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LeBron James makes history as the first NBA player to score 40,000 career points, achieving the milestone during a critical game against the Denver Nuggets.
King James has done it all and now he's joined a club all by himself.
LeBron James is the first & maybe last player to ever join the 40K CLUB
— www.ebooksnet.com (@Ballislife) March 3, 2024
Nick Wright: "For Giannis, he would have to average 30 PTS, playing 75 GMS a year for the next 11 years. For Luka: 35 PTS, 75 GMS, 12 years. For a new player: 35 PTS, 75 GMS, 15 and a half seasons." pic.twitter.com/DRpGZgKblD
LeBron James has now entered an exclusive group, surpassing 40,000 career points. The reigning king of basketball, James becomes the first to achieve this milestone, surpassing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's 38,387 points. Among a roster of elite basketball players, LeBron sits at the pinnacle, unmatched. It's truly the most astonishing record i've seen throughout my lifetime in sports. And that doesn't include the 8,023 points he's scored in the playoffs.
After his bucket, Laker nation celebrated LeBron and the moment in a time out. Grateful for the fans, the former Cavalier recognized how special it is.
"Being the first player to do something is pretty cool in this league", said James (NBA).
What an incredible feat, reaching 40,017 points. Since he was just 18 years old, LeBron has played in 1,475 career games, totaling 55,988 minutes, with 10,847 assists, and 11,046 rebounds. Even after playing over 55,000 minutes, the Lakers star continues to perform at a level reminiscent of his mid-twenties.
Although 40,000 is a heck of a lot of points, LeBron said "I was that on no kid. He emphasized the weight of expectations he faced at just 18 years old, acknowledging the pressure and scrutiny from those who hoped for his failure.
Just a few days after the big accomplishment, James was named Western Conference player of the week. Through week 19, James averaged 30.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 8.7 assists on 50 percent three-point shooting.
James has never missed an entire season in his career
While LeBron's achievement is undoubtedly remarkable, his durability stands out as his greatest attribute. Throughout his career, he has consistently been able to maintain a high level of performance despite the wear and tear of the game. LeBron managed to play in 74 games during 13 out of his first 15 NBA seasons. Remarkably, he has never missed an entire season due to injury, showcasing his remarkable resilience and commitment to the game.
Not many athletes can claim such durability. After setting the record with his 20th All-Star appearance, LeBron's game count began to decline only after he joined the Lakers. Nonetheless, this season, he has appeared in 54 games, averaging an impressive 35.1 minutes per game. The remarkable physical condition and high level of basketball he continues to demonstrate are truly extraordinary.
James, 39, is in his 21st NBA season. The oldest active player in the NBA, LeBron was drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers no. 1 overall in the 2003 draft. Throughout his career, he's played for the Cavaliers, Miami Heat, now the Los Angeles Lakers. The all-time leader in NBA points scored, the King has several personal and team accolades.
LeBron, a four-time NBA champion, four-time Finals MVP, four-time MVP, olympic gold medalist, and a 20-time All-Star, has lived up to his reputation as a generational talent since his 2003 debut.
As I forecasted on episode six of the Cook it and Book it Podcast, LeBron James reached his 40,000th point in classic LeBron style. With just over 10 minutes remaining in the second quarter, the King isolated Michael Porter Jr., executing a drive and spin move for a layup. Despite his recent success from beyond the arc, shooting at an impressive 51.1% over the past ten games, LeBron's athleticism and drives to the basket have always been his trademark.
LeBron James daughter was present for the Lakers "girl dad" night
FIRST-EVER.
— NBA (@NBA) March 3, 2024
40K Points for the Scoring King
As LeBron returned to play defense, the crowd erupted in excitement, with his wife Savannah, mother Gloria, and daughter Zhuri all in attendance. Being an Akron native, LeBron expressed how meaningful it was to have his daughter there, emphasizing his pride in being a "girl dad."
"It's definitely special," said LeBron post game. "When I looked up there in the stands and seen her sitting up there and when the 40,000-point mark hit, definitely looked up there at my wife, looked at my daughter, my mom, and my daughter was just clapping and pumping her arms up in the air so that was a super cool moment."(NBA YouTube).
And on the Lakers first official girl dad night, LeBron was able to share a moment with his daughter immediately after he surpasses 40,000 points. With the special occasion, LeBron was able to share the moment up close and personal with his loved ones.
"Blew her a kiss, she blew one back to me," said James. "That's super cool for sure. Definitely a girl dad, and happy she's a part of the family. She runs everything, so what Z says goes." (NBA YouTube)
While it was a momentous occasion for LeBron James, it was also bittersweet as the Lakers suffered a defeat to the Nuggets, losing 124-114 on their home court. Despite LeBron's milestone, the Lakers' overall record stands at 33-29, placing them at the 10th position in the Western Conference. Losing a game after such a significant achievement is undoubtedly disappointing, regardless of the opponent.
And to make it worse, the Lakers were swept 4-0 by the Nuggets in last year's western conference finals. With the loss on Saturday, James led with a team high 26 points, 3 steals, 9 assists, and four rebounds. He finished the night on 12-20 from the floor. After maintaining a first half lead, the Nuggets were simply too much for the Lakers, outscoring them 67-48 in the second half. Not only did Denver dominate on the boards, but they had 64 points in the paint.
LeBron James is the first player in NBA history to score 40,000 regular season points
With this achievement, LeBron James has now exceeded some of the greatest players in basketball history, such as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Kobe Bryant, and Michael Jordan. In a class by himself, James gave some insight how he achieved 40k points, and whether he can see any current athlete surpassing him.
LeBron credits durability and longevity to hitting this major milestone
From the way LeBron James talks about it, he attributes his longevity and durability to his ability to play at such a high level for so long.
"Obviously you have to play the game quite a while and have some good luck as far injuries and things of that nature," James told the media. "You have to take care of your body, you have to be present on the floor. Then you have to be productive as well. Obviously we have a lot of great guys in our league that can score the ball. If they were able to stay healthy and they were to play a long time, then they can eclipse it." (NBA)
Just last February, James passed Abdul-Jabbar as the NBA all-time scoring leader in a loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
While LeBron James continues to be the face of the NBA, there has been considerable speculation about who will assume that role once he retires. Names like Luka Doncic, Nikola Jokic, and Jayson Tatum have emerged as potential successors to carry the torch for the league.
At the end of the day, LeBron was very fortunate for good influences despite hardships growing up. While James had a "great head on his shoulders," he thanked his mother and little league coaches for raising him the right way. He also adds his friends accountability and support from his now wife, Savannah kept him on the straight and narrow.
Stay tuned for more related NBA articles and podcasts.?Click here
Sara Jane Gamelli is a full-time Sportswriter, Content Creator and Social Media Manager for Ballislife Bets.?She has a focus on the NBA, WNBA, NCAA Basketball, and the NFL. Sara Jane currently resides in Connecticut/NYC area with her Cat and Dog. SJ has her undergraduate degree from the?University?of Connecticut in Economics, with a minor in business administration.
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In the final game against Ohio State, Clark achieved a remarkable feat, surpassing Pete Maravich for the all-time scoring record with an outstanding performance in the first half.
It's official. Caitlin Clark passed "pistol" Pete Maravich and is the NCAA men's and women's all-time leading scorer. In a record-breaking season, Clark is truly one of one. She came into the game 18 points shy, and now holds the record with 3,685 points.
And with chaos surrounding Iowa City, Clark started her day at 6:22 a.m., and headed to shoot around. With ESPN College Game Day present for the second consecutive year, Clark and the Hawkeyes did their best to go about their ordinary routines.
And she stands alone. The Iowa native matched then surpassed the record with two free-throw attempts subsequent to Ohio State's technical foul. Although falling short of breaking the standard three-point shot record, Clark etched her name in history at the free-throw line. With all attention fixed on number 22, she flawlessly sank the free-throws with .3 seconds left in the first half, up 46-39.
Man or Woman she stands alone! Caitlin Clark is your all time leading scorer passing Pete Maravich. Congratulations Caitlin! pic.twitter.com/7V7vTEj2tB
— Ballislife Womens Basketball (@ballislifewbb_) March 3, 2024
Clark appeared indifferent how she broke the record, even if it was a logo three. With Ohio State receiving a technical foul, she was tasked with shooting two free throws without any opponents present at the line. It seemed as though she was destined to achieve the record all on her own, with only herself at the line.
"Honestly, like I didn't really care," said Clark about making history from the free-throw line. "It was cool to hear everybody just start screaming. I thought that gave us a lot of momentum going into halftime." (Fox Sports YouTube).
While free-throws may seem fairly easy, it's sure a lot of pressure when the entire arena has eyes on you.
"I'm just glad to make a free throw, " the NCAA all-time scoring leader told the media. "That's like the hardest thing to do in basketball is make free throws with nobody at the free throw line." (Fox Sports YouTube).
In their last matchup, Caitlin Clark and the Iowa Hawkeyes dropped a heartbreaking loss to Ohio State in overtime. In the loss, Clark finished with 45 points,2 steals, 1 block, 7 assists, and 3 rebounds. This time around, Clark and the Iowa Hawkeyes secured the 93-83 victory over the Ohio State Buckeyes.
RELATED: Iowa vs. Ohio State game preview.
Like a Cinderella story, Clark and the Iowa Buckeyes delivered a captivating performance before almost 15,000 fans at the Carver-Hawkeye Arena. In the culmination of the regular season, Iowa clinched victory on none other than Senior Day. When asked about the record-breaking day, Clark said it will eventually hit her. Passing Pete Maravich and Kelsey Plum is quite the accomplishment. However, there are several successful ballers that have come before Clark's time.
"I don't think many people understand how many amazing players have come before me and been able to score the ball and do it at such a high rate. Just to be in the same realm of all these players who have been so successful--whether it's Pete, or whether it's Kelsey Plum or Lynette Woodard." (Fox Sports YouTube).
It's 9:30 a.m., but the stars are out in Iowa City. @MooreMaya x @CaitlinClark22 #Hawkeyes pic.twitter.com/0tc7xzLeTm
— Iowa Women's Basketball (@IowaWBB) March 3, 2024
In the eagerly awaited matchup, a host of notable figures graced the event, among them UConn and WNBA icon Maya Moore. While Clark admired Moore during her upbringing, it was a delightful surprise for Clark when Moore made an appearance before the big game. Indeed, the Hawkeye star was "fangirling" intensely over Moore. Also in attendance was Jake from State Farm, Travis Scott, and basketball legend Lynette Woodard.
"For her [Maya Moore] to be here, surprise me was pretty special," Clark told the media post-game. "I felt like I was that young girl again, it's crazy how life can come full circle. She's just such a great role model, great person, not only a great basketball player." (Fox Sports YouTube).
Clark wrapped up the last regular season game of her career with an impressive stat line of 35 points, 3 steals, 9 assists, and 6 rebounds. Despite her reputation for sharpshooting, the guard struggled with her accuracy overall. Starting with three missed shots, Clark concluded shooting 10-26 (37%) from the field and 6-17 (35.2%) from beyond the arc.
Facing off against Ohio State's formidable defense, Clark found it challenging to penetrate the paint. However, she adjusted her strategy and began driving to the basket, resulting in nine free-throw attempts. While many focus on her scoring abilities, she has incredible court vision, and her facilitaitng was elite. With several high velocity outlet passes, Clark often found Hannah Stuelke, who finished with 23 points, 9 rebounds, and 2 assists, on 9-12 field goal shooting.
With Ohio State's intense focus on Clark, it created openings for her teammates to capitalize on scoring opportunities. Clark's exceptional ability to distribute the ball to her teammates with precision was put on full display. Despite being known for her scoring prowess, she handled Ohio State's double teams and full-court press, showcasing her versatility on the court in distributing the rock.
Clark has passed Pistol Pete
— www.ebooksnet.com (@Ballislife) March 3, 2024
Pearl Moore: 4,061 (1979)
Caitlin Clark: 3,668 & counting (2024)
Pete Maravich: 3,667 (1970)
Antoine Davis: 3,664 (2023)
Lynette Woodard: 3,649 (1981)
Kelsey Plum: 3,527 (2017) pic.twitter.com/aywonXTheK
Despite Iowa commanding a 17-point lead, the Buckeyes managed to narrow the deficit to just four points. However, unlike the previous game, Iowa ensured they maintained their lead and stayed focused. Even after senior guard Molly Davis suffered a leg injury, the team persevered. Davis's injury was severe enough that she had to be carried off the court and later returned in a wheelchair, remaining court side for the remainder of the game.
The pivotal change came when Iowa, under the leadership of head coach Lisa Bluder, transitioned from primarily employing a zone defense to adopting a man-to-man matchup as the game drew to a close. While both teams committed a high number of turnovers, it was Iowa's ability to attack inside, and find success on the free-throw line. They outscored the Buckeyes in the paint 42-28 and had 15 more free-throw attempts at the line. Overall, it was an intense, physical, defensive matchup between the two rivals.
For Ohio State, senior guard Jacy Sheldon finished the game with 24 points, 2 rebounds, 2 steals, and 9 assists, on 57.1 percent three-point shooting. Taylor Thierry, Cotie McMahon, Rebeka Mikulasikova, and Celeste Taylor all put up points in double figures.
It was undeniably a statement victory against the no.2 seed Buckeyes. Although not the official last home game, Clark and the Hawkeyes will host the first two rounds of the tournament as a high seed.
Clark was quick to acknowledge the success of her team and teammates before delving into the significance of the upcoming event. However, she also shed light on the journey they've undertaken. As a true generational talent, Clark, along with her teammates, has played a pivotal role in shaping the growth and evolution of basketball. In her lifetime, she's witnessed an unprecedented level of support, particularly in the realm of women's hoops.
"It's been a lot", said Clark on the historic day. "This is what's so fun and so special. This is what we've built here, and these are moments that you dream of. Obviously, our fans were incredible. To celebrate our seniors and four other people that have meant so much to me and given so much to this program, it's really awesome." (Fox Sports YouTube).
Pure
— Iowa Women's Basketball (@IowaWBB) March 3, 2024@caitlinclark22 x #Hawkeyes pic.twitter.com/HGr2MEAh6h
Other than Clark, four of Iowa's seniors were recognized after the game--Sharon Goodman, Gabbie Marshall, Kate Martin, and Molly Davis. Aside from Clark and Molly's injury, Goodman, Marshall, and Martin combined for 23 points, 10 rebounds, 3 steals, and 4 assists, on 50 percent three-point shooting.
After the game, Clark expressed her appreciation for the energy that the fans bring to every single game. She emphasized that the contagious vibes and the team's cohesive play are what make the experience special. While she undoubtedly enjoys a massive following as an Iowa native, she noted that the crowd cheers loudly for every member of the team.
"The style of basketball we play is like, people love it" said Clark. They are not just here for me, I'm sure I help. At the end of the day, we have a really great team and a really great culture, and that's what makes it so fun. " (Fox Sports).
???????? ????????????????.
— Iowa Women's Basketball (@IowaWBB) March 3, 2024
Sharon. Molly. Gabbie. Kate. Caitlin. #Hawkeyes pic.twitter.com/HUWmPjZulY
While acknowledging that history was indeed made with the scoring record, Clark remains focused on her team's success. She expresses a desire not to be solely remembered for breaking the record, as she believes there is much more to her contributions to the team and the sport.
"A record is a record, Clark said. I don't want that to be the reason people remember me. I hope people remember me for the way I play with a smile on my face, my competitive fire. Sure, they can remember the wins. But also, the fun me and my teammates had together." (Fox Sports YouTube).
Selflessly, Clark, a typical college student, holds deep regard for her friends and teammates. Despite her exceptional talent, she adeptly balances her responsibilities, prioritizing authenticity above all as Caitlin.
With the regular season concluded, Iowa now gears up for the Big Ten tournament and the NCAA tournament in mid-March. Riding high on momentum, the Hawkeyes made a resounding statement on the grandest night of the year.
Coming up is the Big Ten Tournament, which begins on Mar. 6. Soon after March Madness and the NCAA women's basketball tournament will start on Mar. 20.
Stay tuned for more NCAA and WNBA related articles. Click here
Sara Jane Gamelli is a full-time Sportswriter, Content Creator and Social Media Manager for Ballislife Bets. She has a focus on the NBA, WNBA, NCAA Basketball, and the NFL. Sara Jane currently resides in Connecticut/NYC area with her Cat and Dog. SJ has her undergraduate degree from the University of Connecticut in Economics, with a minor in business administration.
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Today is the day we celebrate the home going of one of our talented young brothers from the Inglewood/Los Angeles Area ?M-Bone (member of the recording group Cali Swag District).One year ago today M-bone was shot and killed in front of a local liquor store just after he was leaving a friends house near by.He was known for his creativity and swagg on the dance floor and being a huge part in making the "dougie" one of the most popular dances of our generation.He ?always kept ?a positive attitude and had the ability to make anyone around him laugh.M-Bone is loved and respected throughout the Los Angeles Area and will be sadly missed by all of his pears.we send our prayers to mother and family. RIP M-Bone
Ps .Teach all the angels how to Dougie
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