LeBron James set another historic milestone in the National Basketball Association on Thursday by becoming the player with the most field goals made in league history.
However, the achievement was overshadowed as the Los Angeles Lakers suffered a 120–113 defeat to the Denver Nuggets.
James, who already holds the NBA’s all-time scoring record, surpassed the previous field goal mark of 15,837 set by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. The record-breaking basket came in the first quarter when the veteran forward knocked down a fadeaway jumper.
At 41 years old, James is currently playing in his record 23rd NBA season. Speculation about his potential retirement has intensified in recent weeks after he told reporters in January, “I don’t know what the future holds.”
Despite the historic moment, James finished the game with 16 points as the Lakers struggled to keep up with Denver. Late in the fourth quarter, the NBA star appeared to injure his left elbow after being pushed off the court and landing awkwardly on a cameraman’s legs.
The game was briefly halted while he was substituted, but James eventually returned for the final two minutes, though he seemed to be in visible discomfort.
Denver controlled most of the contest from start to finish. The Lakers managed to reduce the deficit to just one point with two minutes remaining, but the Nuggets held their ground to secure the win.
Nuggets star Nikola Jokić delivered another outstanding performance, recording a triple-double with 28 points, 13 assists, and 12 rebounds.
“They’re a difficult team to beat,” Jokic said after the game. “We scored when we needed.”
The result could play a significant role in the playoff race. The Lakers currently occupy the sixth spot in the Western Conference standings, which is the final automatic playoff position, sitting just behind the Nuggets.
They remain two games ahead of the Phoenix Suns, who were narrowly beaten 105–103 by the Chicago Bulls.
James’ career scoring total now exceeds 43,000 points, putting him nearly 5,000 points ahead of Abdul-Jabbar, whom he surpassed in 2023 to become the NBA’s all-time leading scorer.
While Abdul-Jabbar played a large portion of his career before the introduction of the three-point line, James’ new field goal record further highlights his remarkable longevity, consistency, and impact on the game.
What you should know
LeBron James is widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players in NBA history. Since entering the league in 2003, he has won multiple championships, MVP awards, and broken numerous records.
His ability to maintain elite performance deep into his 40s is rare in professional basketball.
The new field goal record adds another achievement to his historic career and reflects both his scoring ability and longevity over more than two decades in the NBA.
