The Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James made history on Tuesday night, surpassing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s 38,387 career points to claim the top spot for the most career points in NBA history.

James achieved this feat in the third quarter of his team’s narrow 133-130 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday night when he made a 14-foot jump to surpass Abdul Jabbar’s record which has stood for nearly 40 years.

The game was brought to a halt after James’ record-breaking shot, with the crowd chanting “MVP, MVP” in James’ favor as he embraced his wife, mother, and three children as they came onto the court. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and Abdul-Jabbar then joined James for a 10-minute ceremony, where Abdul-Jabbar held the game ball aloft before handing it to James.

“I just want to say, thank you to the Laker faithful. You guys are one of a kind,” an emotional James exclaimed to the Lakers’ supporters. “To be able to be in the presence of such a legend as great as Kareem, it’s very humbling. Please give a standing ovation to the Captain, please.”

Needing just 36 points to overtake Abdul-Jabbar’s record before the game, James ended the game with 38 points on 13-of-20 shooting, including 4-of-6 from 3.

The post LeBron James Tops NBA All-Time Scoring Charts appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James hit another milestone that no other player in NBA managed to reach. This one, however, is more about his work off the floor than on it.

According to Forbes, James is the first active NBA player in history to become a billionaire. Basketball great Michael Jordan also has the same status, but the former Chicago Bulls star achieved it more than a decade after finishing his playing career. 

James entered the billionaire realm thanks to $121.2 million in earnings in the past year. This included a $41.1 million salary for the 2021-22 NBA season from the Lakers as well as earnings from other business and endorsement deals. Only Paris Saint-Germain’s forward Lionel Messi took home more with yearly earnings of $130 million.

Becoming a billionaire was one of the goals that James talked about in the past. He even called it his “biggest milestone” in a 2014’s GQ interview.

“It’s my biggest milestone, obviously,” said James at the time. “I want to maximize my business. And if I happen to get it, if I happen to be a billion-dollar athlete, ho. Hip hip hooray! Oh, my God, I’m gonna be excited.”

James has a number of business ventures besides basketball. He invested in various brands, including rideshare company Lyft, restaurant chain Blaze Pizza, and the brand of home gym equipment Tonal. The 37-year-old player also has his own TV and movie production company SpringHill and owns a stake in Fenway Sports Group, the owners of Boston Red Sox and Premier League giants Liverpool.

The post LeBron James is the First Active NBA Player to Become a Billionaire According to Forbes appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The Los Angeles Lakers’ bid to repeat as NBA champions has come to an unceremonious end. Lakers suffered a 113-100 loss in a must-win Game 6 against the Phoenix Suns and bowed out from the playoffs in the first round.

The Suns were led by their star guard Devin Booker, who continued his strong postseason play by torching the Lakers with a 47-point performance. He had help from veteran Chris Paul, who didn’t have a strong scoring night (eight points) but managed to impact the game with 12 assists and strong defense.

The Lakers, on the other hand, were short-handed almost from the beginning. After spending less than five minutes on the court, All-Star Anthony Davis reinjured his ankle and was done for the night. LeBron James tried to do it all by himself from that point on, but his 29 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists didn’t do much to keep the Lakers alive.

The loss was especially tough on James, who not only missed out on a chance to win his fifth ring but also spoiled his perfect playoff first-round record. Prior to the 2020-21 postseason, James made the playoff 14 times and has never been eliminated in the first round.

“It doesn’t matter to me as far as not making it out of the first round,” said James about the record. “What matters to me is getting this team back healthy. Me not being able to be at my full strength throughout this series, that’s my main focus.”

Lakers are now looking towards a long offseason which they will use to become healthy and retool for another try in 2021-22.

In the meantime, the Suns will look to make the most out of their first playoff appearance since 2010. They are scheduled to face the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference semifinals.

The post Suns Eliminate Lakers, End LeBron James’ Perfect First-Round Record appeared first on SportzBonanza.

LeBron James has been ever-present for the Los Angeles Lakers this season, but his streak will come to an end in the upcoming game against the Sacramento Kings.

According to multiple reports, James is currently dealing with a left ankle sprain and didn’t even make the trip with his teammates to Sacramento. The injury, however, isn’t expected to affect the 36-year-old superstar’s appearance in the All-Star game in Atlanta over the weekend.

The news comes after James was listed as questionable in Tuesday’s game against the Phoenix Suns. He ended up playing, however, and spent a game-high 38 minutes on the floor while scoring 38 points in a 104-114 loss.

James had been reportedly experiencing issues with his ankle earlier in the season, but the discomfort wasn’t so bad that he had to sit out games.

After missing out on the MVP honors last season, LeBron James is considered to the favorite for the award in 2020-21. He is having an excellent individual season, currently averaging 25.8 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 7.8 assists per game.

James’s stellar performances are also key in the Lakers’ efforts to stay in the top three in the Western Conference. They are currently at a 24-13 record and 3.5 games behind the leading Utah Jazz despite a prolonged absence of some of their key players like superstar Anthony Davis.

The post LeBron James Has an Ankle Sprain But Expected to Play in the All-Star Game appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Back in 2010, LeBron James became a free agent for the first time in his career and decided to leave the Cleveland Cavaliers to join forces with Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh at Miami Heat. However, as it turns out, Heat was not James’ first choice.

According to influential American sports analyst and writer Bill Simmons, when James entered the free agency process 10 years ago, he favored the New York Knicks.

“From everyone that I’ve talked to in the know since then, it’s clear that the Knicks were the first choice,” said Simmons on his The Bill Simmons Podcast.

However, James changed his mind after he met with the Knicks’ brass that included owner James Dolan. Simmons explains that the Knicks came unprepared and that the meeting ended up being a “disaster.”

After that, James reportedly also considered staying with the Cavs or heading to Chicago Bulls, but eventually, chose Miami. The Heat offered him a chance to play with two other All-Stars, something that other organizations would have trouble pulling off.

Missing on James was just the beginning of New York Knicks’ failures in the free agency in the 2010s. The most recent was missing out on superstars Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, who rejected the Knicks and instead joined their cross-town rivals Brooklyn Nets.

The post LeBron James Reportedly Favored the Knicks Before Joining Heat in 2010 appeared first on SportzBonanza.

There is still no news about when the NBA might resume its activities, which sparked rumors that some players and executives are advocating canceling the rest of 2019/20 season. Los Angeles Lakers’ superstar LeBron James recently decided to express his disagreement with the idea on social media saying that “nobody should be canceling anything.”

According to James, he would want to finish the season “as soon as its safe,” adding that both he and his team are “ready” to go at any moment.

It isn’t hard to see why James is eager to resume the season, as his Lakers currently sit at the top of Western Conference and are among the favorites to win the championship. But, it remains uncertain whether he will get to fulfill his wish.

NBA suspended its season due to coronavirus in early March and is still to reveal its plans about the future. The league did allow the teams to open its facilities starting May 4th for workouts, which was perceived as positive step forward by many.

However, there are some teams that are not ready to jump in on the offer. Golden State Warriors’ head coach Steve Kerr recently told the media that his team is operating like the season won’t continue and are adopting “offseason” mentality. Oklahoma City Thunder’s general manager Sam Presti, on the other hand, said that his organization is still “evaluating” whether to open their facilities or not.

The post LeBron James Wants to Finish the 2019/20 Season “As Soon as It’s Safe” appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The debate about the greatest basketball player of all time is alive and well, with Detroit Pistons great Bill Lambier recently giving his take on the matter. According to Lambier, LeBron James should be considered the “GOAT” and not Michael Jordan.

Lambier recently made an appearance on ESPN’s First Take, where he talked about who deserves the title of the best basketball player of all time. While he recognized that

“I’m very vocal on this. I think LeBron is the best player who has ever played the game,” said Laimbeer. “He’s 6-foot-8, 285 pounds, runs like the wind, jumps out of the gym. … At the end of the day, I firmly believe he’s the best basketball player in the history of the game.”

Lambier acknowledged that Jordan is a more accomplished player, but thinks that doesn’t make him better than James.

“Now if you go by championships, obviously Michael Jordan has more championships. But I think LeBron in any generation would be doing what he’s doing right now all these years,” he added.

Bill Lambier is well familiar with Michael Jordan’s game, as he and the “Bad Boys” Pistons knocked out Jordan and Chicago Bulls three straight times in the playoffs between 1987 and 1990. In two out of those three seasons, Detroit went on to win the NBA title.

The post Pistons’ Great Bill Lambier: “LeBron James is the Best Basketball Player in The History of the Game” appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Los Angeles Lakers’ superstar LeBron James continues to write his name into history books. In Wednesday night’s 114-110 win against New Orleans Pelicans, James scored 29 points and became the fourth player in NBA history to reach the 33,000 career points mark.

James has now scored 33,008 points in his career, and only trails Kobe Bryant, Karl Malone, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on the all-time list.

James has established himself as a legitimate MVP candidate this season, leading his Lakers to the best record in the league at the moment with 16-2. The 34-year-old is currently averaging 25.8 points, 7.3 rebounds and league-leading 11.0 assists per game.

If he continues with this pace, LeBron James could also move up on the all-time assists leaders list before the season is over. James is currently at 10th place with 8,860 career assists, with Gary Payton sitting at nine with 8,966.

Earlier in the season, James reached another impressive mark when he became the first player to have a triple-double against every team in the league. He did this on November 20th against Oklahoma City Thunder, when he finished the evening with 25 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists.

The post LeBron James Becomes 4th Player in NBA History to Reach 33,000 Points Mark appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Los Angeles Lakers’ star LeBron James was known as some kind of an ironman throughout his NBA career, rarely being hurt and missing games with injuries. But it seems like things are a bit different now that he’s 34-year-old. James missed the previous 11 games due to a left groin injury, and according to his agent Rich Paul, he will be out for at least two more games.

According to Paul, James will miss the Lakers’ upcoming road trip, which will see them playing Oklahoma City Thunder and Houston Rockets, and will be re-evaluated in the coming day. If everything clears out, he might return just in time to face the Golden State Warriors on January 21st.

The Lakers struggled without LeBron James in the previous games, going 4-7 and suffering surprising losses to lottery teams like New York Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers. Still, it is unlikely that the coaching staff will rush him back to the court if he isn’t ready. James made progress in his rehab lately, taking part in team’s practices like half-court shooting and passing drills.

LeBron James played a total of 34 games in this season, and currently averages 27.3 points, 8.3 rebounds, 7.1 assists, and 1.3 steals per game.

The post LeBron James to Miss at Least Two More Games appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Los Angeles Lakers are not having the start of the season many fans imagined when LeBron James joined the team in the summer. Instead of getting back on the winning ways, Lakers have opened the 2018-19 NBA with three consecutive losses and look like they have a long way to go before becoming an NBA title contender once again.

Still, despite these defeats and other problems Lakers are facing with, LeBron James doesn’t intend to start panicking. Speaking with reporters after Monday’s overtime 142-143 loss to San Antonio Spurs, James said that he knows what he “got himself into” and that building a winning team in Los Angeles “is a process.”

“It’s not tough,“- said the 33-year-old. “I know what I got myself into. It’s a process. I get it. And it will be fine.”

“So, I didn’t come here thinking we were going to be blazing storms right out of the gate. It’s a process, and I understand that.“

James also said that he likes the direction Lakers are going in.

“We’re going to continue to get better,” – he added. “We’re going to continue to get better. I like the direction we’re going in. Obviously, it’s not resulting in the wins right now, but it’s such a long process.“

LeBron James joined the Los Angeles Lakers in July, signing a four-year, $154 million contract. Through three opening games of this NBA season, James has been averaging 27.3 points, 8.3 rebounds, 8.3 assists, and 1.3 steals.

The post LeBron James on Lakers’ 0-3 Start: “I Know What I Got Myself Into” appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James made history on Tuesday night, surpassing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s 38,387 career points to claim the top spot for the most career points in NBA history.

James achieved this feat in the third quarter of his team’s narrow 133-130 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday night when he made a 14-foot jump to surpass Abdul Jabbar’s record which has stood for nearly 40 years.

The game was brought to a halt after James’ record-breaking shot, with the crowd chanting “MVP, MVP” in James’ favor as he embraced his wife, mother, and three children as they came onto the court. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and Abdul-Jabbar then joined James for a 10-minute ceremony, where Abdul-Jabbar held the game ball aloft before handing it to James.

“I just want to say, thank you to the Laker faithful. You guys are one of a kind,” an emotional James exclaimed to the Lakers’ supporters. “To be able to be in the presence of such a legend as great as Kareem, it’s very humbling. Please give a standing ovation to the Captain, please.”

Needing just 36 points to overtake Abdul-Jabbar’s record before the game, James ended the game with 38 points on 13-of-20 shooting, including 4-of-6 from 3.

The post LeBron James Tops NBA All-Time Scoring Charts appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James hit another milestone that no other player in NBA managed to reach. This one, however, is more about his work off the floor than on it.

According to Forbes, James is the first active NBA player in history to become a billionaire. Basketball great Michael Jordan also has the same status, but the former Chicago Bulls star achieved it more than a decade after finishing his playing career. 

James entered the billionaire realm thanks to $121.2 million in earnings in the past year. This included a $41.1 million salary for the 2021-22 NBA season from the Lakers as well as earnings from other business and endorsement deals. Only Paris Saint-Germain’s forward Lionel Messi took home more with yearly earnings of $130 million.

Becoming a billionaire was one of the goals that James talked about in the past. He even called it his “biggest milestone” in a 2014’s GQ interview.

“It’s my biggest milestone, obviously,” said James at the time. “I want to maximize my business. And if I happen to get it, if I happen to be a billion-dollar athlete, ho. Hip hip hooray! Oh, my God, I’m gonna be excited.”

James has a number of business ventures besides basketball. He invested in various brands, including rideshare company Lyft, restaurant chain Blaze Pizza, and the brand of home gym equipment Tonal. The 37-year-old player also has his own TV and movie production company SpringHill and owns a stake in Fenway Sports Group, the owners of Boston Red Sox and Premier League giants Liverpool.

The post LeBron James is the First Active NBA Player to Become a Billionaire According to Forbes appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The Los Angeles Lakers’ bid to repeat as NBA champions has come to an unceremonious end. Lakers suffered a 113-100 loss in a must-win Game 6 against the Phoenix Suns and bowed out from the playoffs in the first round.

The Suns were led by their star guard Devin Booker, who continued his strong postseason play by torching the Lakers with a 47-point performance. He had help from veteran Chris Paul, who didn’t have a strong scoring night (eight points) but managed to impact the game with 12 assists and strong defense.

The Lakers, on the other hand, were short-handed almost from the beginning. After spending less than five minutes on the court, All-Star Anthony Davis reinjured his ankle and was done for the night. LeBron James tried to do it all by himself from that point on, but his 29 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists didn’t do much to keep the Lakers alive.

The loss was especially tough on James, who not only missed out on a chance to win his fifth ring but also spoiled his perfect playoff first-round record. Prior to the 2020-21 postseason, James made the playoff 14 times and has never been eliminated in the first round.

“It doesn’t matter to me as far as not making it out of the first round,” said James about the record. “What matters to me is getting this team back healthy. Me not being able to be at my full strength throughout this series, that’s my main focus.”

Lakers are now looking towards a long offseason which they will use to become healthy and retool for another try in 2021-22.

In the meantime, the Suns will look to make the most out of their first playoff appearance since 2010. They are scheduled to face the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference semifinals.

The post Suns Eliminate Lakers, End LeBron James’ Perfect First-Round Record appeared first on SportzBonanza.

LeBron James has been ever-present for the Los Angeles Lakers this season, but his streak will come to an end in the upcoming game against the Sacramento Kings.

According to multiple reports, James is currently dealing with a left ankle sprain and didn’t even make the trip with his teammates to Sacramento. The injury, however, isn’t expected to affect the 36-year-old superstar’s appearance in the All-Star game in Atlanta over the weekend.

The news comes after James was listed as questionable in Tuesday’s game against the Phoenix Suns. He ended up playing, however, and spent a game-high 38 minutes on the floor while scoring 38 points in a 104-114 loss.

James had been reportedly experiencing issues with his ankle earlier in the season, but the discomfort wasn’t so bad that he had to sit out games.

After missing out on the MVP honors last season, LeBron James is considered to the favorite for the award in 2020-21. He is having an excellent individual season, currently averaging 25.8 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 7.8 assists per game.

James’s stellar performances are also key in the Lakers’ efforts to stay in the top three in the Western Conference. They are currently at a 24-13 record and 3.5 games behind the leading Utah Jazz despite a prolonged absence of some of their key players like superstar Anthony Davis.

The post LeBron James Has an Ankle Sprain But Expected to Play in the All-Star Game appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Back in 2010, LeBron James became a free agent for the first time in his career and decided to leave the Cleveland Cavaliers to join forces with Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh at Miami Heat. However, as it turns out, Heat was not James’ first choice.

According to influential American sports analyst and writer Bill Simmons, when James entered the free agency process 10 years ago, he favored the New York Knicks.

“From everyone that I’ve talked to in the know since then, it’s clear that the Knicks were the first choice,” said Simmons on his The Bill Simmons Podcast.

However, James changed his mind after he met with the Knicks’ brass that included owner James Dolan. Simmons explains that the Knicks came unprepared and that the meeting ended up being a “disaster.”

After that, James reportedly also considered staying with the Cavs or heading to Chicago Bulls, but eventually, chose Miami. The Heat offered him a chance to play with two other All-Stars, something that other organizations would have trouble pulling off.

Missing on James was just the beginning of New York Knicks’ failures in the free agency in the 2010s. The most recent was missing out on superstars Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, who rejected the Knicks and instead joined their cross-town rivals Brooklyn Nets.

The post LeBron James Reportedly Favored the Knicks Before Joining Heat in 2010 appeared first on SportzBonanza.

There is still no news about when the NBA might resume its activities, which sparked rumors that some players and executives are advocating canceling the rest of 2019/20 season. Los Angeles Lakers’ superstar LeBron James recently decided to express his disagreement with the idea on social media saying that “nobody should be canceling anything.”

According to James, he would want to finish the season “as soon as its safe,” adding that both he and his team are “ready” to go at any moment.

It isn’t hard to see why James is eager to resume the season, as his Lakers currently sit at the top of Western Conference and are among the favorites to win the championship. But, it remains uncertain whether he will get to fulfill his wish.

NBA suspended its season due to coronavirus in early March and is still to reveal its plans about the future. The league did allow the teams to open its facilities starting May 4th for workouts, which was perceived as positive step forward by many.

However, there are some teams that are not ready to jump in on the offer. Golden State Warriors’ head coach Steve Kerr recently told the media that his team is operating like the season won’t continue and are adopting “offseason” mentality. Oklahoma City Thunder’s general manager Sam Presti, on the other hand, said that his organization is still “evaluating” whether to open their facilities or not.

The post LeBron James Wants to Finish the 2019/20 Season “As Soon as It’s Safe” appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The debate about the greatest basketball player of all time is alive and well, with Detroit Pistons great Bill Lambier recently giving his take on the matter. According to Lambier, LeBron James should be considered the “GOAT” and not Michael Jordan.

Lambier recently made an appearance on ESPN’s First Take, where he talked about who deserves the title of the best basketball player of all time. While he recognized that

“I’m very vocal on this. I think LeBron is the best player who has ever played the game,” said Laimbeer. “He’s 6-foot-8, 285 pounds, runs like the wind, jumps out of the gym. … At the end of the day, I firmly believe he’s the best basketball player in the history of the game.”

Lambier acknowledged that Jordan is a more accomplished player, but thinks that doesn’t make him better than James.

“Now if you go by championships, obviously Michael Jordan has more championships. But I think LeBron in any generation would be doing what he’s doing right now all these years,” he added.

Bill Lambier is well familiar with Michael Jordan’s game, as he and the “Bad Boys” Pistons knocked out Jordan and Chicago Bulls three straight times in the playoffs between 1987 and 1990. In two out of those three seasons, Detroit went on to win the NBA title.

The post Pistons’ Great Bill Lambier: “LeBron James is the Best Basketball Player in The History of the Game” appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Los Angeles Lakers’ superstar LeBron James continues to write his name into history books. In Wednesday night’s 114-110 win against New Orleans Pelicans, James scored 29 points and became the fourth player in NBA history to reach the 33,000 career points mark.

James has now scored 33,008 points in his career, and only trails Kobe Bryant, Karl Malone, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on the all-time list.

James has established himself as a legitimate MVP candidate this season, leading his Lakers to the best record in the league at the moment with 16-2. The 34-year-old is currently averaging 25.8 points, 7.3 rebounds and league-leading 11.0 assists per game.

If he continues with this pace, LeBron James could also move up on the all-time assists leaders list before the season is over. James is currently at 10th place with 8,860 career assists, with Gary Payton sitting at nine with 8,966.

Earlier in the season, James reached another impressive mark when he became the first player to have a triple-double against every team in the league. He did this on November 20th against Oklahoma City Thunder, when he finished the evening with 25 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists.

The post LeBron James Becomes 4th Player in NBA History to Reach 33,000 Points Mark appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Los Angeles Lakers’ star LeBron James was known as some kind of an ironman throughout his NBA career, rarely being hurt and missing games with injuries. But it seems like things are a bit different now that he’s 34-year-old. James missed the previous 11 games due to a left groin injury, and according to his agent Rich Paul, he will be out for at least two more games.

According to Paul, James will miss the Lakers’ upcoming road trip, which will see them playing Oklahoma City Thunder and Houston Rockets, and will be re-evaluated in the coming day. If everything clears out, he might return just in time to face the Golden State Warriors on January 21st.

The Lakers struggled without LeBron James in the previous games, going 4-7 and suffering surprising losses to lottery teams like New York Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers. Still, it is unlikely that the coaching staff will rush him back to the court if he isn’t ready. James made progress in his rehab lately, taking part in team’s practices like half-court shooting and passing drills.

LeBron James played a total of 34 games in this season, and currently averages 27.3 points, 8.3 rebounds, 7.1 assists, and 1.3 steals per game.

The post LeBron James to Miss at Least Two More Games appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Los Angeles Lakers are not having the start of the season many fans imagined when LeBron James joined the team in the summer. Instead of getting back on the winning ways, Lakers have opened the 2018-19 NBA with three consecutive losses and look like they have a long way to go before becoming an NBA title contender once again.

Still, despite these defeats and other problems Lakers are facing with, LeBron James doesn’t intend to start panicking. Speaking with reporters after Monday’s overtime 142-143 loss to San Antonio Spurs, James said that he knows what he “got himself into” and that building a winning team in Los Angeles “is a process.”

“It’s not tough,“- said the 33-year-old. “I know what I got myself into. It’s a process. I get it. And it will be fine.”

“So, I didn’t come here thinking we were going to be blazing storms right out of the gate. It’s a process, and I understand that.“

James also said that he likes the direction Lakers are going in.

“We’re going to continue to get better,” – he added. “We’re going to continue to get better. I like the direction we’re going in. Obviously, it’s not resulting in the wins right now, but it’s such a long process.“

LeBron James joined the Los Angeles Lakers in July, signing a four-year, $154 million contract. Through three opening games of this NBA season, James has been averaging 27.3 points, 8.3 rebounds, 8.3 assists, and 1.3 steals.

The post LeBron James on Lakers’ 0-3 Start: “I Know What I Got Myself Into” appeared first on SportzBonanza.