The record was set when the Lakers faced the Denver Nuggets in Denver on Friday. James hit his 15,838th career field goal with a turnaround jump shot from the baseline over Nuggets guard Zeke Nnaji with 12.3 seconds remaining in the first quarter.
The shot was his third field goal of the game and ensured he surpassed the total of 15,837 field goals previously recorded by another Los Angeles Lakers legend, Abdul-Jabbar.
This achievement adds to the long list of individual records James has collected over more than two decades in the NBA. He previously set the league's all-time leading scorer after surpassing Abdul-Jabbar on February 7, 2023. That record was achieved with a step-back jump shot from near the free-throw line.
Since then, James' points tally has continued to grow and has now surpassed 43,000 in his career.
Lakers coach JJ Redick compared James's long career to that of a legendary musician. According to Redick, James's evolving accomplishments remind him of Bruce Springsteen's ever-expanding catalog.
"I'm a huge Bruce Springsteen fan. His early albums were really energizing. There's a youthful energy there," Redick said before the game. He added that just as Springsteen's catalog continues to grow, James's list of greatest accomplishments has continued to grow throughout his career.
The field goal record reflects James' consistent production since the beginning of his NBA career. He scored his first field goal in his debut game with the Cleveland Cavaliers against the Sacramento Kings on October 29, 2003.
