When will LeBron James break the NBA scoring record?

When LeBron James passed Karl Malone for second connected the NBA's vocation regular-season points list, helium acceptable his sights firmly connected Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the NBA's existent all-time starring scorer.

James enters the 2022-23 season, his 20th successful the NBA, needing lone 1,326 points to surpass Abdul-Jabbar's vocation full of 38,387. Given that James has scored astatine slightest 1,500 points successful 18 of his erstwhile 19 seasons, it seems apt that he'll interruption the grounds this year, ending Abdul-Jabbar's 38-year tally arsenic the NBA's astir prolific scorer.

Abdul-Jabbar has been atop the vocation points database since April 5, 1984 -- 8 months earlier James was adjacent calved -- erstwhile helium broke the people antecedently held by Wilt Chamberlain. Now James has that grounds within reach, and we'll person ongoing sum of his quest, including updated game-by-game projections and implicit stats.

James is present successful his 20th season, the aforesaid fig Abdul-Jabbar played successful his legendary career. And portion the legendary Lakers large antheral posted bigger scoring numbers aboriginal successful his career, James' lengthy premier (15 consecutive seasons averaging astatine slightest 25 PPG) has allowed him to close the gap.

“If LeBron breaks the record, and it looks similar helium has each crushed to break it, I’ll beryllium precise blessed for him. The crippled volition ever amended erstwhile records similar that are broken.”

KAREEM ABDUL-JABBAR

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James' 2021-22 play came to an aboriginal extremity aft a 38-point show successful a nonaccomplishment to the Pelicans. With the Lakers already eliminated from play-in contention and James nursing an injured ankle, the squad unopen him down with 5 games to go. He scored astatine slightest 36 points successful each of the past 5 games helium played.

“To cognize that I’m connected the verge of breaking astir apt the most sought-after grounds successful the NBA, things that radical accidental would astir apt ne'er beryllium done, I deliberation it’s conscionable ace humbling for myself. I deliberation it’s ace cool.”

LeBRON JAMES

On passing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

NOAH GRAHAM/NBAE via GETTY IMAGES

James opens the play against the Golden State Warriors, the squad helium famously faced 4 times successful the NBA Finals. When these 2 teams past met successful March, James scored a season-high 56 points connected 19-of-31 shooting to pb the Lakers to a win.

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