Lebron James has made history again.
Lebron James’ jumper with 1.1 seconds remaining in the first quarter of the Cavaliers’ game against the Spurs on Tuesday gave him eight points for the game and 30,001 points for his career. He is the seventh player to enter the 30,000-point club and also the youngest at 33 years and 24 days, besting Kobe Bryant’s previous mark (34 years and 104 days).
Although Lebron and the Cavaliers LOST the game 114-102 to the Spurs, he finished the game with 28 points making his total, 30,021.
“Just a special moment,” James said after the game. “I just started thinking about everything. My journey from being a kid who first picked up a basketball when I was 5 years old to first playing organized basketball when I was 9 all the way up to this point.
“I give a lot of thanks to a lot of people. This is a special moment. It’s something I never set out to do. I’m not even a score-first guy when it comes to playing basketball. I love getting my teammates involved and seeing my teammates be excited about scoring and me getting the assist and things of that nature.”
James joins Kobe Bryant, who is third all time in scoring with 33,643 points, Ja points leaders Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (38,387), Karl Malone (36,928), Michael Jordan (32,292), Wilt Chamberlain (31,419) and Dirk Nowitzki (30,837 and counting) in the exclusive club.
James was celebrated by the GREATS that he now stands with in NBA history:
Congrats @KingJames. Welcome to the club!!!
— Dirk Nowitzki (@swish41) January 24, 2018
From #Akron to #30k @KingJames well done my brotha
— Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) January 24, 2018
Before his history-making game, James took to social media to congratulate his YOUNGER SELF, the post read:
Definitely a HUGE congratualtions to Lebron for his accomplishments on and OFF the court!
www.TheGamutt.com