LeBron James reached another historic milestone on Thursday by becoming the player with the most field goals in NBA history, although his achievement was overshadowed by the Los Angeles Lakers’ 120–113 defeat to the Denver Nuggets.
James surpassed the long-standing record held by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar after making a fadeaway jumper during the first quarter, taking his career total beyond Abdul-Jabbar’s mark of 15,837 field goals.
The 41-year-old veteran, now in his record 23rd season in the National Basketball Association, already holds the league’s all-time scoring record. In recent weeks, however, speculation about his future has intensified after he hinted at the possibility of retirement earlier this year.
“I don’t know what the future holds,” James told reporters in January.
Despite the record-setting moment, the night ended in disappointment for the Lakers as the Nuggets maintained control for most of the game.
James finished the contest with 16 points but appeared to suffer an injury to his left elbow late in the fourth quarter. The forward was knocked off balance and fell onto the legs of a courtside cameraman, forcing officials to pause the game as he was briefly substituted.
Although he returned to the floor for the final two minutes, he appeared to be in visible discomfort.
The Nuggets led from start to finish but faced a late push from the Lakers, who cut the deficit to just one point with two minutes remaining.
Nikola Jokic led the Nuggets with another triple-double performance, recording 28 points, 13 assists and 12 rebounds.
“They’re a difficult team to beat,” Jokic said after the game. “We scored when we needed.”
The victory could have significant implications for playoff positioning. The Lakers currently occupy the sixth spot in the Western Conference standings, the final automatic playoff position, while the Nuggets sit just ahead of them.
Meanwhile, the Phoenix Suns remain two games behind the Lakers after suffering a narrow 105–103 defeat to the Chicago Bulls.
James’ scoring legacy continues to grow, with his career total already exceeding 43,000 points—nearly 5,000 more than Abdul-Jabbar, whom he overtook for the all-time points record in 2023.
While Abdul-Jabbar spent much of his career playing before the introduction of the three-point line, James’ new field goal record highlights not only his scoring ability but also his remarkable longevity in the league.
