LeBron James is set to rewrite one of the most hallowed records in sports: He will soon become the NBA’s all-time leading scorer. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s record total of 38,387 points has stood since April 23, 1989, but James needs only 36 points to break the record. His first chance to do so comes at home on Tuesday night.
In his 20th year, James is having another All-Star season, and recently became the first player in NBA history to have a 40-point performance against all 30 franchises in the NBA.
James’ record for points in a game is 61, set in 2014 against the Charlotte Bobcats. We’ve compiled a list of James’ highest-scoring games in the regular season against every team in the league, listed by division. We’re excluding playoff performances, since they don’t count toward James’ career scoring record.
Check out more coverage of LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers at LeBron Wire.
Cleveland Cavaliers: 46 points (Jan. 25, 2021)
Stat line: 38 minutes, 46 points, 19-for-26 shooting, 8 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals, 2 blocks
Result: Lakers 115, Cavs 108
Chicago Bulls: 41 points (Nov. 5 and 8, 2008)
LeBron dropped 82 points on the Bulls in the span of three days in a home-and-home series, scoring 41 points twice in a pair of Cavaliers wins
Detroit Pistons: 43 points (Nov. 24, 2004)
Stat line: 38 minutes, 43 points, 15-for-22 shooting, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals, 1 block
Result: Cavs 92, Pistons 76
Indiana Pacers: 47 points (Feb. 10, 2009)
Stat line: 41 minutes, 47 points, 15-for-21 shooting, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, 1 block
Result: Pacers 96, Cavs 95
Milwaukee Bucks: 55 points (Feb. 20, 2009)
Stat line: 40 minutes, 55 points, 16-for-29 shooting, 5 rebounds, 9 assists, 8 3PM
Result: Cavs 111, Bucks 103
Philadelphia 76ers: 44 points (April 6, 2018)
Stat line: 40 minutes, 44 points, 11 rebounds, 11 assists, 2 steals, 1 block
Result: Sixers 132, Cavs 130
New York Knicks: 52 points (Feb. 4, 2009)
Stat line: 44 minutes, 52 points, 17-for-33 shooting, 9 rebounds, 11 assists, 2 blocks
Result: Cavs 107, Knicks 102
Brooklyn Nets: 42 points (March 12, 2008)
Stat line: 46 minutes, 42 points, 12-for-23 shooting, 11 rebounds, 7 assists, 1 steal, 2 blocks
Result: Nets 104, Cavs 99
Boston Celtics: 43 points (Feb. 15, 2006)
Stat line: 54 minutes, 43 points, 16-for-32 shooting, 12 rebounds, 11 assists, 2 steals, 4 blocks
Result: Cavs 113, Celtics 109 (2OT)
Toronto Raptors: 56 points (March 20, 2005)
Stat line: 48 minutes, 56 points, 18-for-36 shooting, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals
Result: Raptors 105, Cavs 98
Atlanta Hawks: 48 points (Dec. 30, 2009)
Stat line: 43 minutes, 48 points, 15-for-23 shooting, 10 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals, 2 blocks
Result: Cavs 106, Hawks 101
Charlotte Hornets (as Charlotte Bobcats): 61 points (March 3, 2014)
Stat line: 41 minutes, 61 points, 22-for-33 shooting, 8 3PM, 7 rebounds, 4 assists
Result: Heat 124, Bobcats 107
Miami Heat: 51 points (Nov. 18, 2018)
Stat line: 38 minutes, 51 points, 19-for-31 shooting, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 1 block
Result: Lakers 113, Heat 97
Orlando Magic: 51 points (Feb. 3, 2011)
Stat line: 43 minutes, 51 points, 17-for-25 shooting, 11 rebounds, 8 assists, 1 steal, 1 block
Result: Heat 104, Magic 100
Washington Wizards: 57 points (Nov. 3, 2017)
Stat line: 43 minutes, 57 points, 23-for-34 shooting, 11 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 steals, 2 blocks
Result: Cavs 130, Wizards 122
Golden State Warriors: 56 points (March 5, 2022)
Stat line: 39 minutes, 56 points, 19-for-31 shooting, 10 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 block
Result: Lakers 124, Warriors 116
Los Angeles Clippers: 46 points (Jan. 24, 2023)
Stat line: 33 minutes, 46 points, 16-for-29 shooting, 8 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals, 1 block
Result: Clippers 133, Lakers 115
Los Angeles Lakers: 41 points (Jan. 27, 2008)
Stat line: 44 minutes, 41 points, 16-for-32 shooting, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals
Result: Cavs 98, Lakers 95
Phoenix Suns: 46 points (Jan. 14, 2006)
Stat line: 44 minutes, 46 points, 18-for-28 shooting, 7 rebounds, 8 assists, 1 steal
Result: Suns 115, Cavs 106
Sacramento Kings: 51 points (March 13, 2009)
Stat line: 47 minutes, 51 points, 16-for-30 shooting, 4 rebounds, 9 assists, 2 steals, 3 blocks
Result: Cavs 126, Kings 123 (OT)
Denver Nuggets: 43 points (Feb. 18, 2010)
Stat line: 47 minutes, 43 points, 15-for-33 shooting, 13 rebounds, 15 assists, 2 steals, 4 blocks
Result: Nuggets 118, Cavs 116 (OT)
Minnesota Timberwolves: 45 points (Nov. 21, 2007)
Stat line: 39 minutes, 45 points, 17-for-26 shooting, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals, 2 blocks
Result: Cavs 97, Timberwolves 86
Oklahoma City Thunder: 44 points (Dec. 13, 2009)
Stat line: 39 minutes, 44 points, 16-for-29 shooting, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, 4 steals, 1 block
Result: Cavs 102, Thunder 89
Portland Trail Blazers: 44 points (Jan. 9, 2011 and Nov. 14, 2018)
Results: Heat 107, Blazers 100 (OT) and Lakers 126, Blazers 117
Utah Jazz: 51 points (Jan. 21, 2006)
Stat line: 43 minutes, 51 points, 19-for-35 shooting, 5 rebounds, 8 assists, 2 steals
Result: Cavs 108, Jazz 90
Dallas Mavericks: 46 points (March 29, 2006)
Stat line: 43 minutes, 46 points, 16-for-23 shooting, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals
Result: Cavs 107, Mavs 94
Houston Rockets: 48 points (Jan. 16, 2023)
Stat line: 36 minutes, 48 points, 16-for-26 shooting, 8 rebounds, 9 assists
Result: Lakers 140, Rockets 132
Memphis Grizzlies: 51 points (Jan. 15, 2008)
Stat line: 47 minutes, 51 points, 18-for-28 shooting, 8 rebounds, 9 assists, 3 steals, 1 block
Result: Cavs 132, Grizzlies 124 (OT)
New Orleans Pelicans (as New Orleans Hornets): 44 points (March 28, 2005)
Stat line: 53 minutes, 44 points, 16 of 29 shooting, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 4 steals
Result: Cavs 109, Hornets 108
San Antonio Spurs: 44 points (Feb. 13, 2006)
Stat line: 41 minutes, 44 points, 19-of-33 shooting, 3 rebounds, 5 assists, 4 steals
Result: Cavs 101, Spurs 87
