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Tag: LeBron James

  • ‘History maker’ LeBron breaks  NBA 50,000 scoring record

    ‘History maker’ LeBron breaks  NBA 50,000 scoring record

    LeBron James became the first player in NBA history to score 50,000 career points on Tuesday, extending his lead as the league’s all-time record scorer by reaching a milestone tally that may never be surpassed.

    The Los Angeles Lakers superstar went into the game against the New Orleans Pelicans with 49,999 regular and postseason points after a 17-point performance in Sunday’s win over the Los Angeles Clippers.

    It did not take long for the 40-year-old NBA icon to get the solitary point needed to reach the 50,000-point barrier.

    James, who is in dazzling form in the 22nd season of a glittering career, gathered a pass from Luka Doncic and unfurled a sublime 25-foot three-pointer to move to 50,002 points with the Crypto.com Arena crowd roaring their acclaim.

    James finished with 34 points, eight rebounds and six assists while Doncic delivered another impressive display with 30 points and 15 assists as the Lakers went on to win 136-115 – their seventh straight victory.

     “I’m not going to sugar-coat it – it’s a hell of a lot of points,” James said afterwards when asked about his 50,000-point scoring milestone.

     “I’m super blessed to be able to put up that many points in my career in the best league in the world and against the best players in the world – it’s pretty special.”

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    James had passed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s previous all-time regular-season scoring record of 38,387 points in 2023 – itself a record that had stood for 39 years.

    James is now nearly 6,000 points clear of Abdul-Jabbar’s total career points tally of 44,149, with Karl Malone third (41,689 points) and the late Kobe Bryant fourth with 39,283 points.

    Michael Jordan is fifth on the all-time scoring list with 38,279.

    Among active NBA players, only Kevin Durant with just over 35,000 points – roughly 15,000 points behind James – makes the top 10.

    Lakers legend Earvin Magic Johnson led the tributes to James’ achievement.

     “Congratulations to the King LeBron James for becoming the only player in NBA history to score 50,000 regular season and playoff points!” Johnson wrote on X.

    James’ scoring milestone on Tuesday came hours after he clinched another NBA record after being named as Western Conference Player of the Month for February – making him the oldest player to win a player of the month award.

    James was instrumental in leading the Lakers to a 10-2 record in February, averaging 29.3 points, 10.5 rebounds and 6.9 assists.

  • LeBron James breaks Jordan’s record, becomes oldest player to score 40 points

    LeBron James breaks Jordan’s record, becomes oldest player to score 40 points

    At 40, LeBron James is showing no signs of slowing down. The Los Angeles Lakers star recorded 42 points, 17 rebounds, and eight assists on Thursday in a 120-112 win over the Golden State Warriors, making him the oldest player in NBA history to score 40 points, while also being the youngest to do so.

    The only other player to score 40 at 40: Michael Jordan, the object of James’ endless comparison.

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    James’ performance included 6-of-9 shooting from 3-point range, including a stretch of three straight 3-pointers that ended with him pulling up from the logo.

    Curry joined James in recording a timeless performance, as the NBA’s 3-point king finished with 37 points after trying to get the Warriors back in it during the second half.

  • LeBron James, Bronny make history as first father-son teammates in NBA history

    LeBron James, Bronny make history as first father-son teammates in NBA history

    LeBron James and Bronny James have made NBA history after both playing for the Los Angeles Lakers against the Phoenix Suns.

    The pair became the first father-son duo ever to feature together in a game for the same NBA team during Sunday night’s pre-season contest at Acrisure Arena in California.

    LeBron, who turns 40 in December, started for the Lakers in their second pre-season game after sitting out Saturday’s 124-107 defeat by the Minnesota Timberwolves, while Bronny – a rookie drafted by the Lakers in June with the 55th pick out of USC – came in off the bench early in the second quarter to share the historic moment with his dad on the occasion of his 20th birthday.

    James Sr ended up with 19 points, five rebounds and four assists as he played 16 minutes of a 118-114 loss to the Suns, while Bronny was held scoreless as he claimed two rebounds in 13 minutes on the court.

    After the game, LeBron, an NBA icon, the league’s all-time leading scorer and record 20-time All-Star set to enter his 22nd season, took to X and said: “Wow that was surreal.”

    Speaking to reporters, he said: “It’s pretty cool for the both of us, and especially for our family. It’s definitely a moment that I will never forget.

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    “For a father, it means everything. For someone who didn’t have that growing up, to be able to have that influence on your kids and have that influence on your son, be able to have moments with your son — and the ultimate, to be able to work with your son — that’s one of the greatest things that a father could ever hope for or wish for.”

    Bronny said: “I was pretty psyched for that. I’m always thinking about, ‘That’s my dad!’, because that’s literally my dad. But when I’m playing, he’s just my teammate. That’s all.”

    The duo will hope to share the court again when JJ Redick’s Lakers continue their pre-season preparations against the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday, with two games against the Golden State Warriors sandwiched between another meeting with the Suns next week.

  • LeBron excited  ahead of 22nd  NBA season

    LeBron excited  ahead of 22nd  NBA season

    LeBron James said he has nothing left to prove on the basketball court but is still excited about the upcoming NBA season, his 22nd  overall and first playing alongside his teenage son Bronny.

    The Los Angeles Lakers forward, a four-time NBA champion and the league’s all-time leading scorer, powered Team USA to the gold medal at the Paris Games this summer for his third Olympic title.

    “Is there anything left for me to accomplish as a basketball player? No,” he told reporters at the first day of Lakers training camp on Tuesday.

    “Everything else is extra credit. I’ll take it though. I love it. I love what I do. But I’ve got everything.”

    James this season will realize his dream of playing with his 19-year-old son Bronny, who the Lakers selected with the 55th  pick of this year’s NBA draft.

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    The elder James, who turns 40 in December, said it was “amazing” to share the floor with his son during Tuesday’s practice.

    The Jameses will be playing under first time head coach JJ Redick, although LeBron said he will be “an extension of the coaching staff on the floor.”

    “I’m going to lead by example,” he said.

    “I’m going to lead with my voice. My voice is very commanding.”

    LeBron said there is plenty for the Lakers to improve on after they suffered a first-round playoff defeat at the hands of the Denver Nuggets last season, singling out the need to be better in transition defense.

    “We have to hold each other accountable, help each other, demand more out of each other,” he said when asked what it would take for the Lakers to be a top five defense in the league.

    The Lakers host the Minnesota Timberwolves in their regular season opener on Oct. 17.

  • LeBron James named  Team USA flag bearer for Paris Olympics

    LeBron James named  Team USA flag bearer for Paris Olympics

    LeBron James, the NBA’s all-time leading points scorer, will be the male flag bearer for Team USA at the Paris Olympics, the USOPC has announced.

    James, 39, was picked by his fellow US Olympians for Friday’s ceremony on the river Seine. The female flag bearer will be announced today.

     “It’s an incredible honour to represent the United States on this global stage, especially in a moment that can bring the whole world together,” Los Angeles Lakers power forward James said in a statement from the USOPC.

     “For a kid from Akron, this responsibility means everything to not only myself, but to my family, all the kids in my hometown, my teammates, fellow Olympians and so many people across the country with big aspirations.

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     “Sports have the power to bring us all together, and I’m proud to be a part of this important moment.”

    The ceremony on the Seine will be the first time a Summer Olympics has opened outside the main stadium.

    James, an Olympic gold medallist in 2008 and 2012, is not the only NBA star set to bear the flag for his country in Paris.

    Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks, a two-time NBA Most Valuable Player and league champion in 2021, will perform the role for Greece.

  • LeBron James is first to hit 30,000 points

    LeBron James is first to hit 30,000 points

     

    LeBron James had yet another memorable night in a Cleveland Cavaliers jersey on Tuesday night as he became the first player to reach 30,000 points, 8,000 rebounds and 8,000 assists.

    The 14-time NBA All-Star also finished the calendar month by averaging a triple-double for the first time in his career.

    James, 33, now has 12 triple-doubles this season and 67 during his incredible 15 years in the NBA.

    A triple-double is defined as a performance in which a player accumulates a double digit number total in three of five statistical categories — points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocked shots in a game.

    The Brooklyn Nets failed to stop King James, as he likes to be known, as the legendary forward ran riot on his home court in Ohio during Cleveland’s 129-123 win at the Quicken Loans Arena.

    James said of his incredible achievement: ‘Scoring has always been last for me.

    ‘I’ve never looked at myself as a scorer. But to know the history of the game and seeing the guys that put up triple-doubles on a regular (basis) from Jason Kidd to Magic Johnson to Oscar Robertson to Russell Westbrook, you can throw my name in there as well.

    ‘With the long list of so many great players that have come through this league, in the history of this league, for me to be the only (person) in a category, I think it’s pretty cool,’ James said. ‘It’s pretty cool.’

    He also wrote on Instagram: ‘It’s just surreal!! Knowing where I come from (the bottom). To accomplish a feat never done before, in the league I grew up only dreaming that I could be apart of. WOW!!’

    James also became the first frontcourt player and the 11th overall in league history to reach 8,000 assists.

    He also stole the show at the NBA All-Star game as his Team LeBron side beat Team Stephen in Los Angeles 148-145 and he was named MVP.

  • Cristiano Ronaldo ‘earns £310,000 per Instagram post’

    Cristiano Ronaldo ‘earns £310,000 per Instagram post’

     

    The power of social media has been highlighted by a new report which claims each of Cristiano Ronaldo’s Instagram posts earns him £310,000.

    A study by Instagram schedulers Hopper puts the Real Madrid’s influence third in their top-10 earners list, behind only singer Selena Gomez and Kim Kardashian.

    Ronaldo, who boasts a following of 106million on the social network, is a prolific contributor – regularly adding multiple images each day of his excursions around the world.

    And Hopper says that every time he does so, he adds a significant chunk to his already considerable riches.

    Ronaldo is one of only two sportsmen in the top 10.

    Basketball sensation LeBron James sits in 10th with each of his posts apparently earning him £93,000.

    He and Ronaldo are the only two men on the list, with reality TV family the Kardashians dominating.

    As well as Kim, Kourtney and Khloe Kardashian and Kendall and Kyle Jenner all occupy places in the top seven.

    The rest of the line-up is made up by Cara Delevingne and Gigi Hadid. Below is the Hopper report top 10:

    1 Selena Gomez – 122 million followers – £425,000 per post

    2 Kim Kardashian – 100 million followers –  £387,000 per post

    3 Cristiano Ronaldo – 104 million followers – £310,000 per post

    4 Kylie Jenner – 95 million followers – £310,000 per post

    5 Kendall Jenner – 81.7 million followers – £286,000 per post

    6 Khloe Kardashian – 68 million followers – £193,000 per post

    7 Kourtney Kardashian – 57.8 million followers – £193,000 per post

    8 Cara Delevingne – 40.4 million followers – £116,000 per post

    9 Gigi Hadid 34.7 million followers – £93,000 per post

    10 Lebron James – 30.7 million followers – £93,000 per post

  • Ronaldo named world’s most famous athlete

    Ronaldo named world’s most famous athlete

     

    Cristiano Ronaldo is the most famous athlete in the world, according to a study by broadcaster ESPN.

    The Real Madrid forward has beaten off competition from NBA superstar LeBron James and arch-nemesis Lionel Messi to sit top of the rankings, which are compiled using a tailored algorithm.

    Eight British athletes make the top 100 of the ESPN World Fame 100, with Theo Walcott sitting in 79th – five ahead of 84th-placed Lewis Hamilton.

    And stars from the world of football, golf, basketball, cricket, NFL, tennis, athletics and many other sports feature.

    ESPN director of analytics Ben Alamar came up with the formula which controls the outcome of the list, with earnings, social media influence and Google search popularity all taken into account.

    Joining Ronaldo, James and Messi in the top 10 are tennis ace Roger Federer, veteran golfer Phil Mickelson, Brazilian icon Neymar, world-record sprinter Usain Bolt, another NBA star in the shape of Kevin Durant and multiple Grand Slam champion Rafa Nadal.

    In at 10, with the order finalised before his recent arrest on DUI charges in Florida, is Tiger Woods.

    Footballers dominate the World Fame 100, with the sport claiming 38 of the positions available.

    Of those 38, almost a third ply their trade in the Premier League – including Zlatan Ibrahimovic (26), Alexis Sanchez (29) and Wayne Rooney (31).

    The most expensive player ever to play the game, Paul Pogba – himself a prolific presence on Twitter and Instagram – comes in at 40, behind Japanese tennis star Kei Nishikori (20) and two Indian cricketers in Virat Kohli and Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

    There are representatives of table tennis, badminton, swimming, gymnastics, MMA, motorsport and NFL but no rugby players and only one boxer – Manny Pacquaio. Conor McGregor, the UFC fighter who may well move into the boxing ring to fight Floyd Mayweather Jnr, is ranked 25th.

    Speaking of Mayweather, the algorithm does not take into account ‘retired’ athletes, hence the absence of the man they call ‘Money’ from this list.

    Another UFC competitor, Ronda Rousey, is the highest-placed woman on the list at 16th. She leads a total of eight women, four of whom are tennis players.

  • Chimamanda Adichie makes top 50 world leaders list

    Nigerian author, Chimamanda Adichie has been named amongst the 50 greatest world leaders in the 2017 Fortune magazine ranking.

    The ‘Half of a yellow sun’ writer was ranked at number 42 on the list with Chicago Cubs baseball team president Theo Epstein at number one.

    http://fortune.com/worlds-greatest-leaders/chimamanda-adichie-42/

    Business mogul Jack Ma of AliBaba group of companies appears at number two and Catholic leader Pope Francis is in third place for his social integration projects as a clergy.

    Melinda Gates is number four in recognition of the impact of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation which she co-chairs.

    The list also features celebrated basketball player, LeBron James at 11, comedienne Samantha Bee at 19.

    Colombian music superstar Shakira is at 27 for her philanthropic work through her Pies Descalzos (Barefoot) school foundation.

    Just outside of the top five is Ava DuVernay recognized for her directorial work in Academy Award winning film, Selma and her forthcoming Disney adaptation, A Wrinkle in Time.

    Chance the Rapper checks in at number 46, the 23-year-old hip-hop star is commended for his willingness to remain an independent artist and release his music for free and his education philanthropy in his Illinois, Chicago hometown.

    Adichie’s book ‘Americanah’ recently won the “One Book, One New York” campaign from the New York City Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment in partnership with BuzzFeed.

     

  • Harden suspended for kicking LeBron James in the groin

    Harden suspended for kicking LeBron James in the groin

    The Houston Rockets  went all out after defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers by two points on Sunday, even going so far as to declare James Harden “the new King James” after having vanquished LeBron James in regular-season battle. Unfortunately for Harden, it looks like he will see some punishment for deposing the old monarch.

    The NBA announced Monday that Harden has been suspended one game for kicking James in the groin with 2:08 remaining in the third quarter. Harden was issued a flagrant-1 foul during the game, but that has since been upgraded to a flagrant-2. Harden will miss the Rockets’ Tuesday game at the Atlanta Hawks, another East contender.

    Many of you may watch that video and consider the suspension excessive considering that Harden did not exactly strike LeBron with the greatest of force. However, kicking another man — let alone a fellow All-NBA First Team member — in the nether regions is typically considered very bad form. The NBA does its best to protect its best and most popular players, and a four-time MVP and global icon certainly qualifies as such. While Harden is one of the two or three top candidates for MVP this season, he’s not going to get away with such a move on a player of James’s caliber.

    LeBron earned a lot of negative attention on Sunday for missing a pair of free throws down one point in the final seconds of overtime, but it appears that the league office paid attention when he indicated that Harden’s flagrant foul was in need of further review. It would be wrong to suggest that the NBA suspended Harden simply because LeBron is LeBron — again, it’s not so nice to kick anyone in the groin — but people tend to listen when James talks.