LeBron James Breaks NBA All-Time Field Goals Record

Superstar LeBron James has made history again in the NBA. The Los Angeles Lakers player officially became the all-time field goal leader in the National Basketball Association, surpassing the previous record held by basketball legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar that stood for nearly 40 years.

This record was set when the Lakers faced the Denver Nuggets in Denver on Friday, March 6, 2026. During that game, LeBron scored his 15,838th career field goal with a baseline turnaround jump shot over Nuggets defender Zeke Nnaji, with 12.3 seconds remaining in the first quarter.

That shot also marked his third field goal of the game, pushing him past Abdul-Jabbar's previous record of 15,837 field goals.

New Milestone in a Legendary Career

This achievement adds to the extensive list of individual records LeBron James has set during his over two-decade NBA career.

Previously, he also made history as the league's all-time leading scorer after surpassing Abdul-Jabbar on February 7, 2023.

That scoring record came on a Free-throw line area step-back jump shot. Since then, LeBron's total points have continued to climb, now exceeding 43,000 points in his career.

Lakers coach JJ Redick described LeBron's career journey with a unique analogy.

"I'm a huge Bruce Springsteen fan. His early albums were incredibly energizing. There was a Youthful spirit there," Redick said before the game.

He added that just like Springsteen's evolving catalog of work, James' list of greatest achievements has continued growing throughout his career.

Consistency Since NBA Debut

This field Goal Record reflects LeBron's extraordinary consistency since his first NBA appearance.

He scored his first field goal during his debut with the Cleveland Cavaliers against the Sacramento Kings on October 29, 2003.

At that time, the 18-year-old LeBron made a mid-range baseline jumper just minutes after the game started.

Since that moment, his field goal count has steadily increased season after season.

Career Milestones

LeBron's journey to accumulating thousands of field goals progressed gradually through different phases of his career.

He reached 2,500 field goals in December 2006 during a Cavaliers game against the Orlando Magic, completing the milestone with a driving layup.

Four years later in 2010, he surpassed 5,000 field goals against the Charlotte Bobcats—the former name of the Charlotte Hornets. During this period, LeBron was at his peak, winning consecutive league MVP awards.

His productivity continued with the Miami Heat. In 2013, he exceeded 7,500 field goals during a game against the Chicago Bulls.

His time in Miami also marked a golden era in his career, with two NBA Championship titles in 2012 and 2013.

The next milestone came in January 2017 when LeBron reached 10,000 field goals against the Phoenix Suns.

This achievement placed him among an elite group of NBA players to reach that number in league history.

Most players who surpassed that mark are now in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, including legends like Karl Malone, Wilt Chamberlain, Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and Tim Duncan.

Remaining Productive in Veteran Years

In 2020, LeBron reached 12,500 field goals when the Lakers faced the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Four years later in 2024, he achieved another milestone by reaching 15,000 field goals against the Utah Jazz.

At that time, he became the second player in NBA history to reach that mark after Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

LeBron's consistency is also reflected in his career average of 9.9 field goals per game.

One of his most impressive performances came on November 3, 2017, when the Cavaliers defeated the Washington Wizards 130-122. In that game, LeBron scored 57 points with 23 field goals on 34 attempts.

He also scored 61 points with 22 field goals while playing for the Miami Heat in a 2014 victory over the Bobcats.

Approaching Other Records

Beyond the field goal record, LeBron is now nearing another prestigious statistical milestone.

He currently ranks second on the NBA's all-time games played list with 1,606 games.

LeBron trails Robert Parish's record of 1,611 games by just five appearances.

If he continues playing for the Lakers, he could break that record on March 16 when his team is scheduled to face the Houston Rockets.