LeBron James breaks another Kareem Abdul-Jabbar record in loss to Nuggets

Broderick Turner, Los Angeles Times on Mar 6, 2026

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DENVER — LeBron James is king of another NBA record once held by Los Angeles Lakers legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

James broke Abdul-Jabbar’s record for the most career field goals in the regular season Thursday against the Denver Nuggets, but an elbow injury limited his contributions in crunch time of the Lakers’ 120-113 loss.

After scoring over Denver center Nikola Jokic in the fourth quarter, James fell to the court and immediately grabbed his left elbow. He eventually got up and went to the bench with 3:58 remaining. He returned with 2:05 left and the Lakers down 112-111 before leaving again with 22 seconds left after Jokic scored consecutive baskets to give the Nuggets a 116-111 lead. Jokic finished with a triple-double of 28 points, 13 assists and 12 rebounds.

Jamal Murray had 28 points and two game-sealing free throws.

James finished with 16 points, eight assists and five rebounds and Luka Doncic led the Lakers with 27 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists.

James entered the game needing to make three field goals to pass Abdul-Jabbar for the most made field goals in league history. James tied Adbul-Jabbar’s mark for most regular-season field goals when he dunked off a lob pass from Doncic with 8:33 left in the first quarter.

He set the new mark of 15,838 with a fadeaway jumper near the Lakers’ bench with 11.8 seconds left in the first quarter.

When James went to the bench with the Lakers trailing 32-22 at the end of the quarter, the Denver Nuggets’ public address announcer told the crowd about his accomplishment. James was given a standing ovation from the fans at Ball Arena.

“LeBron’s greatest hits, he just keeps adding to them,” said Lakers coach JJ Redick before the game. “He just plays and plays and plays. And the greatest hits are just ... he’s got a hell of a catalog.”

James finished the game with 15,842 career field goals.

James is the league’s all-time leading scorer, having broken Abdul-Jabbar’s mark of 38,387 points on Feb. 7, 2023.

—Ayton injured against Nuggets

Lakers center Deandre Ayton didn’t return for the second half against the Nuggets after sustaining a knee injury.

Ayton left the court in the first quarter. The Lakers didn’t say which knee Ayton injured.

He played four minutes and 30 seconds and had two rebounds and no points.

Jaxson Hayes started the second half in Ayton’s place.

Ayton entered the game averaging 12.8 points on 66.8% shooting with 8.3 rebounds.

Not having Ayton meant Hayes (19 points) and Rui Hachimura (16 points) had to take on the role of defending Jokic.

—Etc.

Doncic picked up his 15th technical foul of the season against the Nuggets. If he draws one more technical before the end of the season, he will receive an automatic one-game suspension.

“Yeah, he’s aware that he’s close,” Redick said before the game. “And I think he’s trying (not to get anymore).”