LeBron James surpasses 30,000 points

Long live the King. 

LeBron James made NBA history Tuesday night when he hit the final shot of the first quarter to become the youngest player ever to reach the 30,000 career regular season point milestone.

James, who turned 33 on December 30, surpassed previous record holder Kobe Bryant by 444 days as the youngest player to hit the 30,000 figure. 

Bryant was 34 years and 104 days old when he reached the mark in 2012.

James, who turned 33 on December 30, surpassed previous record-holder Kobe Bryant by 444 days as the youngest player to hit the 30,000 figure. Bryant was 34 years and 104 days old when he reached the mark in 2012

The Cleveland Cavaliers superstar James did it by nailing a jump shot against the San Antonio Spurs with 1.1 seconds remaining for his eighth point of the contest. JR Smith is pictured hugging LeBron after he scored his 30,000th career point 

The Cleveland Cavaliers superstar James did it by nailing a jump shot against the San Antonio Spurs with 1.1 seconds remaining for his eighth point of the contest. 

Just hours before the match-up with the Spurs, James congratulated himself on Instagram for hitting the mark in advance. 

‘Wanna be one of the first to Congratulate you on this accomplishment/achievement tonight that you’ll reach!’ James wrote under a picture of himself in his high school uniform.

‘Only a handful has reach/seen it too and while I know it’s never been a goal of yours from the beginning try (please try) to take a moment for yourself on how you’ve done it! 

‘The House you’re about to be apart of has only 6 seats in it (as of now) but 1 more will be added and you should be very proud and honored to be invited inside,’ James continued. 

‘There’s so many people to thank who has help this even become possible (so thank them all) and when u finally get your moment (alone) to yourself smile, look up to the higher skies and say THANK YOU! So with that said, Congrats again Young King [sic]! 1 Love! #striveforgreatness #thekidfromakron,’ James wrote.  

Just hours before the match-up with the Spurs, James congratulated himself on Instagram for hitting the mark in advance. He posted this photo of himself in his high school uniform

James celebrates after scoring his 30,000 career point during a time out against the San Antonio Spurs at AT&T Center

James came into the game needing just seven to scale the height only six others have achieved so far. He joins Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who holds the top spot with 38,387 points

James came into the game needing just seven to scale the height only six others have achieved so far. He joins Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who holds the top spot with 38,387 points. 

Abdul-Jabbar reached 30,000 on November 19, 1983, at age 36, and like James, he was in 15th NBA season.

Karl Malone holds the No 2 spot with 36,928. Malone reached 30,000 on January 29, 2000, at the age of 36, and also like James in his 15th NBA season.

Bryant sits in the third spot with 33,643. He hit the 30,000 mark in 2012. 

Michael Jordan 32,292 comes in fourth place. Jordan reached 30,000 on January 4, 2002, at age 38, and in his 14th NBA season.

Wilt Chamberlain is fifth with 31,419. Chamberlain  reached 30,000 on February 16, 1972, at age 35, and in his 13th NBA season.

And Dirk Nowitzki is in the sixth spot with 30,808. Nowitzki reached 30,000 on March 7, 2017, at age 38, and in his 19th NBA season

James opened his scoring night with a drive and a left-handed layup with 7:19 left in the first quarter. He added two more points on a finger roll layup with just over four minutes left. 

Abdul-Jabbar (pictured in September 1982) reached 30,000 on November 19, 1983, at age 36, and like James, he was in 15th NBA season

Karl Malone (left in 1991) holds the No 2 spot with 36,928. Malone reached 30,000 on January 29, 2000, at the age of 36, and also like James in his 15th NBA season. Bryant (right in 2008) sits in the third spot with 33,643. He hit the 30,000 mark in 2012

Michael Jordan 32,292 comes in fourth place. Jordan reached 30,000 on January 4, 2002, at age 38, and in his 14th NBA season

Wilt Chamberlain (left in 1971) is fifth with 31,419. Chamberlain reached 30,000 on February 16, 1972, at age 35, and in his 13th NBA season. And Dirk Nowitzki (right in 2011) is sixth with 30,808. Nowitzki reached 30,000 on March 7, 2017, at age 38, and in his 19th NBA season

James got to within one point of the mark with 64 seconds to go with his first successful jump shot of the game.

There was a very good chance history would be made on Tuesday at the Spurs AT&T Center arena as James came into the game averaging 26.8 points, 7.8 rebounds and 8.7 assists per game this season.

James attempted to do it at home on Saturday, but finished with just 18 points on eight of 17 shooting in a 148-124 blowout loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The basketball star started out as a high school phenom who grew up to play for his hometown Cavaliers’ team, then the villain who left for Florida, to the favorite son who returned home.

He was drafted first overall by Cleveland in 2003 and in February 2008 he became the youngest player to score 10,000 points.

Five years after James played in his first all-star game in 2005, he made ‘The Decision’ to take his talents to South Beach to play for the Miami Heat. The move paid off with his first NBA title in June 2012, when the Heat beat Oklahoma City in five games

Coming into Tuesday’s game, James led the NBA in field goals made this season (463) and over his career, he has made 10,886 field goals which is 19 away from surpassing Nowitzki (10,904) for eighth all-time in league history

Long live the King: James could now make a run at the league’s all-time scoring record — Kareem’s career total of 38,387 points

Five years after James played in his first all-star game in 2005, he made ‘The Decision’ to take his talents to South Beach to play for the Miami Heat.

The move paid off with his first NBA title in June 2012, when the Heat beat Oklahoma City in five games.

After much success in Miami, James announced on July 2014 he was returning to Cleveland and two years later he delivered a championship, ending the city’s 52-year title drought.

James could now make a run at the league’s all-time scoring record — Kareem’s career total of 38,387 points.

But before that, there are more milestones to collect. 

Coming into Tuesday’s game, James led the NBA in field goals made this season (463) and over his career, he has made 10,886 field goals which is 19 away from surpassing Nowitzki (10,904) for eighth all-time in league history.