Move over, Michael. The King has taken your throne.
LeBron James surpassed Michael Jordan for fourth on the NBA's all-time scoring list with a left-handed layup in the second quarter against the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday night at Staples Center.
The Los Angeles Lakers superstar scored his 32,293rd point on a driving layup in the second quarter against the Denver Nuggets, getting fouled in the act and hitting the ensuing free throw.
"I haven’t been staring him down for a while, actually. I kind of just take all accomplishments as they come," James told reporters at Wednesday's shootaround. "Anytime I’m in the breath with any of the greats, obviously MJ being a guy that I looked up to my whole life, the guy I admired when I was a kid, it’s going to be pretty cool [passing him]. I don’t know how I’m going to react in the moment but I think at some point I’ll be able to appreciate it. Just knowing where I come from and knowing that it’s so much bigger than just me.
"So many other kids look up to me for inspiration. When I was a kid their age, I needed inspiration, and MJ was that inspiration, along with some other people. Sometimes I have no idea how I’m even in this position to be able to play the game that I love, play at a high level and be linked with some of the greatest to ever play this game; obviously MJ being out of this world."
James sat for the remainder of the first quarter, but went back to-work on the offensive end in the second quarter. A few quick buckets and James had suddeny tied his Airness before a left-handed layup in the lane that fell through the hoop for a milestone basket and an "and-one."
Here's the link to the video of LeBron's basket that surpassed Jordan.
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James surpassed his boyhood idol for fourth place on the list and now trails three former Lakers' legends in Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1st), Karl Malone (2nd), and Kobe Bryant (3rd).
The Lakers and the NBA celebrated James' accomplishment during a timeout after he passed Jordan, by showing a video tribute of James' scoring accomplishment on the video screen.
Prior to the game, James could hardly contain his excitement for the soon-to-be historic milestone, but tweeting this before the game.
