When will LeBron James break Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s career points record?
LeBron James is close to breaking the NBA career points record held by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. If he delivers the usual numbers, he just might do it next week.


Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James has been breaking NBA records throughout his career, and now fans are eagerly awaiting the day that he will break a high-profile mark that was set by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in 1989- that of being the all-time leader in career points made.
Abdul-Jabbar ended his career with 38,387 points. James’ tally currently stands at 38,299, just 89 shy of being number one. This number is highly achievable for the 38-year-old, especially if he performs the way he has been this season.
Enough posters to fill the Uffizi Gallery. 🖼️
— NBA (@NBA) February 2, 2023
20 years in... @KingJames sits just 89 points from the all-time scoring record entering tonight's game at 7pm/et on the NBA App! pic.twitter.com/E08iXQqEH7
Just three more
He has been sinking 30.2 points per game in this campaign, and if he continues putting up these numbers, he would only need three games to break the record. That would set him up to accomplish the feat in their home game against the Oklahoma Thunder on Feb. 7.
If James brings in the points at the rate of his career average of 27.2 points per game, he would be able to sit at the top over the next four games and make history during another home game on Feb. 9 against the Milwaukee Bucks.
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Two is not an impossible number
LeBron being LeBron, he could even conceivably overtake Abdul-Jabbar in just two games, because he has already been able to rack up at least 89 points in two consecutive games five times in his career. This would put him on track to reach the milestone on Feb. 4 during their road game against the New Orleans Pelicans.
Skip Bayless: "I think he's [LeBron] even thinking down to 'what kind of shot do I want to shoot'."
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) February 2, 2023
Shannon Sharpe: "Oh he's throwing the sky hook."
Shannon Sharpe is convinced LeBron will break Kareem's record with the sky hook. 👀pic.twitter.com/Wl5HaWJ3UH
All these scenarios of course assume that the four-time MVP will see action in all the Lakers’ next few games, and that he will stay healthy for each of them. His fans in Los Angeles are confident that he will, judging from the exorbitant ticket prices for Lakers games next week.
It’s just a matter of time until The King takes Abdul-Jabbar’s crown, and they all want to be around to witness it.