Lebron on the Brink of Another Eternal NBA Throne
Thirty-seven years after Kareem Abdul-Jabbar played his final regular-season game, one of his most iconic records is about to fall. LeBron James needs just three more field goals to become the all-time leader in made shots in NBA history.
On April 23, 1989, an era came to an end. That night, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar played his final regular-season game in the NBA. The Playoffs and Finals were still ahead — a series the Los Angeles Lakers would eventually lose 4-0 to the Detroit Pistons — but the legendary center had already sealed records that seemed untouchable.
Among them was a historic milestone: 15,837 made field goals, averaging 10.1 per game. Over the following decades, several legends came close to challenging that mark. Karl Malone (13,528), Michael Jordan (12,192), Kobe Bryant (11,719), and Shaquille O'Neal (11,330) all made their pushes. Yet none truly threatened the top spot that Abdul-Jabbar had once taken from Wilt Chamberlain.
In Denver, against the Denver Nuggets, LeBron James has another appointment with history. He enters the game with 15,835 made field goals, averaging 9.8 per contest. Two baskets will tie the record. Three will make him stand alone at the top.
It would not be his first historic takeover. LeBron already surpassed Abdul-Jabbar as the NBA’s all-time leading scorer in total points. Now, he is on the verge of claiming yet another monumental achievement.
Beyond the number itself, the potential record highlights LeBron’s extraordinary longevity and consistency. At 41 years old, he remains a cornerstone of the Los Angeles Lakers and continues to perform at an elite level. Surpassing a mark that stood for nearly four decades would not only underscore his statistical dominance, but further cement his legacy as one of the most durable and influential players in NBA history. As has become customary in the later stages of his career, every LeBron game feels like a chapter in basketball history. And this time, another throne awaits.
