According to ESPN, if he maintains his current 26.4 points per game average, he’ll achieve this by late January.

Rounding out the list are Kobe Bryant (33,643 points, third), Karl Malone (36,928 point, second) and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (38, 387 points, first). All three of those players have worn the famous purple and gold of the Los Angeles Lakers at some point.

Read: Nets Guard Caris LeVert will not Need Foot Surgery

“Well, it’s part of what makes working for the Lakers so amazing,” said Lakers coach Luke Walton when asked about James passing Chamberlain. “You have this history here. … For him to be up there speaks more to what he’s done over his entire career, obviously, as a player. The fact that he’s in a Laker jersey as he does anything more just adds to the legacy of what the Lakers are.

“I’ve heard great Wilt stories from being around the Laker organization, including where in practice he would just take the ball and put it in the paint because he said, ‘That’s an automatic two points, so I’m not going to waste my energy jumping if I get it in the paint

“So there’s some good Wilt stories around the halls of the Lakers. But just one of the all-time dominant players our game has ever seen.”