Just nine months after becoming the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, James is set to cross another milestone off the list as the first-ever NBA player to score 39,000 career points.

In his 21st season, James is doing things that go against all conventional wisdom. Through 13 games, the 38-year-old is averaging 26.4 points, 8.2 rebounds, 6.5 assists and 1.7 steals while shooting 58.6 percent from the field and 39.7 percent from 3-point range. In Game 14, he can make history by crossing the 39,000-point plateau.

Here is James’ place in history and where he stands in the pursuit of another scoring milestone.

LeBron James career points

LeBron James enters Tuesday’s game against the Jazz with 38,995 career points. The all-time scoring leader, James has scored over 11,000 more points than the next-highest active player, 35-year-old Kevin Durant.

NBA all-time scoring leaders

When will LeBron James reach 40,000 career points?

LeBron James entered the 2023-24 season with 38.562 career points, 1,348 points shy of 40,000. Through his first 13 games, James’ average of 26.4 points netted him 343 points on the season.

Health is paramount to James’ success and he has only missed one game through the first four weeks of the season. Here is what James needs to do in order to score the 1,005 points needed to reach the 40,000 mark and how long it would take:

• If LeBron James averages 25.0 points per game… he would score 1,005 points in roughly 40 games
• If LeBron James averages 26.4 points per game (season average)… he would score 1,005 points in roughly 38 games
• If LeBron James averages 27.2 points per game (career average)… he would score 1,005 points in roughly 37 games

Since joining the Lakers, James has played in an average of 55.6 games per season. At 38, James will likely have scheduled games to sit out of during the Lakers’ season, which could delay his pursuit of 40,000 points.

The Lakers will play their 55th game of the season against the Warriors on Thursday, Feb. 22.