How Will LeBron James Break the All-Time NBA Points Record?

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LeBron James #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives to the basket against the Sacramento Kings on January 07, 2023. Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images/AFP

NBA Pick: LeBron to break the record with a 2-point shot (-275) at BetOnline (visit our BetOnline Review)

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LeBron James is closing in on the NBA’s all-time point record. LeBron is currently sitting at 38,024 points scored.

Let’s look at ways that you can turn LeBron’s history-making shot into a winning NBA pick.

Before the season, we took a look at where we expected based on NBA odds LeBron James to break this record.

Let’s revisit our predictions to find a winning NBA pick. 


How Kareem Did It

Where will LeBron James break the NBA’s all-time scoring record? 

LeBron James is closing in on Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to break the all-time scoring record. LeBron James is at 38,024 points. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar currently holds the record at 38,387 points scored. 

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar started his NBA career as a member of the Milwaukee Bucks. Abdul-Jabbar was drafted in 1969. He played six years for the Bucks before he was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers. Kareem retired in 1989 as the NBA’s all-time leading scorer. 

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar finished with an average of 24.6 points per game. This average was depressed by his long playing career. His later years where he was not the focal point of his offense lowered his career average.

For example, in his last 3 years on the Lakers, he averaged 17, 14, and 10 points per game, after averaging more than 30 points per game in his prime. 

Record Within Reach Now

Last night, LeBron James became the second player in history to score 38,000 points. As has been a problem with his late career though, it happened in a loss. LeBron has been putting up impressive stats, but they haven’t always translated to wins.

However, looking at the historical achievement, James is now less than 400 points away from passing Abdul-Jabbar as the NBA’s all-time leading scorer

LeBron James has had a fantastic career. He was as hyped as a player could be coming out of high school. Probably the most impressive achievement of his career is exceeding the media’s expectations. He has done a great job navigating the spotlight and avoiding the pitfalls of fame and fortune. 

On the Road Is a Definite Maybe

In this article, I said the best opportunity for LeBron to break the record would be on the road. On January 28th, the Lakers will go on a road trip that lasts until February 4th. January 31st against the New York Knicks was the night that I circled for LeBron to break the record. Playing in Madison Square Garden seems like a place he would enjoy breaking the record. 

The Lakers’ 5-game road trip represents the best spot for him to break the record. If he doesn’t get it there, they will still be back on the road on February 11th when they take on the Golden State Warriors, and also on February 13th when they take on the Portland Trail Blazers. If LeBron doesn’t break the record in New York, maybe he wants to do it in front of his rival, Steph Curry. 

However, this isn’t a surefire bet. If LeBron were to continue his average of 29 points per game, it would actually put him on pace to break the record at home against the Milwaukee Bucks on February 9th. So while I still do like the “break the record on the road” wager, it could plausibly happen at home.  

Currently, at BetOnline, you can bet on how LeBron will break the record:

  • A two-point shot is listed at (-275)
  • A free throw is (+325)
  • A three-point shot is (+525)

Although the juice is really high on the two-point shot, I think that is by far the best selection. 

Lebron Has All the Tools

LeBron’s ability to get to the rim has stayed with him even as he has continued to age. LeBron can blow by his man and is one of the best at finishing in traffic due to his size and strength. LeBron has also always had a flair for the dramatic and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him break the record with a slam dunk. 

The markets listed in the earlier article are not available currently, but if you can find them, I still do like LeBron to break the record on the road, and LeBron to break the record at Madison Square Garden. These numbers have been flashing on and off the board so it will take a bit of detective work to find when the books post them. But when they do, you can be ready to fire. 

Our best bet of the day at top-rated sportsbooks is for LeBron James to break the record on a two-point shot.

It is too bad they don’t offer the bet that it will be a slam dunk that breaks the record because I think that bet would be a slam dunk! 

NBA Pick: LeBron to break the record with a 2-point shot (-275) at BetOnline (visit our BetOnline Review)

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LeBron to break the record with a 2-point shot (-275)
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*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.