LeBron James ‘greatest to ever play’ after reaching NBA combined points milestone, but Lakers lose to Golden State Warriors
- The Los Angeles Lakers star takes his regular-season and play-offs points tally to 44,152 after scoring 26 points in their 117-115 defeat
- James passes Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s total of 44,149 but still trails Karl Malone and Abdul-Jabbar in the regular-season all-time list
No one in NBA history has scored more points when it mattered than LeBron James. With a three-pointer in the third quarter on Saturday night, James scored his 44,152nd points – the most ever when combining NBA regular-season and play-off games.
He tied Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s 44,149 mark with a three-pointer right before half-time in a 117-115 loss to the Golden State Warriors.
“It’s incredible,” Lakers coach Frank Vogel said of the milestone before the game. “Everything the guy has done throughout his career is just remarkable. It’s why I believe he’s the greatest ever to play.”
The challenge, though, for the Lakers is to make the most of that greatness while it’s still here, and their inaction at the NBA’s trade deadline fuelled critics who believe the team are squandering it.
Vogel said the team came through the trade deadline with a refreshed energy and a renewed spirit – and that was largely on display on Saturday against one of the NBA’s top teams.