LeBron James passes Kobe Bryant as Christmas Day top NBA scorer
LeBron James passed Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant as the NBA’s all-time leading scorer on Christmas Day. James’ 13th point of the first half, coming on a free throw with 3 minutes, 52 seconds remaining in the second quarter, gave him 396 career points on the holiday, eclipsing Bryant’s 395. James would finish with 39 points for the Lakers in Saturday’s 122-115 loss to the visiting Brooklyn Nets.
Source: Dave McMenamin @ ESPN
What’s the buzz on Twitter?
Eurohoops @Eurohoopsnet
James Harden, Patty Mills and the Nets ruin LeBron James’ big night
eurohoops.net/en/nba-news/12… – 4:31 AM
Bill Oram @billoram
No team has failed to maximize LeBron James’ gifts more than the Los Angeles Lakers, as was so plainly displayed in a Christmas night flop by the NBA’s most disappointing team. theathletic.com/3035405/2021/1… – 2:05 AM
Dave McMenamin @mcten
New story: The Nets were better off with one of their big three than the Lakers were with LeBron and Westbrook as L.A.’s new point guard struggled on Christmas Day es.pn/3FtHpoL – 1:44 AM
Kyle Goon @kylegoon
LeBron James has scored at least 30 points in four straight games. The Lakers have lost all of them.
The latest, a Christmas Day heartbreaker against the Nets, hurt a lot. Said David Fizdale: “I hate that it’s wasted on losses.” ocregister.com/2021/12/25/lak… – 12:36 AM
Kurt Helin @basketballtalk
LeBron James breaks Christmas scoring record, rallies Lakers back from 23 down but not over Nets nba.nbcsports.com/2021/12/26/leb… – 12:02 AM
Ryan Ward @RyanWardLA
In case you missed it: With his third free throw of the night, LeBron James surpassed Kobe Bryant to become the all-time leading scorer on Christmas Day, via Lakers PR. – 11:46 PM
Ben Golliver @BenGolliver
Column: A frantic & uneven Christmas loss to the Nets showed just how far LeBron James and the Lakers have to go @PostSports https://t.co/j6OEj5mZ9M pic.twitter.com/hh4FqgPonj – 11:33 PM
Ryan Ward @RyanWardLA
LeBron on if he’s dealing with more bumps and bruises playing center: “No, I don’t feel anything. … Feeling pretty good besides stepping on Jae Crowder’s foot the other day.” – 11:28 PM
Ryan Ward @RyanWardLA
No audio for LeBron’s presser… Fantastic. – 11:23 PM
Brian Lewis @NYPost_Lewis
On why James Harden ran that lob for Nic Claxton in such a huge spot, he said he ran the same play a couple possessions earlier and LeBron James deflected it. He just put it higher this time and Claxton went and got it. #Nets – 11:14 PM
Mark Medina @MarkG_Medina
James Harden on his lob to Nic Claxton over LeBron James, a play that gave them separation late in the game pic.twitter.com/3CD4LzVt4Z – 11:13 PM
Alex Schiffer @Alex__Schiffer
James Harden said he ran that lob-play with Claxton a few possessions earlier and LeBron deflected it. Realized then that he had to get it higher if he wanted it to go down. He did that and you saw the result. – 11:12 PM
Chris Palmer @ChrisPalmerNBA
Lakers have a very favorable upcoming schedule: Rockets, Grizzlies, Blazers, Timberwolves, Kings, Hawks. But they have got to give LeBron some help or he’ll be worn out by All-Star. – 11:09 PM
Ryan Ward @RyanWardLA
David Fizdale on what the Lakers should do when LeBron is out of the game: “We can clone him. Do you know any good scientists? Can we make a duplicate? I don’t know.” – 11:06 PM
Kyle Goon @kylegoon
Fizdale after @Dave McMenamin points out LeBron’s plus-9 rating tonight and what the Lakers can do when he subs out. “We can clone him. Do you know any good scientists? Can we make a duplicate? I don’t know.” – 11:04 PM
Ryan Ward @RyanWardLA
David Fizdale hates that LeBron’s “incredible effort” is wasted on losses like tonight. – 11:03 PM
Ohm Youngmisuk @NotoriousOHM
David Fizdale sounds exasperated at the Lakers wasting LeBron James’ scoring tear during this five-game losing streak: “I’m kicking myself in the head because he’s giving me incredible basketball… spectacular.” – 11:00 PM
Bill Oram @billoram
David Fizdale on (yet another) monstrous game from LeBron: “Spectacular. I hate that’s wasted on losses.” – 11:00 PM
Kyle Goon @kylegoon
David Fizdale on another LeBron gem in a loss, the team’s fifth straight: “I’m kicking myself in the head because he’s giving an incredible effort.” – 10:59 PM
Ajayi Browne @ajayibrowne
“It was huge — They had momentum.”
⁃Bruce Brown on Nic Claxton’s dunk on LeBron James. – 10:58 PM
Kamenetzky Brothers @KamBrothers
Gonna be an emotional scene watching LeBron recollect the Christmas gifts he gave his teammates. AK – 10:56 PM
Ajayi Browne @ajayibrowne
“It was a tremendous finish and an incredible pass.”
⁃Steve Nash on Nic Claxton’s poster on LeBron James. – 10:54 PM
Marc J. Spears @MarcJSpears
The Lakers have been outscored by 76 points during their five-game losing streak. It’s the most a LeBron James team has ever been outscored in a five-game span that he played. His previous worst span came in January 2018 with the Cavaliers (were outscored by 74). @ESPNStatsInfo – 10:51 PM
Arash Markazi @ArashMarkazi
The Lakers have lost five straight to fall to 16-18 and LeBron James was heading towards the locker room during the final seconds of this one. pic.twitter.com/vor4XnbCPg – 10:48 PM
Dave McMenamin @mcten
Lakers come back from down 23 to tie in the 4th Q, but fall to BKN 122-115. That’s five straight losses for LAL. LeBron 39p 9r 7a 3s; Monk 20p on 8-of-13; Melo 17p 11r 4a 2s 3b; Westbrook 13p on 4-for-20 12r 11a. Lakers were +11 in the 40 mins LJ played, -18 in 8 mins he sat – 10:47 PM
Chris Palmer @ChrisPalmerNBA
LeBron put the Lakers on his back and nearly willed the team to victory. – 10:45 PM
StatMuse @statmuse
LeBron first game at the Crypt:
39 PTS
9 REB
7 AST
3 STL
14-25 FG
He has 4 straight 30-point games for the first time since 2018. The Lakers have lost five in a row. pic.twitter.com/HqvA7vjecl – 10:44 PM
Mark Medina @MarkG_Medina
Nets finish with a 122-115 win over the Lakers on Christmas Day. Once again, LeBron James played brilliantly. But the rest of the team is too inconsistent. Not a winning or sustainable formula on.nba.com/3FrHrgB – 10:44 PM
Tommy Beer @TommyBeer
LeBron James:
39 points on 14-of-24 shooting
The other four Lakers starters combined:
32 points on 10-of-36 – 10:43 PM
StatMuse @statmuse
LeBron James is 6-6 this season when scoring 30+ points.
That’s the worst record by a player with at least 10 such games. pic.twitter.com/wMlr690yu4 – 10:43 PM
Alex Schiffer @Alex__Schiffer
That Nic Claxton dunk over LeBron is going to be in the Nets’ hype video as long as he’s in Brooklyn. – 10:42 PM
Michael Beasley @Michael8easley
Ooooh that was bron face 😬😬😬 – 10:40 PM
Kyle Goon @kylegoon
Claxton postered LeBron! Wow! – 10:39 PM
Ryan Ward @RyanWardLA
LeBron now has a game-high 39 points to go along with 9 rebs, 7 asts and 3 stls. – 10:39 PM
Will Guillory @WillGuillory
LeBron is going crazy – 10:38 PM
Brad Botkin @bradbotkincbs
If lebron is looking down and right, its going up – 10:38 PM
Tony Jones @Tjonesonthenba
Yeah. You simply can’t be like who’s the best player in the league and not have LeBron in the conversation, no matter which way you ultimately lean – 10:38 PM
Richaun Holmes @Rich_Holmes22
Gotta appreciate Lebron while we can it’s crazy he still playing at this level – 10:38 PM
Immanuel Quickley @IQ_GodSon
Bron Different – 10:37 PM
Ryan Ward @RyanWardLA
LeBron making it interesting down the stretch – 10:37 PM
Tony Jones @Tjonesonthenba
LeBron has been insanely good tonight – 10:36 PM
David Locke @DLocke09
LeBron is +12
Westbrook is -20 but he has a triple double – 10:35 PM
Vincent Goodwill @VinceGoodwill
James Harden, can you at least pinch LeBron on the break? My goodness, terrible defense – 10:31 PM
Kyle Goon @kylegoon
Couple misses at the rim by LeBron and Talen. Patty Mills drills a three, and the Lakers have to hope the moment hasn’t passed with 5:20 left and a 110-101 game. – 10:25 PM
Nate Duncan @NateDuncanNBA
LeBron against Claxton on a switch is not an advantage matchup – 10:24 PM
Melissa Rohlin @melissarohlin
Man, you would’ve thought the Lakers-Nets Christmas game could’ve been competitive with both teams so depleted. But without KD, Kyrie Irving, LaMarcus Aldridge and five others players, the Nets have led by as much as 23 points. LeBron was right: This team has no chemistry. – 10:15 PM
Rick Noland @RickNoland
Ted Stepien coulda told you Bron and Russ were awful fit – 10:09 PM
Tony Jones @Tjonesonthenba
LeBron has sat for 8 minutes tonight and the Lakers are minus 16 in those 8 lol – 10:05 PM
Sam Quinn @SamQuinnCBS
Non-LeBron Lakers are shooting 18-of-54 from the field. – 10:05 PM
Kevin Pelton @kpelton
The Nets are plus-16 in the 8:07 LeBron has spent on the bench tonight. – 10:03 PM
Scott Kushner @ScottDKushner
Lakers (except LeBron) are just straight up dogging it on Christmas Day at home. – 10:02 PM
Kristian Winfield @Krisplashed
HALFTIME: NETS 66, LAKERS 62
The Nets got ‘Houston Harden’ for Christmas: 23 PTS, 8/15 FG, 6 AST to only 1 TO. Lakers won 2nd quarter, 39-28, but impressive first quarter gave Brooklyn some cushion. Patty Mills has 19 points but picked up 4 fouls. LeBron’s got 22. Good game. – 9:25 PM
Kyle Goon @kylegoon
HALFTIME: Nets 66, Lakers 62.
Lakers scored 39 points in that second quarter, as LeBron moved off-ball and got the better of Bruce Brown. The Lakers are still chasing, however. LeBron with 22 points, Russ with 7 assists, Harden with 23 points, Mills with 19. – 9:22 PM
Bill Oram @billoram
Somehow, the Lakers are only down 66-62 at halftime. It’s not the star-laden matchup everyone expected but LeBron (22 points) and Harden (23) are doing their part. – 9:21 PM
Ajayi Browne @ajayibrowne
HALF: Nets 66, Lakers 62
James Harden (23 PTS, 7 ASTS), Patty Mills (19 PTS) & the Nets have cooled down. LeBron James (24 PTS, 7-10 FG) is playing magnificent as expected. It’s hard to get the ball out of his hands. Brooklyn also needs more production from the bench. – 9:20 PM
Kyle Goon @kylegoon
LeBron mean mugs for an and-1 against Blake Griffin. The crowd shot to its feet. Reminds me of classic games back in the old Staples Center. – 9:13 PM
Dave McMenamin @mcten
With his 13th point on that free throw coming in the second quarter, LeBron James passed Kobe Bryant as the NBA’s all-time leading scorer on Christmas Day. – 9:03 PM
Arash Markazi @ArashMarkazi
LeBron James passes Kobe Bryant to become the all-time leading scorer on Christmas Day. – 9:02 PM
Marc J. Spears @MarcJSpears
With his third free throw of the night, LeBron James surpassed Kobe Bryant to become the all-time leading scorer on Christmas Day. – 9:02 PM
The Vertical @YahooSportsNBA
LEBRON ➡️ MELO ➡️ MONK ➡️ SLAM!
pic.twitter.com/u2oF9xzBM7 – 8:52 PM
Mark Medina @MarkG_Medina
Lakers open 2nd Q with LeBron & Westbrook attacking the rim as well, LeBron throwing a cross-court pass to ignite a fast-break and Malik Monk cooking. This might be something, or nothing at all. Hard to tell with this team. – 8:46 PM
Kyle Goon @kylegoon
Malik Monk checks in for the first time in two weeks, makes a layup from Bron. – 8:23 PM
Mark Medina @MarkG_Medina
LeBron making a point to try to get THT going early – 8:10 PM
Alex Schiffer @Alex__Schiffer
Greetings from the sofa. Bagged the LA trip after Portland got cancelled, but will be back on the road in 2022. Nets-Lakers tips shortly. The Beard is back against LeBron. Bruce Brown goes from protocols to the starting five. Do the Nets have enough against the Lakers? We’ll see. – 7:45 PM
Ohm Youngmisuk @NotoriousOHM
Lakers are starting LeBron, Russ, THT, Wayne Ellington and Dwight Howard. Nets are starting James Harden, Patty Mills, Bruce Brown, De’Andre Bembry and Nic Claxton. – 7:31 PM
Chiney Ogwumike @chiney
Merry Christmas!! 🎄❤️ Here’s what you need to know about LeBron James and one of his greatest gifts this holiday season: pic.twitter.com/pTuVmVC2lO – 5:45 PM
Nick DePaula @NickDePaula
What’s the best #NBAXmas LeBron? pic.twitter.com/c2h4IGUDNV – 3:51 PM
Nick DePaula @NickDePaula
Kobe always had heat on #NBAXmas pic.twitter.com/804W427iN0 – 3:15 PM
LeBron James @KingJames
Xmas game day is electrifying! @GMC Let’s get it!! ⚡️💪👑 #GMCAmbassador #GMCHummerEV pic.twitter.com/I2YsBnW3rm – 3:15 PM
Bob Garcia @bgarciaivsports
Kobe Bryant once admitted that he wanted to play with LeBron James.
#Lakers #LakeShow
sportscasting.com/kobe-bryant-dr… – 3:13 PM
Bob Garcia @bgarciaivsports
LeBron James’ ideal Christmas showed he always dreamt about playing for the #Lakers
#NBA #LakeShow
sportscasting.com/lebron-james-i… – 3:11 PM
Joe Vardon @joevardon
Merry Christmas from Phoenix. It is an honor and privilege for me to cover this game today between the Suns and Warriors. It’s my sixth Christmas game, first in which LeBron is not involved. Thank you for reading and for supporting @TheAthletic. pic.twitter.com/UISqZOwc61 – 2:43 PM
Fred Katz @FredKatz
Kemba Walker is the seventh player in NBA history to record a triple-double on Christmas, according to NBA PR.
He joins Draymond Green (2017), Russell Westbrook (2013), LeBron James (2010), Billy Cunningham (1970), John Havlicek (1967) and Oscar Robertson (1960, 61, 63, 67) – 2:18 PM
Tim Bontemps @TimBontemps
According to @ESPNStatsInfo, Kemba Walker’s triple-double is just the 10th on Christmas in NBA history. Four were by Oscar Robertson in the 60s. The others: John Havlicek (’67), Billy Cunningham (’70), LeBron James (2010), Russell Westbrook (’13) and Draymond Green (’17). – 2:06 PM
Alex Kennedy @AlexKennedyNBA
James Posey wrote about what it’s like to play on Christmas Day.
In 2005, @James_Posey41 and the Miami Heat faced Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers: basketballnews.com/stories/the-be… – 2:04 PM
Jorge Sierra @hoopshype
Best Christmas performances in the last 40 years, per @Alberto de Roa‘s Global Rating:
1. Dwyane Wade in 2006
2. Tracy McGrady in 2003
3. Tracy McGrady in 2002
4. LeBron James in 2010
5. Kevin Durant in 2010
6. Brandon Roy in 2009
7. Kyrie Irving in 2020
8. Dominique Wilkins in 1987 – 11:35 AM
Nick DePaula @NickDePaula
Ja broke out these Kobe 6 PEs again. pic.twitter.com/hMqzLlG8nr – 12:23 AM
Dave Early @DavidEarly
Trouble finishing? No worries, Charles Bassey will turn your miss into a Kobe assist – 8:59 PM
Chris Palmer @ChrisPalmerNBA
Top 12 High School Players I’ve Ever Seen:
1. Lonzo Ball
2. Kobe Bryant
3. Grant Hill
4. LeBron James
5. Kenny Anderson
6. Damon Bailey
7. Alonzo Mourning
8. Chris Jackson
9. Shaquille O’Neal
10. Litterial Green
11. Chris Webber
12. Kevin Durant – 5:08 PM
Howard Beck @HowardBeck
I’m about as big a sentimental sap as you’ll find in this cynical biz. I covered the Shaq-Kobe era, and all its amazing moments. Yet I’m thoroughly baffled by all the Staples Center memorializing. It’s a corporate name change, people. The arena ain’t going anywhere. – 1:56 PM
Arash Markazi @ArashMarkazi
Two years ago I ranked my Top 20 moments at Staples Center for the arena’s 20th birthday. I leaned heavily on the championships won there. I still think one day we will see a statue of No. 1 — Kobe celebrating the Lakers beating the Celtics in Game 7 on top of the scorer’s table. pic.twitter.com/YI9TgHuZun – 1:33 PM
CBS NBA @CBSSportsNBA
NBA Christmas Day storylines: LeBron James poised to break Kobe Bryant’s record; top two teams meet again
By: @therealmikekb
cbssports.com/nba/news/nba-c… – 1:29 PM
Justin Kubatko @jkubatko
📅 On this day in 2007, the @Los Angeles Lakers Kobe Bryant scored 39 points in a win over the Knicks, becoming the youngest player in NBA history to reach 20,000 career points (29 years, 122 days).
Bryant’s mark has since been surpassed by LeBron James (28-107) and Kevin Durant (29-103). pic.twitter.com/3o533vJPll – 12:01 PM
More on this storyline
Also, with his second of three 3-pointers in the fourth quarter, James passed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the most points scored on a single date in NBA history. Abdul-Jabbar’s 413 points on Dec. 26 was surpassed by James, who finished Christmas Day with 422 points scored on the date. -via ESPN / December 26, 2021
Jim Owczarski: Khris Middleton passed Milwaukee native Latrell Sprewell for 98th on the all-time three pointers list with 1,105 after that last make. -via Twitter @JimOwczarski / December 25, 2021
Anthony Slater: Steph Curry has been reluctant to call himself the greatest shooter ever until he captured this record “I got that now baby” -via Twitter @anthonyVslater / December 15, 2021
