LeBron James Topples Dirk Nowitzki’s Scoring Record, Becoming NBA’s 6th Leading Scorer of All Time
Although the star achieved another personal milestone, the Lakers still suffered a loss to the San Antonio Spurs
With a jumper shot in Saturday’s game against the San Antonio Spurs, LeBron James surpassed Dirk Nowitzki on the NBA’s scoring chart, earning sixth place among all-time scoring leaders
With a jumper shot in Saturday’s game against the San Antonio Spurs, LeBron James surpassed Dirk Nowitzki on the NBA’s scoring chart, earning sixth place among all-time scoring leaders.
The Los Angeles Lakers star began the game against the San Antonio Spurs with 31,167 career points, just 20 shy of Nowitzki. He passed the longtime Dallas Mavericks star with his 21st point on a jumper from the right wing with 7:51 left in the third quarter. James finished the game with 31,202 points.
“For me to be in the same conversation with those guys in anything that we’re talking about as far as basketball, it’s a tribute,” said James.
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With the achievement, James became the league’s active leader in points. Nowitzki is currently out recovering from an ankle injury, but says he plans to come back and play a 21st season.
And James is likely far from breaking records. He currently stands within a couple hundred points from reaching Wilt Chamberlain, who is the fifth leading scorer with 31,419 points, and reaching Michael Jordan, the fourth leading scorer with 32,292 points. James is expected to pass both mid-season, according to the USA Today.
Some believe James can topple other records as well, next season and beyond, granted he stays healthy. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar holds the league’s top scoring record with 38,387 points, followed by Karl Malone at 36,928 points and Kobe Bryant at 33,643 points.
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Nowitzki thinks James has what it takes to potentially become the game’s all-time leader.
“If he stays healthy, the way he’s looking and moving, he has a chance at Kareem,” Nowitzki told ESPN. “His numbers have been unbelievable. He doesn’t seem to slow down. … If he keeps this up, he can pass Kareem.”
James finished with a season-high 35 points against the Spurs Saturday night, going 13-of-21 from the field, however the Spurs held on for a 110-106 victory.
