When Will LeBron James Set the NBA All-Time Scoring Record?
King James is about to take one of the NBA’s most hallowed records from another legendary Laker.
LeBron James is within 89 points of breaking Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s all-time scoring mark of 38,387 points, and it’ll happen – barring injury – this month.
Abdul Jabbar had been No. 1 on the career points list since April 5, 1984, when the 37-year-old broke the mark previously held by Wilt Chamberlain.
The question now is: When (not if) will LeBron be crowned and take over the throne as the league’s scoring king?
Oddsmakers have weighed in and of course, the action is heating. There are two clear favorite upcoming Lakers matchups that bettors like and we’ll get to those in a minute.
First, the odds we’re using are from FanDuel Sportsbook, one of the great gambling options available in your state including PointsBet Sportsbook and more.
Also, be sure to check out our guide to online casinos, from Pennsylvania to New Jersey. You can place all your NBA future bets there and elsewhere so shop around and find the best value for you.
OK, now back to LeBron.
Looks like at the latest odds his 20-year ascension to the top continues Thursday, Feb. 2, 2023, when the 38-year-old James and the Lakers play the Pacers on the road.
But unless you think LeBron’s going to score 89 in that game – hey Wilt scored 100 once – the record is safe. Heh-heh. The record is also not going to fall against the Pelicans two nights later (Feb. 4, 2023) – unless James somehow averages 44.5 ppg over those two games. Not a chance. So, then …
In Which Game Will LeBron James Score his 38,388th Regular Season Point?
@ IND (2nd Feb) +20000
@ NOP (4th Feb) +4800
vs OKC (7th Feb) +170
vs MIL (9th Feb) -120
@ GSW (11th Feb) +360
@ POR (13th Feb) +2600
vs NOP (15th Feb) +4200
vs GSW (23rd Feb)+6000
@ DAL (26th Feb)+20000
@ MEM (28th Feb)+20000
@ OKC (1st Mar)+20000
Any Other Game +3400
As you can see, there are two clear favorites – the home games against Oklahoma City (Feb. 7) and Milwaukee (Feb. 9), and then the third betting choice, at Golden State (Feb. 11) – and here’s why:
James has averaged 30.2 ppg this season so the math tells you that if he averages 29.7 points per game over his next three games, he'll break the mark against the Thunder. I don’t believe that’s happening. The Warriors on Feb. 11 seems like a choice to me.
But that brings us to the smart betting choice: the Feb. 9 home game against Milwaukee. James would need to average only 22.25 ppg over the next four games to do it. Sounds reasonable. But the biggest reason to go with this choice before the odds plummet: You don’t think the NBA wouldn’t like to see LeBron become scoring king by battling the Bucks and his opposing All-Star team captain Giannis Antetokounmpo in a nationally-televised showdown days before the All-Star Game?
Get real.
