LeBron James becomes youngest ever to hit 26,000 points
We interrupt the talk about LeBron James as coach-underminer to remind everyone about the remarkable career he's built.
On Friday night during the Cavaliers' 114-106 win over the Pistons, James passed the 26,000-point threshold. Sixteen others in NBA history have reached that milestone, but James is the youngest.
.@KingJames is now the 17th player in #NBAHistory to reach 26,000 career points and is the youngest player to do so. pic.twitter.com/CWcgm1xxJF
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) January 30, 2016
When Kobe Bryant reached 26,000 in 2010, he was 32 years, 80 days old. James is 31 years, 30 days old.
That wasn't James' only milestone Friday night. He also moved into No. 20 all-time in assists, passing Derek Harper. Earlier this season, James had joined Oscar Robertson as the only players in NBA history to rank in the top 25 in both points and assists.
In the Cavs win at Auburn Hills, Michigan, Kevin Love scored 19 of his 29 points in the first half and Kyrie Irving had 28 points.
"We always talk about, it starts and ends with the `Big Three,' and those two guys got it done," James said. "I filled in, did what I needed to do to help us win."
The Cavaliers have won three straight since losing to Chicago in Tyronn Lue's first game as head coach. Lue wants the Cavs to pick up the pace offensively, and they seem to be responding. Cleveland has scored at least 114 points in each of the past three games.
James finished with 20 points, nine rebounds and eight assists — plus a missed dunk.
In the third quarter, when he was one point shy of 26,000, he breezed in on a breakaway. As he went up for a dunk, the ball came loose from his right hand, and by the time he reached up with his left, he'd lost control.
James reached the milestone on a free throw with 4:04 left in the quarter.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.
