LOS ANGELES – LeBron James became the first National Basketball Association (NBA) player to reach 40,000 career regular-season points on March 2, the 39-year-old superstar scoring nine against defending champions the Denver Nuggets to achieve the milestone.

But James called the historic effort “bittersweet”, because it came in a losing cause as Nikola Jokic scored 35 points to rally the Nuggets late on for a 124-114 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers.

“Being the first player to do something, it’s pretty cool in this league because you just know the history, you know the grace that has come through the league,” James said.

“But the main thing is always the main thing and that’s the win. And I hated that had to happen in a defeat, especially versus a team that play extremely well.

“We played some good basketball but wasn’t able to close it out, so bittersweet, but I enjoyed every moment though, while on the floor.”

James scored a team-high 26 points, 13 in the fourth quarter, but the Nuggets stretched their win streak to six games.

“I’m glad we’re playing good,” Jokic said. “We’re doing the things we want to do. We don’t have too many breakdowns. I just like how we’re playing the game right now.”

James, who in 2023 overtook Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the NBA’s all-time scoring mark, is a four-time NBA champion and four-time NBA Most Valuable Player as well as the league’s oldest active player, now in his 21st campaign.

“Just happy for him. It was a hell of an accomplishment,” Lakers coach Darvin Ham said. “Wish we could have got the win to cap it off. But hats off to him. Amazing, amazing run that continues to this day.”

James scored his first basket on a fast-break lay-up 6min 20sec into the opening quarter to give the Lakers an 18-12 edge, then added a three-pointer from the left corner 63 seconds later for a 23-14 advantage.

He sank a lay-up 14 seconds into the second quarter to pull within two of the milestone, then missed a free throw and a three-point shot.

James scored the historic basket with 10:39 remaining in the second quarter, banking in a driving lay-up from the left side of the basket to give the Lakers a 37-32 lead.

He told ESPN: “I feel like I’m still that threat out on the floor and I am still able to do the things that I was doing 10 years ago. And some things I was doing 20 years ago, which is weird to say.”

The crowd gave James a standing ovation during a timeout and the ball James used for the milestone hoop was removed from the game.

“Much respect and much loyalty to the Lakers fan base for showing me that love during the timeout,” James said.

Asked if he thought another NBA player could crack 40,000, James replied: “I have no idea.

“You have to play the game quite a while and have some good luck as far as injuries and things of that nature. You have to take care of your body. You have to be present on the floor and then you have to be productive as well.”

The Nuggets equalised at 89-89 entering the fourth quarter and seized command with a 9-0 run in the final minutes to lead 117-110, hitting 15 of 22 from the floor in the final quarter.

“I just want to be better,” James said. “It’s always over the last few minutes of the game where they make plays, we don’t make plays – that can be frustrating.”

Denver’s Michael Porter Jr went 10 for 10 from the floor and scored 25 points, while matching Jokic’s 10 rebounds.

“He was amazing,” Jokic said. “It’s always a good thing when you have a guy on your team who can shoot like that.”

The Lakers (33-29) are 10th in the Western Conference, while the Nuggets are 42-19 and third in the West but only a ½-game behind the leading Minnesota Timberwolves.

In other games, Mikal Bridges scored 38 points to lead the Brooklyn Nets to a 114-102 home win over the Atlanta Hawks, while Jimmy Butler netted 37 points to power the Miami Heat over the visiting Utah Jazz 126-120.

Anfernee Simons hit 30 points to lead the Portland Trail Blazers’ 107-100 overtime triumph at the Memphis Grizzlies, while Jalen Green’s 34 points led the Houston Rockets to a 118-109 road win against the Phoenix Suns. AFP