Already the NBA player with, by far, the most points scored all time, LeBron James just set another record for the most field goals made. Even though James’ career isn’t going to last much longer, he is still setting records all the time. He could end up with a majority of the major NBA all-time records when it’s all said and done.
LeBron James sets field goal record for NBA
Fittingly, prior to last night, Los Angeles Lakers legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was the player with the most made field goals in NBA history. Now, that record is owned by LeBron James. He hit 15,838 and counting with the record-setting shot.
“Just to be able to link my name to being mentioned with some of the greatest to ever play this game has always been humbling and a pretty cool thing,” James said. “I grew up watching, reading , idolizing a lot of the greats, and if I ever was able to be part of the NBA, I wanted to put myself in position that I can be named with some of the greats by doing something right. So, it’s pretty cool.”
JJ Redick, the Lakers’ coach, compared him to Bruce Springsteen. He said that by the end of Springsteen’s catalog, his compilation of greatest hits is “insane,” and that’s where James is now during this stage of his career.
“And LeBron’s greatest hits, he just keeps adding to them. He just plays and plays and plays. And the greatest hits are just … he’s got a hell of a catalog,” Redick said. As James continues playing, he is likely to continue making history and adding to his greatest hits.
James leads in points scored and field goals made. He’s 23rd all-time in rebounds. James has the fourth-most assists in NBA history. He’s sixth all-time in steals. He’s been racking up stats for a long time, and he will continue to do so until he retires.
LeBron James opens up on historic journey
“Obviously it’s a pretty cool feat, but it’s hard for me to kind of wrap my head around it or what it looks like,” James said. “It’s something that I never had a goal to have that record. I came into this league understanding that I had to start from scratch. As the No. 1 player in the country, I had to start from scratch and get myself up that plateau of being the No. 1 player in the world again. So that was my only mindset.”
Humbly, the future first-ballot Hall of Famer added, “I don’t know how many players have played in the NBA, but it’s the greatest players in the world. And for my name to be mentioned with the greats and be at the top of it is awesome.”
As for the shot itself, James hit a turnaround fadeaway, one of his signature shots. “I mean, it’s one of my patented shots,” James said. “It’s something I’ve worked on throughout my career. So, to be able to have that ability to make that shot is pretty cool.”
In many ways, this is a longevity record. If you can keep playing for this long, you are inevitably going to set records in counting stats. However, James still playing at 41 is incredible. Plus, he’s obviously playing at a high level still. He’s not simply out there to make some baskets and add to his legendary stat line.
For now, James remains a high-impact player who is adding records and stats simply by playing well. He has taken a step back, but he remains one of the best players in the entire NBA.
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