In a historic performance on January 3, 2025, LeBron James surpassed Michael Jordan’s NBA record for the most 30-point games, achieving this milestone during the Los Angeles Lakers’ 119-102 victory over the Atlanta Hawks. James secured his 563rd 30-point game with a turnaround jumper at the 5:58 mark in the fourth quarter, surpassing Jordan’s previous record set in 2003.
Reflecting on this achievement, James expressed deep admiration for Jordan, stating, “It’s very humbling. Anytime I’m mentioned with any of the greats, and arguably the greatest ever to play the game, super-cool. It’s someone I idolized in my childhood, and I wear 23 because of him.”
At 40 years old, James continues to defy expectations, showcasing remarkable longevity and performance in his 22nd NBA season. This record-breaking game also marked his 1,523rd career appearance, placing him fourth in all-time regular-season games played, just ahead of Dirk Nowitzki.
Teammate Anthony Davis humorously noted the time it took for James to surpass Jordan’s record, saying, “It bothers me. But it took him seven more seasons.” He added, “I’ve been here long enough to witness so many accomplishments, so I’m definitely grateful to be here, and we just want to keep stacking.”
James’ final two baskets were reminiscent of Jordan’s signature fadeaway jumpers, a move James has meticulously refined over his career. He commented on this, saying, “[Jordan] was more of a left-shoulder fadeaway guy. I kind of go the opposite way. But just two masters of their craft putting in work and work and work to the point where it’s kind of become unguardable.”
This achievement adds to James’ extensive list of records, including becoming the NBA’s all-time leading scorer last season and maintaining a streak of scoring at least 10 points in 1,253 consecutive games over the past 18 years, far surpassing Jordan’s previous record of 866.
As LeBron James continues to redefine the standards of excellence and longevity in professional basketball, his latest accomplishment further cements his legacy as one of the game’s all-time greats.