This year is shaping up to be a monumental one for LeBron James. Not only has James become the Lakers' saving grace and newly crowned King of L.A., he continues to add to his list of accolades as he is now sixth on the NBA's all-time leading scorers list.
Despite falling to the Spurs (110-106), James put up 35 points in the Saturday (Oct. 27) contest and passed Dirk Nowitzki to become the games' active points leader and moving up to sixth on the list of all-time scorers. James entered the game 21 points behind the Mavericks' superstar who is currently sidelined due to an ankle injury. But with a 17-foot jumper midway through the third, James' surpassed his friend and storied rival. In addition to passing Dirk, James' also topped two stats held by former Lakers' legends. With last night's 35 point outing he now has 432 career 30 plus point games, passing Kobe Bryant for the number four spot on the list. And he also accumulated 11,339 field goals, moving to sixth on this list, passing Shaquille O'Neal.
LeBron connects on the jumper to go to 6th on the all-time scoring list! #LakeShow #ThisIsWhyWePlay pic.twitter.com/28jc582wVP
"Dirk's always been one of my favorite players, and I think Shaq is the most dominant player to ever play this game... So for me to be in the same conversation with those guys in anything that we're talking about as far as basketball, it's a tribute," James said following the game.
Prior to this year, LeBron was on track to pass Wilt Chamberlain and Michael Jordan, moving him to fourth on the all-time scoring list. But with James seeming to defy Father Time, many predict a more spectacular ending to his career.
"If he stays healthy, the way he's looking and moving, he has a chance at Kareem (Abdul-Jabbar)," Dirk Nowitzki told ESPN, predicting James will become the NBA's All-Time leading scorer. "His numbers have been unbelievable. He doesn't seem to slow down. The stuff he was doing last year in Year 15 was incredible. If he keeps this up, he can pass Kareem."
