LeBron James becomes second all-time leading scorer
LeBron James passed Karl Malone to become the NBA’s second all-time leading scorer, despite the Los Angeles Lakers’ loss to the Washington Wizards.
James scored 38 points in the 127-119 defeat, taking his career total to 36,947 points.
Only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has scored more points than the 37-year-old.
“At some point I’ll be able to look back at this moment, but right now the feeling I have, I can’t separate it [from the loss],” James said.
The Lakers have not won back-to-back matches since they claimed four in a row between 31 December and 7 January.
James scored six points in the first quarter before a dunk and three three-pointers brought him level on points with Malone.
A lay-up later on in the second quarter than took him beyond Malone’s record.
It was not enough, however, to stop the Wizards overturning a 16-point deficit to end a six-match losing streak.
When asked if he could break Abdul-Jabbar’s record, James said: “I will not allow myself to think about it.
“I’ve always just played the game the way I’ve been playing it over the years, and these things have just happened organically by just going out and playing the game the right way.
“I hope to accomplish that at some point in my career, but I won’t think about it too much.”
NBA all-time leading point scorers
1. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 38,387
2. LeBron James 36,947
3. Karl Malone 36,928
4. Kobe Bryant 33,643
5. Michael Jordan 32,292
6. Dirk Nowitzki 31,560
7. Wilt Chamberlain 31,419
8. Shaquille O’Neal 28,596
9. Carmelo Anthony 28,218
10. Moses Malone 27,409
