LeBron James Breaks Michael Jordan’s 30-Point Game Record in Lakers’ Win Over Hawks

LeBron James has officially surpassed Michael Jordan for the most 30-point games in NBA history. In the Los Angeles Lakers’ 119-102 victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Friday night, James hit the milestone with an 18-foot jumper that gave him his 30th point of the game with 5:58 left to play. This marked his 563rd regular-season game with 30 or more points, breaking the long-standing record set by Jordan, who reached the feat 562 times in 1,072 games across 15 seasons.

While James reached the mark in 1,523 games over his 22-year career, Jordan’s record had stood since 2003. The achievement was especially significant for James, who idolized Jordan growing up in Akron, Ohio. The emotional moment took him back to his childhood when he called Jordan “an inspiration” and “the lightning in a bottle for me, because I wanted to be like him.”

Coincidentally, James also passed Dirk Nowitzki (1,522 games) during the same game, securing the fourth spot on the NBA’s all-time list for most games played.

At 40 years old, James continues to defy age, showing no signs of slowing down in his record-tying 22nd season. Just a day prior to his record-breaking performance, James scored 38 points against the Portland Trail Blazers, tying Jordan’s previous 30-point game record.

As James continues to rewrite NBA history, his journey remains a testament to both his extraordinary talent and his unwavering pursuit of greatness.