LOS ANGELES — Appropriately it happened with a fadeaway jumper.
With this fourth-quarter fade, LeBron James scored his 30th point of the night against Atlanta, giving him 563 career 30+ point games, one more than Michael Jordan, who previously held the record.
Setting that record with Jordan’s signature shot was just the icing on the cake.
“He was more of a left shoulder fade guy. I go the opposite way,” LeBron said. “But, just two masters of the craft, just working and working and working to a point where it becomes indefensible… Watching MJ move the ball in the air, fading, still being balanced… “I’ve watched a lot “To MJ, I’ve seen how balanced he was, even though he was moving away from the basket, so I just want to try to match that as my career has grown in years.”
LeBron seems to set a record every time he steps on the court these days and his teammates celebrate those moments, but they’re used to them and talk down to him a little about it. Like Chicago native Anthony Davis.
“It took him seven more seasons,” Davis joked.
LeBron once again set the tone for a Lakers team that has been clicking on both ends of the floor lately, having won 7 of 9 after handily defeating the Hawks, 119-102.
It was a good night for the Lakers and for LeBron, who continues to add to his GOAT resume.
“It’s humbling,” LeBron said of breaking the record. “And every time I’m mentioned with one of the greats, and possibly the best to ever play the game, someone who I idolized growing up, and I wear 23 because of him, knowing that I can sit here and be in the room, or in a conversation or whatever, you mention MJ, it’s like a super dumb drug to me being a kid where I come from.”