On an unassuming, short-range pull-up jumper, Miami Heat forward LeBron James became the youngest player to reach 20,000 career points in Wednesday night's game against the Golden State Warriors, taking over a record that had previously been held by the likes of Wilt Chamberlain and Kobe Bryant.
LeBron James youngest to reach 20,000 points
Move over, Kobe. LeBron James is the youngest player to reach 20,000 career points by over a year, crushing the Laker star’s record.
Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
At the tender age of 28 years, 17 days, James reached the incredible 20,000-point plateau at a younger age than any other player in NBA history. The previous record-holder, Bryant, did so at the age of 29 years, 122 days, beating out Chamberlain, who reached the mark at 29 years, 134 days, by 12 days.
Over a year younger than Bryant when he reached the milestone, James is slowly taking his place as one of the most statistically productive players in NBA history. But as James told reporters before setting the mark, reaching milestones isn’t simply about numbers ending in zero.
It’s more than a number. It means I’ve been able to stay healthy, for one. And I’ve been able to, I guess, play at this level at a high level, and been around teammates that allow me to play at a high level, as well. So it is more than a number.
Currently 38th in NBA history in points scored, James doesn't score as frequently as he did during his heyday with the Cleveland Cavaliers, though he's developed into a better, more complete player. Even so, James has a reasonable shot at challenging Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's all-time points record of 38,387.
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