LeBron James surpasses Kobe Bryant in NBA's all-time scoring list

Last updated on 26 January 2020.From the section Basketball106

LeBron James surpassed Kobe Bryant to become the NBA's third-highest scorer of all time in the LA Lakers' 108-91 defeat by the Philadelphia 76ers.

James, 35, scored 29 points to move to 33,655 career points, 12 more than former Lakers star Bryant.

Kareem Abdul Jabbar, the ex-Lakers and Milwaukee Bucks centre, is the NBA's all-time top scorer on 38,387 points.

Former Utah Jazz forward Karl Malone, who also briefly played for the Lakers, is second on 36,928.

"I'm happy just to be in any conversation with Kobe Bryant," said James.

"One of the all-time greatest basketball players to ever play, one of the all-time greatest Lakers.

"The man's got two jerseys hanging up in Staples Center. It's just crazy."

James, in his 17th NBA season, received a standing ovation from the Philadelphia crowd after scoring the basket that saw him pass Bryant's total in the third quarter.

Bryant tweeted: "Continuing to move the game forward. Much respect my brother."

Tobias Harris and Ben Simmons scored 29 and 28 points respectively to lead the Sixers to victory.

Top 10 all-time NBA scorers

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar - 38,387
Karl Malone - 36,928
LeBron James - 33,655
Kobe Bryant - 33,643
Michael Jordan - 32,292
Dirk Nowitzki - 31,560
Wilt Chamberlain - 31,419
Shaquille O'Neal - 28,596
Moses Malone - 27,409
Elvin Hayes - 27,313

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106 comments

Comment posted by brian, at 08:37 26 Jan 2020
I cant imagine having so little to do with my life that i take the time to click on an article i have no interest in and then post a pathetic comment about one of the worlds greatest sportsmen.

The skill and athletic ability this guy (and most in the NBA) has is unbelievable - i hope he keeps going for many more years.
Comment posted by longeatonal, at 07:47 26 Jan 2020
Aren't we a positive bunch this morning?

Well done LeBron, and good luck for become the 2nd best.
Comment posted by LouSmorals, at 08:37 26 Jan 2020
While it’s not my sport of choice, I recognise a tremendous sporting achievement and have the grace to acknowledge it. Congrats on a hard-fought spot in the record books.

People who come into HYS threads just to run down sports they don’t follow really are sad, bitter, pathetic, closed-minded individuals not worthy of notice, discussion or argument.
Comment posted by K1, at 10:01 26 Jan 2020
How sad and pathetic have you got to be to click on a article about a sport that you're not even interested in and then comment something negative about it? Losers.
Comment posted by Kate W, at 08:56 26 Jan 2020
@saddletramp. Yours is possibly one of the more ridiculous comments I will read this Sunday. On the basis of your logic football is a stupid sport. After all, how difficult can it be to put a football between two posts over 24 feet apart and guarded by a solitary person.
Comment posted by Itsonlymyopinion, at 08:44 26 Jan 2020
I cant wait for next week's unwarranted, pathetic attacks by the narrow-minded when the Super Bowl is played out. What is it that drives individuals to get up in a morning and start publishing negative comments about sports they know or care nothing about? Sad individuals. Roll on next weekend's showdown - Super Bowl party in hotel in Galway (Ireland).
Comment posted by bluemoon80, at 08:11 26 Jan 2020
Clearly some educated people in here who think sport only exists in UK. Congrats lebron
Comment posted by JR, at 08:31 26 Jan 2020
What's wrong with some of you people? Basketball, NBA especially, is rapidly gaining interest over here. Many people are interested!
I actually can't stand LeBron... or Liverpool... or the England cricket team, but I know many like them, so I'd never say to stop posting about it.
Comment posted by conan the librarian, at 08:59 26 Jan 2020
why do the bbc run stories on american basketball,but rarely comment on the uks?
Comment posted by notsolittlemouse, at 12:25 26 Jan 2020
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: legend

A great human being transcending Basketball.

From Airplane to Martin Luther King via great editorial.

Not a billionaire, not a property's developer, not a club owner...just an example what being a good human being is.

May he stay number one for a long time.
Comment posted by Masterbrewer, at 11:05 26 Jan 2020
BBC. Please no more HYS on basketball. Thanks for posting the article and those who like the sport will enjoy reading it. The endless comments from football supporting cretins is a bit much though.
Comment posted by gazdj, at 11:20 26 Jan 2020
He ain't no Larry Bird though
Comment posted by magicrm, at 11:05 26 Jan 2020
43
Well said.

I listened to the game last night on ESPN radio and clicked on the link here to see what fellow basketball fans would be saying about this achievement. Disappointed to discover that most of the comments are ignorant or just plain jibber jabber.

LeBron transcends his sport, and has played at an incredibly high level for 16 years. That is why THIS IS NEWS.
Comment posted by Matt, at 10:11 26 Jan 2020
Some of the clueless comments on here. If you don’t know what you’re talking about or don’t like basketball. Don’t comment.
Not all basketball players are 7ft.
Smallest ones can be 6ft or slightly taller

They are some of the most athletic people and sportsmen in the world
Comment posted by yoggsie, at 18:33 26 Jan 2020
@91....

Ignorant man posts a comment.....well done Ignorant man...!
Comment posted by thegreatestsportfan, at 11:42 26 Jan 2020
Incredible achievement by LeBron James. Hats off to you sir.
Comment posted by Noisy Neighbour, at 10:39 26 Jan 2020
Score as many as any one wants, I generally do not think we will ever see a sportman or woman in the mould of Michael Jordan ever again. He completely dominated the Sport to the point of becoming bigger than the game itself.. Not a Bulls fan but that team of the 90's along with Pippen, Longley, Rodman was something else, Pop Culture at it's finest
Comment posted by Thetruth, at 10:32 26 Jan 2020
Well done LeBron YNWA
Comment posted by spenlandia, at 09:53 26 Jan 2020
Michael Jordan averages 3pts per game more though
Comment posted by Mimms La Plage, at 09:01 26 Jan 2020
Amazing achievement

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