The “GOAT” debate in basketball is filled with many subjective viewpoints and respectfully so, given how many iconic players have emerged from the NBA. While it’s fun debating with your group chat and colleagues about who your favorite player is and who you think is the “greatest of all time,” let’s lay down some actual statistics.
Whether Lebron James is your GOAT, or not, there’s one thing we can’t deny — Lebron’s achievements and statistics are LEGENDARY. This past Saturday, Lebron officially scored his 40,000th point during the Los Angeles Lakers’ 124-113 loss to the Denver Nuggets at Crypto.com Arena.
Heading into the game, Lebron was nine points away from hitting another milestone and scored the record-breaking 40,000th point 90 seconds into the second quarter!
“No one has done it. And for me to be in this position at this point and time in my career. But is it one of the top things I’ve done in my career? No. Does it mean something? Of course. Why wouldn’t it?”
In his 21st season in the NBA, Lebron has slowly pulled away from the best of the best on the NBA all-time scoring list – including Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (38,387 points), Karl Malone (36,928 points), and Kobe Bryant (33,643 points). Among active players, Kevin Durant is the closest to Lebron, coming in ninth in the list.
LeBron James: Founding member of the 40K points club 👑 pic.twitter.com/Cm3Mf3Qjhs
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) March 3, 2024
Numbers don’t lie.
— Nike Basketball (@nikebasketball) March 3, 2024
Yet again, @kingjames has rewritten the equation for greatness: 40k points, 10k assists, 10k rebounds. Truly one of one. #WeAreAllWitnesses pic.twitter.com/GuucylJI27
Congratulations to LeBron James for being the first and only player in NBA history to score 40,000 points! I’m so glad I was here to witness such an incredible feat! @KingJames pic.twitter.com/IdfjsrSLKJ
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) March 3, 2024
