LeBron James’ scoring record eclipses the combined totals of Stephen Curry and Giannis Antetokounmpo.
LeBron James made history in the Lakers win over the Utah Jazz, as he became the first NBA player ever to hit 39,000 points in the regular season. His point total is so enormous that it eclipses the combined total that Stephen Curry and Giannis Antetokounmpo have scored over the course of their careers.
After LeBron’s 26 points in the Lakers loss to the Mavericks, his all-time point total is currently at 39,038. Stephen Curry has 22,123 points over the course of his 14-year NBA career, while Giannis Antetokounmpo has a total of 16,694 points over his 10 years in the NBA. Their combined total is 38,817, which is 221 points fewer than LeBron’s all-time tally.
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Given Curry is averaging 29.4 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 3.8 assists this season and Giannis is averaging 29.6 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 4.6 assists, their combined totals will soon surpass that of James. But the fact that they’re both two-time league MVPs and a decade into their careers shows how incredible James’ career of scoring has been.
The points total fits in some ways, as James also has the same number of MVPs as the two combined.
LeBron James Hunting Down More Scoring Accomplishments
After becoming the all-time scoring leader, a record many thought would never be broken, James has to find new challenges in the regular season. While extending the record to being out of anybody else’s reach is one thing he is already doing, he is on course to set more landmarks in the game. Very soon, James will also be the first player to enter the 40,000 points club, a club that will likely remain lonely for a very long time.
He’s also close to becoming the all-time leading scorer in basketball history, a few thousand points shy of Brazilian legend Oscar Schmidt. He may always have to hear about arguments between him and Michael Jordan for the GOAT, but he can rest knowing his impact on the game was so large that there is not one person in the world that can have a claim to scoring the most points in the history of the sport.
James is averaging 25.7 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 6.7 assists this season, already breaking records for a player in Year 21 of their NBA career. As it looks like the new generation is capable of playing longer than the stars of yesteryear, James is also trying to set all-time standards all great players will be judged. He’s leaving a complete legacy on the sport that will always be reckoned with.
Stephen Curry can claim to have impacted the game in many similar ways, leading the league into the era of three-point shooting. But even his success over his career doesn’t come close to what LeBron has achieved. Giannis still has a few years in his prime, but his physicality-focused game will gradually change over time as his skill set changes. Will he still be able to play 21 or more years and average 25+ points through it? We don’t know yet, but it seems pretty unlikely
