LeBron James Breaks Michael Jordan’s Record – But Took Him Seven Extra Seasons [WATCH]

LeBron James surpassed Michael Jordan’s long-standing NBA record for 30-point games during the Los Angeles Lakers’ 119-102 victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Friday night.

A special night for @KingJames

He passes the great Michael Jordan for the most 30+ point games in @NBA history pic.twitter.com/MwvIRznkms

— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) January 4, 2025

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The historic moment came with a turnaround jumper at the 5:58 mark in the fourth quarter, marking James’s 563rd 30-point game in the regular season.

James, who achieved the feat in his 1,523rd game over 22 seasons, broke the record Jordan set in 2003, which the Chicago Bulls legend accomplished in 1,072 games across 15 seasons.

BRON PASSES MJ FOR MOST 30-POINT GAMES IN NBA HISTORY pic.twitter.com/N0AoX2Q4Uo

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) January 4, 2025

“It’s very humbling,” James said after the game. “Anytime I’m mentioned with any of the greats, and arguably the greatest ever to play the game, super-cool. It’s someone I idolized in my childhood, and I wear 23 because of him. So to know that I can sit here and be in the room or in the conversation or whatever it is, you mention MJ, it’s like super-duper dope for me, being a kid where I’m from.”

LeBron James speaks about passing Michael Jordan in career 30-point games and doing it on a fadeaway jumper: “Just two masters of their craft” pic.twitter.com/MZ88uQv2qx

— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) January 4, 2025

James, who turned 40 last week, is among the few active players who personally witnessed Jordan’s prime years with the Chicago Bulls in the 1990s.

Growing up in Akron, Ohio, James studied Jordan’s game and drew inspiration from the six-time NBA champion, calling him “the lightning in a bottle for me” and an “inspiration.”

Following the game, the Lakers celebrated James’s milestone in the locker room.

Anthony Davis, a Chicago native and teammate of James, added a lighthearted comment while acknowledging the accomplishment.

“It bothers me,” Davis joked. “But it took him seven more seasons. … No, actually, growing up, I was more No. 1 LeBron. That was my era. So that’s obviously a hell of an accomplishment. I think he’s probably No. 1 in everything at this point.”

Anthony Davis razzes LeBron James for passing Michael Jordan for the most career 30-point games in NBA history: “… It took him seven more seasons” pic.twitter.com/OJhoeqI8y6

— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) January 4, 2025

James scored his final points with fadeaway jumpers reminiscent of Jordan’s signature midrange shot.

LeBron becomes the NBA’s all-time leader in 30+ point games in the @Lakers W

30 PTS | 13-20 FGM | 8 AST pic.twitter.com/MWU1TlxlDA

— NBA (@NBA) January 4, 2025

Reflecting on the technique, James said he worked for years to perfect his own variation of the fadeaway, often against the advice of his youth coaches.

“(Jordan) was more of a left-shoulder fadeaway guy,” James explained. “I kind of go the opposite way. But just two masters of their craft putting in work and work and work to the point where it’s kind of become unguardable. It just works. It’s work and dedication.”

In addition to breaking Jordan’s 30-point record, James surpassed Dirk Nowitzki for the fourth-most regular-season games played in NBA history with 1,523. He already holds the record for most postseason games played (287) in NBA history.

James continues to excel in his 22nd season, showing no signs of slowing down. Just one night earlier, he scored 38 points against the Portland Trail Blazers, tying Jordan’s record for 30-point games.

During that performance, James hit seven 3-pointers and became the third player to score 30 points in an NBA game after turning 40, a feat Jordan accomplished four times and Nowitzki once.

“It’s just another thing that he’s done in his career, and certainly speaks to his greatness and longevity,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said. “That stretch where he hit two fadeaways and a 3 gave us the cushion we needed and control of the game.”

James, who became the NBA’s career scoring leader last season, continues to shatter longevity records.

We did this in 450 less games https://t.co/6NiCfC8ZQj pic.twitter.com/eVZ5VtGHK0

— D (@Yeaderrr) January 4, 2025

He has scored at least 10 points in 1,253 consecutive games, a streak that began 18 years ago and eclipses Jordan’s record of 866 consecutive games set between 1986 and 2001.

As James continues to rewrite the record books, his place among the NBA’s all-time greats remains firmly cemented.

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