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On Saturday night against the Denver Nuggets, LeBron James became the first player to score 40,000 points in the NBA. Unfortunately for LeBron, he wasn't able to mark the occasion with a win, and he has now lost every game where he reached an important scoring milestone in the NBA.
- Passed Michael Jordan in scoring on March 6, 2019, lost 115-99 to the Nuggets
- Passed Kobe Bryant in scoring on January 25, 2020, lost 108-91 to the 76ers
- Passed Karl Malone in scoring on March 19, 2022, lost 127-119 to the Wizards
- Passed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on February 7, 2023, lost 133-130 to the Thunder
- Reached 40K points on March 2, 2024, lost 124-114 to the Nuggets
It is quite bizarre how LeBron's teams have managed to lose on all five occasions. The Lakers also lost to the Nuggets this season on the day that Kobe Bryant's statue was unveiled, and they can't seem to mark these big occasions with victories.
It seemed as if LeBron and the Lakers would get the win on Saturday, as they were up by 11 at one stage. It became a back-and-forth contest in the second half, however, and the Nuggets wrestled control of the game with a 9-0 run in the final minutes of the fourth quarter to come away with the win.
The time might have come to start talking about a "LeBron James Curse" at this point. Regardless, the defeats don't take away from the feats LeBron achieved in those games. The 39-year-old has surpassed all the icons who played in the NBA to become the league's all-time leading scorer and he is far from done.
James is putting up impressive averages of 25.3 points, 7.0 rebounds, 7.9 assists, 1.3 steals, and 0.6 blocks per game in his 21st season in the NBA. The 20-time All-Star is rapidly closing in on Oscar Schmidt's record for the most points scored in professional basketball history.
Schmidt scored 49,737 in his career with various clubs and the Brazilian national team. LeBron now has 49,629 points to his name (counting his points for Team USA and in All-Star games), and it is only a matter of time before he passes Schmidt. Hopefully, he and the Lakers win the game where he does it.
Anthony Davis Hilariously Told LeBron James To Stop Breaking Records
In his postgame interview following that loss to the Nuggets, Anthony Davis hilariously revealed he told LeBron to stop breaking records, as they always lose when he does.
"I was just telling him in the locker room, one, he might have to stop breaking records because we always lose anytime he break a record," Davis said.
(starts at 29:48 mark):
While Davis was only joking around here, what could have helped get the win was him playing better. He had just 17 points, 11 rebounds, 2 assists, and 3 blocks, and got completely outplayed by Nikola Jokic. Had Davis performed better on both ends of the court, the Lakers might have won.
As for LeBron, he finished with 26 points, 4 rebounds, 9 assists, and 3 steals on the night. James also admitted the Nuggets have the Lakers' number, as this was the eighth straight game they had lost to Denver. Should these teams meet in the playoffs, it's hard to see any other outcome other than a series win for the Nuggets.
More must-reads:
- Celtics' moves suggest new guard will be traded — eventually
- Kevin Love reportedly has preferred buyout destination
- The 'NBA minutes leaders by season' quiz
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TODAY'S BEST
Damian Lillard’s agent takes a shot at the Bucks
Damian Lillard’s agent took an apparent shot at the Milwaukee Bucks following the star guard’s return to the Portland Trail Blazers. Lillard’s longtime agent Aaron Goodwin suggested that Lillard’s failure to perform to his peak abilities in Milwaukee had to do with the team’s system. Goodwin suggested that the Bucks did not play to Lillard’s strengths, and that he sacrificed for the good of the team. “He never really had an opportunity to play as he has played the first 12 years of his career,” Goodwin told Jamal Collier of ESPN. “He played to win in the system that he was in.” Lillard’s scoring numbers did drop after being traded to Milwaukee, but that was inevitable now that he was sharing the stage with Giannis Antetokounmpo. In two seasons with the Bucks, he still averaged 24.9 points and 7.1 assists per game, but the Bucks never quite meshed as a unit. His latest severe injury ultimately gave the Bucks reason to move on as they try to maximize their championship window. Based on Lillard’s reaction to being waived by the Bucks, it is pretty clear that he never completely settled into Milwaukee. His move back to Portland, in that context, may not be all that surprising after all.
Blue Jays demolish MLB records with eye-popping Coors Field performance
DENVER — There's nothing like coming to Coors Field to fix what ails you. Just ask the Toronto Blue Jays. Losers of six of eight games before arriving in Denver, the Blue Jays posted an MLB-record 63 hits in a three-game series while easily sweeping a road series from the Colorado Rockies. By totaling 25 hits on Monday night, 14 on Tuesday and 24 in Wednesday's matinee, the Blue Jays set a new MLB standard for offensive prowess. Toronto passed the MLB record of 62 hits in a three-game series, set by the Boston Red Sox in a June 7-9, 1950 matchup against the St. Louis Browns. As part of the hit parade, Toronto smashed 13 home runs, the most ever surrendered by the Rockies in a three-game set. Included in that barrage were three hits by Bo Bichette, including a three-run shot on Wednesday afternoon that got the Blue Jays rolling in the third inning. Kyle Freeland, Wednesday's starter for Colorado, allowed seven hits in his 4.2 innings of work. That was the fewest amount of hits given up by a Rockies starter against Toronto, as Rockies starter Tanner Gordon allowed 11 in 2.2 frames on Monday, while Anthony Molina surrendered nine in 5.0 innings on Tuesday. "We need to pitch with confidence as starting pitchers. We need to command the baseball better in general," said Rockies interim manager Warren Schaeffer as his team slipped to 30-84 on the season. "We have to put hitters away when we have that opportunity." That was something Colorado couldn't do against the Blue Jays on Wednesday, as their first six runs of a 20-1 blowout win came with two outs in the frame. Wednesday's offensive explosion helped Toronto outscore the Rockies, 45-6, in the series. That run differential was the second-most in MLB's modern era and the most runs scored by an MLB team in a three-game series since the 2019 Chicago Cubs scored 47 runs against the Pittsburgh Pirates from Sept. 13-15, 2019. In all, the 45 runs, 63 hits and 13 home runs allowed in the series were each the most allowed by Colorado pitchers in a three-game set in franchise history. How bad did it get for Colorado at the end of the series? Down 12-1 entering the ninth inning on Wednesday, the Rockies put catcher Austin Nola on the mound for his first-ever pitching appearance. He was nothing like his younger brother, Philadelphia Phillies ace Aaron Nola, as he promptly gave up four consecutive doubles, including RBI shots from Bichette and Vladimir Guerrero Jr., as part of eight hits and eight runs posted by the Blue Jays against him. "It hurts when you get beat that bad for three games," Nola said. "We can compete with anybody. I know we can. We're all Major League players, so it definitely hurts. We're going to have to flush this one and get back out there on Friday in Arizona and have a new competitive attitude." All quotations obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.
Patriots stars react to HC Mike Vrabel getting bloodied while breaking up camp fight
New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel likely won the respect of his team Wednesday. However, he may have needed a few stitches afterward. The Patriots hosted a joint practice with the Washington Commanders at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. New England rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson took a Commanders pass-rusher to the ground in pass protection, resulting in a scuffle. Vrabel then jumped in to help stop the fight. His face was bloodied after both teams calmed down. Patriots second-year quarterback Drake Maye loved that his coach was willing to step in. In a news conference after practice, the 22-year-old passer said that's the mentality the team needs. "That's what we're trying to build," he said. "The intensity, bringing it every day, taking no cr-p when we're out on the field. But also, it comes a time where, with our guys offensively, and getting over there and getting some tussles and kind of having some penalties, and extra after the whistle, can get us in trouble. But for mentality, I like it. I mean, I almost got in there, but I think maybe another day, maybe." His new coach doesn't want the QB to get in any brawls. The Patriots are banking on the third overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft being the franchise's future. Plus, he doesn't need to worry about the Patriots' intensity with Vrabel in the building. New England wide receiver DeMario Douglas noted the former linebacker didn't seem rattled after breaking up the scrap. "I said, 'Coach, what's wrong with you?' And he said, 'You should have seen the other guy,'" Douglas told the media while smiling. "I just saw the scar on his face but didn't know what was happening." Vrabel likely sent two messages at Wednesday's practice. He won't tolerate an undisciplined team but also has his players' backs. That could go a long way for a Patriots squad aiming to improve after a 4-13 season.
NFL Hall of Famer reveals why he chose to join Deion Sanders' Colorado coaching staff
Angel Stadium experiences embarrassing issue after game
Angel Stadium is apparently doing its best impression of Oakland Coliseum. The Los Angeles Angels hosted the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday afternoon for a game at their Anaheim, California, home. It was the Rays who emerged victorious by a 5-4 final score, turning in some impressive plays along the way as well. After the loss by the Angels, the baseball gods continued to rain on them … literally. While reporters were gathered in the media room waiting for Angels interim manager Ray Montgomery to give his press conference, the roof in the room was noticeably leaking, resulting in water puddling on the floor and on a nearby trash can. Sam Blum of The Athletic shared the footage, noting that Montgomery’s press conference was ultimately moved to a different room. Angel Stadium opened back in 1966 and has served the home of the Angels ever since (also notably housing several other professional and collegiate teams, including the Los Angeles Rams from 1980-94). But it is clear that some renovations are badly needed at this point (beyond the trash can that appeared to have been intentionally placed under the leak to deal with the dripping water). Angels owner Arte Moreno, who has owned the team since 2003, is often accused of penny-pinching, particularly when it comes to resources and accommodations. Now that Angel Stadium looks to be slowly falling apart as well, perhaps Moreno will call for cups to be taped to the ceiling like other MLB teams have done before to stop leaks.
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