LeBron James' 40,000-point milestone: How high will his total climb and what happens next?

LeBron James poised to become first NBA player to score 40K points, projected to set all-time record of 43,777 points.

LeBron James, the Lakers legend, has had an incredible career in the NBA. After nearly two decades in the league, he has surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's all-time scoring record. This is a remarkable achievement considering that Abdul-Jabbar held the record for almost 40 years. Initially, it seemed that breaking this record would be a monumental task, as Abdul-Jabbar only averaged 10.1 points per game in his final season. However, James has been averaging close to 29 points per game, showing no signs of slowing down. In fact, his recent performance against the Clippers, where he outscored them singlehandedly in a fourth-quarter comeback, proves that he is still at the top of his game.

James is on the verge of making history once again by becoming the first player in NBA history to score 40,000 regular-season points. With 39,960 points under his belt, it is only a matter of time before he reaches this milestone. But James is not stopping there. He has hinted at playing until his sons, Bronny and Bryce, are eligible for the draft, which could take him through the 2026-27 season. This would be a significant milestone, as he would be one of the few players to start games in their 40s.

However, as James gets older, the question arises of how many games he will miss due to injuries and maintenance. While he has been durable throughout his career, age catches up with everyone. It is likely that he will miss around 20 games per season moving forward. Additionally, his playing time is expected to decrease as he ages, which will impact his scoring output. Despite these factors, James is projected to score an additional 3,817 points before retiring, bringing his career total to an astonishing 43,777 points.

This figure is truly remarkable when compared to other active players in the league. Kevin Durant, the highest-scoring active player besides James, has 28,318 points. To surpass James, Durant would need to score over 15,000 more points in his career, a feat that seems unlikely. James' record-setting total may be so high that it remains untouched by any other player in NBA history. With his incredible scoring ability and longevity in the league, James has solidified his place as one of the greatest players of all time.

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