{"id":159594,"date":"2026-03-04T09:26:14","date_gmt":"2026-03-04T09:26:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=159594"},"modified":"2026-03-04T09:26:14","modified_gmt":"2026-03-04T09:26:14","slug":"%f0%9f%94%a5history-is-calling-and-lebron-james-is-one-step-away-from-answering-the-lakers-star-could-soon-reach-another-milestone-that-cements-his-legacy-even-further-appreciate-it-now-m","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=159594","title":{"rendered":"\ud83d\udd25History is calling, and LeBron James is one step away from answering. The Lakers star could soon reach another milestone that cements his legacy even further. Appreciate it now \u2014 moments like this don\u2019t last forever."},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Lakers<\/p>\n

LeBron James<\/span><\/span> Inches Closer to Passing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar<\/span><\/span> as Los Angeles Lakers<\/span><\/span> Defeat New Orleans Pelicans<\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n

On Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena, LeBron James once again reminded the basketball world why he is widely regarded as the greatest longevity story in NBA history.<\/p>\n

The Los Angeles Lakers secured a 110\u2013101 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans, strengthening their playoff positioning in the Western Conference. While the win itself was significant, the larger storyline revolved around James\u2019 pursuit of yet another historic milestone \u2014 becoming the NBA\u2019s all-time leader in career field goals made.<\/p>\n

And now, he is only three baskets away from owning that record outright.<\/p>\n

\n

LeBron\u2019s Performance vs. Pelicans<\/h2>\n

\"LeBron<\/p>\n

In 33 efficient minutes, James delivered a steady all-around performance:<\/p>\n

    \n
  • \n

    21 points<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  • \n

    7 rebounds<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  • \n

    7 assists<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  • \n

    2 blocks<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  • \n

    8-of-12 shooting from the field<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  • \n

    1-of-5 from three-point range<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    The stat line wasn\u2019t explosive by LeBron standards, but it was controlled, calculated, and impactful. More importantly, it moved him closer to basketball immortality.<\/p>\n

    Entering the night, James needed 11 made field goals to surpass Kareem Abdul-Jabbar\u2019s long-standing mark of 15,837 career field goals. He finished with eight \u2014 leaving him just three shy of breaking the record.<\/p>\n

    History is now within arm\u2019s reach.<\/p>\n

    \n

    The \u201cMilestone King\u201d Adds Another Chapter<\/h2>\n

    Earlier Tuesday, the NBA highlighted James\u2019 opportunity on social media:<\/p>\n

    \n

    \u201cMILESTONE KING: LeBron James is on the verge of becoming the NBA\u2019s all-time leader in career field goals made\u2026 He needs 11 field goals to break Kareem Abdul-Jabbar\u2019s record of 15,837.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

    James already holds:<\/p>\n

      \n
    • \n

      The NBA\u2019s all-time scoring record<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

    • \n

      Second place in career free throws made<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

    • \n

      Sixth place in career three-pointers made<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      Adding the all-time field goals record would further cement his reputation as the most statistically dominant and durable scorer the league has ever seen.<\/p>\n

      Unlike volume scorers who rely primarily on perimeter shooting, James\u2019 field goal record reflects two decades of versatility \u2014 finishes at the rim, mid-range mastery, post play, and now, veteran efficiency.<\/p>\n

      \n

      The Overlooked In-Season Tournament Twist<\/h2>\n

      Interestingly, ESPN\u2019s Dave McMenamin<\/span><\/span> pointed out a controversial footnote to the milestone chase.<\/p>\n

      McMenamin noted that James technically would have already passed Abdul-Jabbar if the league counted a 10-field-goal performance from the December 2023 in-season tournament championship game. While all other in-season tournament games count toward regular-season totals, that specific championship matchup does not.<\/p>\n

      As a result, the record chase carries an added layer of debate.<\/p>\n

      Regardless, the official mark stands \u2014 and James is poised to surpass it Thursday night.<\/p>\n

      \n

      Next Stop: Denver Nuggets<\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n

      All signs point toward James breaking the record when the Lakers travel to Denver on Thursday.<\/p>\n

      The timing couldn\u2019t be better \u2014 or more dramatic.<\/p>\n

      The Lakers (37\u201324) are battling for seeding in a congested Western Conference. A statement win over the defending champions would strengthen their hold on a top-six playoff spot while providing the perfect stage for history.<\/p>\n

      It\u2019s the kind of moment the NBA thrives on: a global superstar, a hostile road environment, and a record that has stood for decades.<\/p>\n

      \n

      LeBron\u2019s 23rd Season: Still Elite<\/h2>\n

      \"Lakers<\/p>\n

      Now in his 23rd NBA season \u2014 and eighth with the Lakers \u2014 James continues to defy conventional aging curves.<\/p>\n

      Entering Tuesday\u2019s game, he was averaging:<\/p>\n

        \n
      • \n

        21.6 points<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

      • \n

        5.6 rebounds<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

      • \n

        7.0 assists<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

      • \n

        1.1 steals<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

      • \n

        49.9% shooting from the field<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

      • \n

        32.0% from three<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        At 41 years old, those numbers remain All-Star caliber.<\/p>\n

        Few athletes in professional sports history have sustained this level of production so deep into their careers. What once seemed impossible \u2014 maintaining elite efficiency into a third decade \u2014 has become routine for James.<\/p>\n

        \n

        Lakers\u2019 Playoff Push<\/h2>\n

        The victory over the Pelicans marked another positive step in a competitive Western Conference race. Currently holding the sixth seed, the Lakers are fighting to avoid the play-in tournament.<\/p>\n

        At home, they have posted an 18\u201312 record, providing solid \u2014 if not dominant \u2014 protection at Crypto.com Arena.<\/p>\n

        However, James\u2019 tenure in Los Angeles has been a roller coaster.<\/p>\n

        Since joining the franchise:<\/p>\n

          \n
        • \n

          The Lakers won the 2020 NBA Championship over the Miami Heat<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

        • \n

          Missed the playoffs twice<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

        • \n

          Suffered a first-round exit to the Minnesota Timberwolves<\/span><\/span> in 2025<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

          The 2026 campaign represents another opportunity to chase postseason success while James continues stacking individual accolades.<\/p>\n

          \n

          Pelicans\u2019 Struggles Continue<\/h2>\n

          For the Pelicans, the loss dropped them to 19\u201344, placing them 13th in the Western Conference standings.<\/p>\n

          They\u2019ve now lost two consecutive games and remain well outside serious playoff contention. Their focus increasingly shifts toward development and draft positioning.<\/p>\n

          New Orleans will attempt to regroup Thursday when they visit the Sacramento Kings<\/span><\/span>.<\/p>\n

          \n

          Legacy Beyond Numbers<\/h2>\n

          While the field goals record is historic, it symbolizes something larger.<\/p>\n

          James has now:<\/p>\n

            \n
          • \n

            Surpassed Abdul-Jabbar in scoring<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

          • \n

            Nearly matched him in made field goals<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

          • \n

            Maintained elite production across three different eras of basketball<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

            The league has transformed during his career \u2014 from mid-post dominance to pace-and-space offense, from physical hand-checking to perimeter freedom \u2014 yet James has adapted seamlessly.<\/p>\n

            Records that once felt untouchable are now checkpoints.<\/p>\n

            \n

            What Happens Next?<\/h2>\n

            If James converts three field goals in Denver \u2014 an almost certain outcome \u2014 he will officially become the NBA\u2019s all-time leader in career field goals made.<\/p>\n

            Another night. Another record. Another milestone.<\/p>\n

            In a career defined by unprecedented longevity, LeBron James continues to prove that greatness isn\u2019t just about peak dominance \u2014 it\u2019s about sustained excellence over time.<\/p>\n

            And on Thursday night in Colorado, the basketball world will likely witness history once again.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

            LeBron James Inches Closer to Passing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as Los Angeles Lakers Defeat New Orleans Pelicans On Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena, LeBron James once again reminded… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":159595,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-159594","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nba"],"yoast_head":"\n\ud83d\udd25History is calling, and LeBron James is one step away from answering. The Lakers star could soon reach another milestone that cements his legacy even further. Appreciate it now \u2014 moments like this don\u2019t last forever. - NEWS USA<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=159594\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"\ud83d\udd25History is calling, and LeBron James is one step away from answering. The Lakers star could soon reach another milestone that cements his legacy even further. Appreciate it now \u2014 moments like this don\u2019t last forever. - NEWS USA\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"LeBron James Inches Closer to Passing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as Los Angeles Lakers Defeat New Orleans Pelicans On Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena, LeBron James once again reminded...\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=159594\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"NEWS USA\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-03-04T09:26:14+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/2-9.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1080\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1080\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"MsThao\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"MsThao\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=159594\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=159594\",\"name\":\"\ud83d\udd25History is calling, and LeBron James is one step away from answering. The Lakers star could soon reach another milestone that cements his legacy even further. Appreciate it now \u2014 moments like this don\u2019t last forever. - NEWS USA\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=159594#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=159594#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/2-9.png\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-03-04T09:26:14+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-03-04T09:26:14+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/#\/schema\/person\/73dec88841ffe3be696a72d46df40731\"},\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=159594#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=159594\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=159594#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/2-9.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/2-9.png\",\"width\":1080,\"height\":1080},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=159594#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"\ud83d\udd25History is calling, and LeBron James is one step away from answering. The Lakers star could soon reach another milestone that cements his legacy even further. Appreciate it now \u2014 moments like this don\u2019t last forever.\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/\",\"name\":\"NEWS USA\",\"description\":\"Your Daily Dose of Sports News and Updates\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/#\/schema\/person\/73dec88841ffe3be696a72d46df40731\",\"name\":\"MsThao\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/23335ad696d6700b03ba8d09f84a67eadb58cde164fc044a22845ec8be19771f?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/23335ad696d6700b03ba8d09f84a67eadb58cde164fc044a22845ec8be19771f?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"MsThao\"},\"url\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?author=3\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"\ud83d\udd25History is calling, and LeBron James is one step away from answering. The Lakers star could soon reach another milestone that cements his legacy even further. Appreciate it now \u2014 moments like this don\u2019t last forever. - NEWS USA","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=159594","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"\ud83d\udd25History is calling, and LeBron James is one step away from answering. The Lakers star could soon reach another milestone that cements his legacy even further. Appreciate it now \u2014 moments like this don\u2019t last forever. - NEWS USA","og_description":"LeBron James Inches Closer to Passing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as Los Angeles Lakers Defeat New Orleans Pelicans On Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena, LeBron James once again reminded...","og_url":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=159594","og_site_name":"NEWS USA","article_published_time":"2026-03-04T09:26:14+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1080,"height":1080,"url":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/2-9.png","type":"image\/png"}],"author":"MsThao","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"MsThao","Est. reading time":"5 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=159594","url":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=159594","name":"\ud83d\udd25History is calling, and LeBron James is one step away from answering. The Lakers star could soon reach another milestone that cements his legacy even further. Appreciate it now \u2014 moments like this don\u2019t last forever. - NEWS USA","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=159594#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=159594#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/2-9.png","datePublished":"2026-03-04T09:26:14+00:00","dateModified":"2026-03-04T09:26:14+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/#\/schema\/person\/73dec88841ffe3be696a72d46df40731"},"breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=159594#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=159594"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=159594#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/2-9.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/2-9.png","width":1080,"height":1080},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=159594#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"\ud83d\udd25History is calling, and LeBron James is one step away from answering. The Lakers star could soon reach another milestone that cements his legacy even further. Appreciate it now \u2014 moments like this don\u2019t last forever."}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/#website","url":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/","name":"NEWS USA","description":"Your Daily Dose of Sports News and Updates","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/#\/schema\/person\/73dec88841ffe3be696a72d46df40731","name":"MsThao","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/23335ad696d6700b03ba8d09f84a67eadb58cde164fc044a22845ec8be19771f?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/23335ad696d6700b03ba8d09f84a67eadb58cde164fc044a22845ec8be19771f?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"MsThao"},"url":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?author=3"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/159594","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=159594"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/159594\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":159596,"href":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/159594\/revisions\/159596"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/159595"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=159594"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=159594"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=159594"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}