In Tuesday night’s 133-115 rout of the LA Clippers, forward LeBron James of the LA Lakers made basketball history.
James finished the game with 46 points, a career-high nine made 3-pointers on 55.2% shooting, eight rebounds, seven assists, two steals, and one block. James achieved this by setting three NBA records.
3 records created by LeBron James against LA Clippers
1. First player to score 40+ points against all 30 NBA teams
James became the first player in NBA history to score 40 or more points against all 30 teams with his 46 points against the Clippers.
LeBron James has now scored 40+ points against every single team in the NBA…
Unbelievable. 🤯🤯🤯 pic.twitter.com/g7hghCjuvS
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) January 25, 2023
2. Tied Michael Jordan for most 45-point games at age 38 or older (3)
LeBron James’ 46 points against the Clippers were his third game with 45 or more points since turning 38. Previously, James scored 47 points against Atlanta on December 30 and 48 points against Houston on January 16. As a result, James has now tied NBA superstar Michael Jordan for the most 45-point games by a player 38 or older.
LeBron James now has three 45-point games at age 38+, tying Michael Jordan for most all-time 🙌 pic.twitter.com/KLcyHRH6k7
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) January 25, 2023
3. First player in NBA history to make 9+ threes in a game at age 35 or older
With his career-high nine made three-pointers, James became the first player over the age of 35 to do so. James did so when he was 38 years old.
LeBron James is the first player in NBA history to make 9+ threes in a game at age 35 or older.
9 threes is also a new career high. pic.twitter.com/hs5Ek8vvqy
— NBA.com/Stats (@nbastats) January 25, 2023
King James to become NBA top-scorer soon
LeBron James is now very close to creating even more NBA history following his massive scoring night. On the NBA’s all-time scoring chart, James (38,210 points) is now just 177 points behind superstar Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (38,387 points). James now only needs 178 more points to surpass Michael Jordan as the league’s all-time top scorer.
It should only take James about six more games to break the record, as he is averaging 30.2 points per game this season. That implies he should be able to do so on the road against New Orleans on February 4. There will undoubtedly be a lot of excitement for the momentous occasion. James said he isn’t planning to rush the record, though, and isn’t giving the record any thought right now.
“I’ve got to this place by not even thinking about it. Just being in the moment, trying to play the game the right way,” James said.