LeBron James enjoyed a rare night where he didn't have to carry the Lakers through sheer force of will or clutch shooting. The Lakers dismantled the Utah Jazz 131-99, a win so decisive that James sat out the entire fourth quarter. In just 17 minutes of action, he posted 17 points on 60% shooting and added nine assists. Meanwhile, the Jazz (4-10) struggled significantly in the absence of center Walker Kessler. By the time James left the floor late in the third quarter, the Lakers (9-6) had effectively secured their place in the In-Season tournament quarterfinals, finishing group play undefeated at 4-0.
LeBron James didn’t have to worry about carrying the Los Angeles Lakers with a strong dunk, a well-timed jumper, or a stunning 3-pointer for once. James sat on the bench for the entire fourth quarter as the Lakers defeated the Utah Jazz 131-99. The Lakers (9-6) required just 17 minutes from James, who scored 17 points on 6-for-10 shooting and dished out nine assists, while the Jazz (4-10) struggled without second-year center Walker Kessler. James left the court with 3:45 left in the third quarter, far before the Lakers officially won a position in the quarterfinals of the NBA’s In-Season tournament with a 4-0 record in Group Play.
Despite a night where he wasn't required to push his physical limits at age 38, LeBron James still achieved something unprecedented. Following his ascent to the top of the all-time scoring list—which happened nearly nine and a half months ago when he passed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar—he has now become the first person to ever record 39,000 career points.
James reached the 39,012 mark with a three-pointer during the first quarter. The achievement was highlighted by announcer Lawrence Tanter, who praised the star during a break in play, acknowledging the milestone to the fans before the game resumed.
Now in his 21st NBA season, James is putting up impressive numbers: 26.4 points per game, 8.2 rebounds, and 6.5 assists, while shooting 58.6% from the field and 39.7% from beyond the arc. He is currently on track to maintain his career scoring average while actually improving his career benchmarks for rebounding (7.5), overall field goal percentage (50.5%), and three-point accuracy (34.5%). These stats are a testament to how his current workload is being managed.
Reflecting on the moment, James noted that the league has seen an incredible array of legendary scorers since its inception. He admitted that being the first to achieve a specific milestone is always a special feeling and described the experience as a genuine 'wow moment.'
Coach Darvin Ham kept things light, joking that because it was only 39,000 points and not 40,000, James wouldn't be getting the game ball just yet. While Ham teased the star, he also spoke seriously about the historic nature of LeBron's career, stating that the team doesn't take his presence for granted. Since the season opener in Denver, Ham has been mindful of limiting James's minutes—capping them at 29 in that game—to ensure he stays healthy and efficient for the full 82-game grind and a potential deep playoff run.