Denver – LeBron James continues to redefine longevity and achievement in the NBA, adding another historic milestone to his unparalleled career. On Thursday night, during the Los Angeles Lakers’ 120-113 loss to the Denver Nuggets, James surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the most field goals made in NBA history, a record previously held by the Lakers legend for decades. This latest accomplishment underscores James’s enduring impact on the game and solidifies his place among basketball’s all-time greats.
The record-breaking shot, a turnaround 12-foot jumper over Zeke Nnaji with 12 seconds remaining in the first quarter, gave James 15,838 career field goals. Abdul-Jabbar finished his 20-year career in 1989 with 15,837, a mark that stood for over three decades. Karl Malone sits at a distant third with 13,528 field goals, highlighting the sheer dominance of James and Abdul-Jabbar in this statistical category. This achievement comes less than three years after James surpassed Abdul-Jabbar as the NBA’s all-time leading scorer in February 2023, further cementing his legacy.
James’s ability to consistently find the basket over a remarkable 23-year career is a testament to his skill, athleticism, and dedication. He has already attempted more field goals than any other player in NBA history – 31,274 entering Thursday’s game – including over 7,500 three-pointers. The contrast in shooting styles between the two legends is also notable; while Abdul-Jabbar, known for his signature skyhook, attempted only 28,307 field goals and a mere 18 three-pointers throughout his career, James has embraced the modern game’s emphasis on perimeter shooting.
Despite the loss, the moment was not lost on those in attendance. James was briefly sidelined late in the fourth quarter with an elbow injury after a fall, but returned to the bench to a standing ovation from the crowd at Ball Arena after the record was announced. Nikola Jokic led the Nuggets to victory with a triple-double of 28 points, 13 assists, and 12 rebounds, while Jamal Murray added 28 points and crucial free throws to seal the win. Luka Doncic led the Lakers with 27 points, 11 rebounds, and seven assists, while James finished with 16 points, eight assists, and five rebounds.
👑 LeBron James is now the NBA’s all-time leader in field goals made! 👑
He passed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar tonight vs. The Nuggets! 👏
📊: https://t.co/7XAXtJ1OV8 pic.twitter.com/4Hj8z0vkOr— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) March 6, 2026
The Lakers coach, J.J. Redick, offered a unique perspective on James’s sustained excellence, comparing him to Bruce Springsteen. “LeBron’s greatest hits, right? He just keeps adding to them. He just plays and plays and plays and the greatest hits, he’s got a hell of a catalog,” Redick said before the game, drawing a parallel between the artist’s evolving body of work and James’s continuous accumulation of records and achievements.
Beyond the field goal record, James is on the verge of another milestone. Thursday’s game marked his 1,606th regular-season appearance, leaving him just five games behind Robert Parish’s NBA record of 1,611. He already holds the league record for playoff games played with 292. At 41, James continues to defy expectations, recently becoming the oldest player to record a triple-double last month, demonstrating his continued ability to impact the game at a high level.
While James has not yet announced his plans for next season, he has expressed a belief that he can continue playing at a high level indefinitely. He was selected to his 22nd All-Star Game despite missing 18 games due to injury, a testament to his enduring popularity and skill. However, his injury sustained during Thursday’s game will undoubtedly be monitored closely.
As LeBron James continues to add to his already remarkable legacy, the question remains: how much more history will he write? His future decisions will be closely watched, but for now, he continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible in the NBA. Share your thoughts on LeBron’s latest achievement in the comments below.
