Just over a year after surpassing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the NBA’s all-time top scorer, LeBron James has made another significant achievement in basketball history. The Los Angeles Lakers superstar achieved a milestone on Saturday night by becoming the first player in NBA history to score 40,000 career points. He reached this accomplishment with a layup in the first half of his team’s game against the defending-champion Denver Nuggets.

James was close to reaching the 40,000-point milestone before Saturday’s games, needing just nine more points after two impressive performances earlier in the week. He orchestrated a remarkable fourth-quarter comeback on Wednesday, outscoring the Los Angeles Clippers 19-16 by himself. He finished the game with 34 points, six rebounds, eight assists, two blocks, and a season-high seven three-pointers. James saved the purple-and-gold team from a humiliating defeat against the low-ranked Washingtоn Wizards by scoring 31 points, grabbing four rebounds, and providing nine assists. His standout performance in overtime included a remarkable defensive play with a chase-down block followed by a successful three-point shot.

LeBron James is now having the greatest season ever for a 39-year-old, defying the effects of aging. He is now averaging 25.3 points, 7.1 rebounds, 7.9 assists, and 1.2 steals per game with high shooting accuracy, notably hitting a career-high 40.8% on three-point shots. Los Angeles has shown improved defensive performance with James on the court, conceding 5.5 fewer points per 100 possessions, ranking in the 88th percentile among all players in the league, according to Cleaning the Glass. He is ranked tenth in the league with a +5.3 projected plus-minus, as reported by Dunks & Threes.

The four-time champion was originally labeled as doubtful to play against the Nuggets due to peroneal tendinopathy in his left ankle. James was uncertain about playing against the Clippers and Wizards, but ended up participating in both games without any limitations.

The Lakers, who were previously struggling, have won 9 out of their past 12 games, stabilizing their performance even though they did not make any trades before the deadline. Los Angeles, now in 10th place, is almost certain to secure a spot in the play-in tournament. They are three games behind the New Orleans Pelicans, who are in sixth place in the Western Conference. The next game against the Nuggets, led by Nikola Jokic, will be crucial for Los Angeles.