LeBron James made history on Thursday night by surpassing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the most field goals in NBA history. However, the Los Angeles Lakers fell to the Denver Nuggets in a 120-113 loss, and James left the game with a sore left elbow. The milestone came in the first quarter when James hit a 12-foot turnaround jumper over Zeke Nnaji with 12 seconds remaining, giving him 15,838 career field goals. Abdul-Jabbar had previously held the record with 15,837.

Breaking the Field Goal Record

James’ record-breaking shot was part of a 7-of-11 shooting performance, which gave him 16 points on the night. The achievement marks the latest in a long line of NBA records that James has set over the course of his 23rd season. He now holds the title of most career field goals, most career points, and most career playoff games in NBA history. Karl Malone, who trails far behind, has 13,528 field goals.

Despite the record, the Lakers were unable to secure a win against the Nuggets. The Nuggets opened the game with a 16-3 run and maintained their lead throughout the contest. James contributed eight assists, three steals, and a key block, but his impact was not enough to overcome Denver’s dominance.

“My name being mentioned with some of the greatest to ever play this game has always been humbling and pretty cool,” James said after the game. “It’s a pretty cool thing. I grew up watching and reading, idolizing a lot of the greats. And if I ever was able to be a part of the NBA, I wanted to be in position where I could be named with some of the greats by doing something right.”

Comparing Shooting Records

Abdul-Jabbar, who was known for his skyhook and a 55.9% career shooting percentage, had a legendary career that spanned 20 seasons. James, on the other hand, has attempted more field goals than any NBA player in history — 31,274 as of Thursday night — and has made more than 7,500 three-pointers, a feat Abdul-Jabbar never achieved.

“He’s been a complete player for 23 years,” said Lakers coach J.J. Redick. “He’s just a phenomenal basketball player.”

James has already broken numerous records, including becoming the NBA’s all-time leading scorer in February 2023. He also holds the record for most career points in the playoffs and surpassed 50,000 total career points in both the regular season and postseason combined last year.

“He’s definitely a legendary player,” said Nuggets star Nikola Jokic, who is now a close friend and frequent collaborator with James.

Injury and the Road Ahead

James’ night, however, was not without its setbacks. He injured his left elbow during a layup with four minutes left in the game, which pulled the Lakers within four points. He left the game briefly but returned with 2:05 remaining, though the Lakers were unable to close the gap.

“It’s pretty sore right now. It feels like a funny bone situation,” James said, explaining the injury. “We’ll see what happens over the next couple of days. Hopefully, I wake up tomorrow and it doesn’t feel too much worse than it does now.”

James said he was not in the mood to celebrate the record immediately, as the loss weighed heavily on him. “I don’t know, right now it doesn’t hit me at all,” he said. “Obviously, what I feel is my elbow and I feel the loss. Obviously, it’s a pretty cool feat. But it’s hard for me to kind of wrap my head around it and what it looks like.”

James also noted that he had never aimed to break the field goal record, but the achievement is a testament to his longevity and skill. “It’s something, one, that I’ve never had a goal to have that record … but it’s a pretty cool feat, it’s an unbelievable feat,” he added.

Looking ahead, James is on track to surpass Robert Parish for the most regular-season games in NBA history later in March. He is currently at 1,606 games and needs just five more to break Parish’s record of 1,611.

As for his future, James has not yet decided whether he will return to the Lakers next season. However, he has expressed confidence that he can continue playing at a high level for years to come. Despite missing 18 games due to injury this season, he was still selected for the 22nd All-Star Game of his career.

James’ legacy continues to grow, and with each passing season, he adds to his already impressive list of achievements. Whether it’s the field goal record, the scoring title, or the game appearances, James continues to redefine what it means to be a legend in the NBA.