LeBron James Breaks NBA Field Goals Record in Lakers Loss to Nuggets

Posted : 06 March 2026

LeBron James surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the most field goals in NBA history as the Los Angeles Lakers fell 120-113 to the Denver Nuggets on Thursday. James scored 16 points during the game, breaking Abdul-Jabbar’s previous record of 15,837 field goals in the first quarter.

At 41 years old and playing in his 23rd NBA season, James first became the NBA’s all-time leading scorer in February 2023. He also became the first player to reach 50,000 combined points in the regular season and playoffs last year, and currently has 43,127 points in regular-season games alone.

“Being mentioned with some of the greatest to ever play this game has always been humbling,” said James, a four-time NBA Most Valuable Player. “I grew up watching, reading about, idolising many of the greats, and if I was able to be part of the NBA, I wanted to put myself in position to be named with them by doing something right. It’s a pretty cool feat, but it’s hard for me to wrap my head around it.”

Lakers coach JJ Redick compared James’ career to a music icon’s catalogue, saying: “You get to the end and you’re like, ‘this guy’s greatest hits are like insane.’ And LeBron’s greatest hits, he just keeps adding to them. He just plays and plays and plays, and the greatest hits—he’s got a hell of a catalogue.”

James surpassed Abdul-Jabbar’s record even though three-point shots were introduced midway through Abdul-Jabbar’s career. The six-time champion scored 28,307 points in his 20-year career, shooting 55.9% of his field goals, while James currently maintains a 51.6% scoring rate.

The four-time NBA champion is also closing in on another milestone. Thursday’s game marked his 1,606th regular-season appearance, just five games shy of matching Robert Parish’s record. James earned his 22nd All-Star selection this season and has yet to confirm if he will play next year.

For Denver, Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray each contributed 28 points as the Nuggets held onto fifth place in the Western Conference, one spot ahead of the Lakers. Meanwhile, second-placed San Antonio defeated the Detroit Pistons 121-106, with Victor Wembanyama posting 38 points and 16 rebounds to maintain his dominant form.

LeBron James Breaks NBA Field Goals Record in Lakers Loss to Nuggets

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