United States basketball icon, LeBron James, achieved another remarkable milestone on Friday, surpassing Michael Jordan’s record for the most 30-point games in NBA history during the Los Angeles Lakers’ 119-102 win over the Atlanta Hawks.
James scored 30 points on 13-of-20 shooting, with his record-breaking moment coming late in the fourth quarter when he hit an 18-foot jumper, bringing his total to 563 games with at least 30 points, surpassing Jordan’s 562, set in 2003.
“It’s very humbling,” James said afterward, per NBA.com. “Anytime I’m mentioned with any of the greats, and arguably the greatest ever to play the game, super cool. It’s someone I idolized in my childhood, and I wear 23 because of him. So to know that I can sit here and be in the room or in the conversation or whatever it is, when you mention MJ, it’s just super-duper dope for me, being a kid from where I’m from.”
While James led the Lakers, the team’s offensive effort was well-rounded, with Anthony Davis contributing 18 points, 19 rebounds, three steals, and three blocks, and Austin Reaves adding 20 points, seven rebounds, and six assists.
Despite the contributions from his teammates, the night belonged to James, who reached this feat in his 22nd season and 1,523rd career regular-season game.
By comparison, Jordan had set his record in his 1,072nd game and 15th season. Davis couldn’t help but poke fun at his teammate’s longer journey to the record.
“Obviously, a hell of an accomplishment,” he said, later adding, “I think he’s probably No. 1 in everything at this point. I’ve been here long enough to witness so many accomplishments, so I’m definitely grateful to be here, and we just want to keep stacking.”
James also surpassed Dirk Nowitzki in career games played, moving into fourth place on the all-time list.
His ability to continue breaking records well into his 40s highlights the extraordinary longevity that has defined the latter part of his career.
According to NBA, only two other players have scored 30 points in a game after turning 40—Nowitzki, who had one, and Jordan, with four.
James, however, has already had two 30-point games since turning 40 and seems poised to set another record in this category.
