LeBron James on passing Karl Malone on all-time scoring list: ‘I’m just always lost for words for it’

Saturday in Washington, it was a thundering dunk, a driving layup, a handful of threes and, finally, a cutting layup that pushed James up the NBA’s all-time scoring leaderboard to No. 2, trailing only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. The historic basket came midway into the second quarter of the Lakers’ 127-119 loss. Stanley Johnson found James on a back-door cut into the paint for a right-handed layup for his 36,930th career point, moving him past Karl Malone for second on the NBA’s career scoring list. “Just to be part of this league the many years I’ve been a part of it and being linked to some of the greatest who’ve ever played this game and guys I’ve ever watched or studied or read about or aspired to be like … I’m just always lost for words for it,” James said.
Source: Dan Woike @ Los Angeles Times

What’s the buzz on Twitter?

Eurohoops @Eurohoopsnet
LeBron James jumps to No. 2 on NBA’s all-time scoring list
eurohoops.net/en/nba-news/13… – 5:24 AM

Eurohoops @Eurohoopsnet
Kristaps Porzingis led the Washington Wizards to a comeback win over the Los Angeles Lakers in LeBron James’ milestone night
eurohoops.net/en/nba-news/13… – 4:18 AM

Todd Whitehead @CrumpledJumper
LeBron James is on pace to break the all-time scoring record. pic.twitter.com/SURbUbkCZ5 – 2:09 AM

Ohm Youngmisuk @NotoriousOHM
Like Karl Malone did thousands of times, LeBron James cut toward the basket, caught a pass and scored on a driving layup to pass The Mailman for No. 2 and inch closer to Kareem’s scoring record espn.com/nba/story/_/id… – 1:16 AM

Kyle Goon @kylegoon
LeBron James now has a clear path to be the No. 1 scorer in NBA history. He’s only chasing Kareem.
The Lakers’ route to consistency, however, remains as murky as ever: ocregister.com/2022/03/19/leb… – 1:03 AM

Chase Hughes @ChaseHughesNBCS
Kristaps Porzingis on LeBron: “We have to appreciate him while he’s here and still playing and putting up those kind of numbers and playing at this level, which is absolutely out of this world.” – 11:46 PM

Quinton Mayo @RealQuintonMayo
Hummer and LeBron teaming up in 2022 is low key iconic. – 11:39 PM

Kyle Goon @kylegoon
Carmelo Anthony, No. 9 on the all-time scoring list, said he’s “in awe” of LeBron’s march up the list: “I admit when I was younger, I used to look at the list and think, ‘Nobody’s catching Karl Malone. Nobody’s catching Kareem.'” – 11:13 PM

Ohm Youngmisuk @NotoriousOHM
Carmelo Anthony says he’s “still in awe” of what LeBron James is doing at this point in his career. Melo says he remembers when he was younger thinking no one would catch Karl Malone and Kareem. – 11:12 PM

Ohm Youngmisuk @NotoriousOHM
LeBron James says he “can’t separate” the loss from passing Karl Malone. He’s still feeling the loss. – 11:09 PM

Ohm Youngmisuk @NotoriousOHM
LeBron James says he “will not allow himself to think” about chasing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s scoring record. He says he wants it to happen organically and will think about it when the time comes. – 11:07 PM

Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
Russell Westbrook, who’s currently 33rd all-time in scoring and within 60 points of catching Elgin Baylor, Dwayne Wade and Adrian Dantley, on LeBron climbing to spot No. 2:
“That’s pretty crazy to see … he’s able to have that many points … just a great accomplishment.” – 11:04 PM

Ryan Ward @RyanWardLA
Russell Westbrook on LeBron passing Karl Malone: “Crazy to see. … It’s a great accomplishment.” – 11:02 PM

Wayne Cole @waynec0le
KCP says he told Lebron keep going when they embraced at half court. – 10:54 PM

Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
Frank Vogel said that LeBron “attacked the game” in impressive style, and had a “signature performance” in that first half, on the second night of a B2B with a sore knee, to pass Malone.
Tough that they couldn’t hold on for a win, but he’s trying to separate LeBron’s milestone. – 10:49 PM

Ryan Ward @RyanWardLA
Frank Vogel on LeBron: “I don’t know where we’d be without him.” – 10:47 PM

Kyle Goon @kylegoon
Frank Vogel on separating LeBron becoming the No. 2 scorer in NBA history from the loss: “Trying to separate. It’s bittersweet.”
Said he thought LeBron attacked the game, calling it a “signature performance.” – 10:46 PM

Bill Oram @billoram
“Just a signature performance” Frank Vogel says of LeBron’s night, adding it’s “bittersweet” that the Lakers couldn’t hold on for the win, but is trying to separate the result from the significance of James’ achievement. – 10:45 PM

Ohm Youngmisuk @NotoriousOHM
Frank Vogel says on LeBron passing Karl Malone: “what an incredible feat. He just attacked tonight.. a signature performance in which he passes one of the greats.” – 10:45 PM

Ryan Ward @RyanWardLA
Frank Vogel on LeBron James: “He just attacked the game tonight. … Really playing with incredible energy after playing 45 mins last night.” – 10:45 PM

Ryan Ward @RyanWardLA
Frank Vogel: “We didn’t play well when Bron was out of the game tonight.” – 10:44 PM

StatMuse @statmuse
LeBron, regular season and playoffs:
1st in points
2nd in made field goals
3rd in made free throws
4th in wins
5th in assists
6th in made threes
7th in games
8th in steals pic.twitter.com/Ewv6npAXP0 – 10:37 PM

Wayne Cole @waynec0le
You’re in for a night anytime you play LeBron; he’s playing unbelievable – Coach Unseld Jr – 10:36 PM

StatMuse @statmuse
LeBron last 8 games:
35.4 PPG
8.9 RPG
5.9 APG
53.8 FG%
40.3 3P%
Two 50-point games
37 years old. pic.twitter.com/R3bjrR0WuR – 10:29 PM

Kyle Goon @kylegoon
FINAL: Wizards 127, Lakers 119.
LeBron makes more history in a loss. It’s been a theme this year. He finishes with 38 points. Russ had 22 points, 10 rebounds and 8 assists. The Lakers couldn’t stop 7-foot-3 Kristaps Porzingis when it mattered. – 10:25 PM

Adam Zagoria @AdamZagoria
KC Ndefo with a LeBron-esque chase-down block from behind there. And then he crashed into the cheerleaders.
What a play. What an effort – 10:24 PM

Kyle Goon @kylegoon
Back-breaker by KP for three. LeBron can’t match it. Lakers are going to drop this one. – 10:21 PM

Bill Oram @billoram
If it holds, this one is gonna hurt for the Lakers. They are suddenly down 122-116 with just 61 left to play. LeBron has poured in 38 points, but the Wizards have come alive here in the fourth behind Kristaps Porzingis. The Lakers just don’t have anybody to guard him. – 10:18 PM

Brian Windhorst @WindhorstESPN
LeBron James is finalizing his legacy not on championships alone but on longevity. As he moves in second all-time on scoring list, he’s leaving no doubt: No one has ever been this good for this long: espn.com/nba/insider/st… – 10:15 PM

Kyle Goon @kylegoon
Big momentum change: Porzingis charged with an offensive foul. Basket off the board. LeBron scores on the next possession. – 10:15 PM

Chase Hughes @ChaseHughesNBCS
Kristaps Porzingis put LeBron James on a poster. pic.twitter.com/BqPzjSYa2D – 10:14 PM

Kyle Goon @kylegoon
LeBron coaxed Frank Vogel to challenge Stanley Johnson’s foul on Porzingis on an and-1. I’m fairly certain that he and the lineup also wanted the break. – 10:12 PM

Chase Hughes @ChaseHughesNBCS
LeBron after backing down Ish Smith in the post pic.twitter.com/vmkEzoU9HG – 10:09 PM

Kamenetzky Brothers @KamBrothers
Ish Smith trying guard LeBron alone in the post is not considerably less fair than me trying to guard LeBron alone in the post. AK – 10:07 PM

Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
The Lakers lost the edge they’ve played with for much of the last two nights when LeBron left the game in the 3rd Q, up 14 points, and Washington is now within 2, at 106-104, with a 4-0 run since LeBron returned. – 9:58 PM

Bill Oram @billoram
Quick thoughts from me on LeBron James passing Karl Malone for second on the NBA’s all-time scoring list. Much more to come later tonight. @TheAthletic theathletic.com/news/lakers-le… – 9:54 PM

Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
LeBron left the 3rd Q with 2:37 to play, and LAL up 97-83 after he fed ‘Melo for a 3.
Washington outscored LAL 10-2 in the final 2+ minutes, capped by a buzzer-beating 3 as LAL failed to clear a defensive board, twice, trimming the lead to 6 with 12 minutes left. – 9:51 PM

Josh Robbins @JoshuaBRobbins
End of the third quarter: Lakers 99, Wizards 93
Caldwell-Pope: 16 pts., 7 rebs., 3 assts.
Kispert: 13 pts., 2 rebs., 3 assts.
Avdija, Gafford, Satoransky: 12 pts. apiece
LeBron: 33 pts., 8 rebs., 5 assts.
Westbrook: 14 pts., 10 rebs., 7 assts. – 9:50 PM

Bill Oram @billoram
The Lakers lead, once 16, is down to six after a Washington run at the end of the third (with LeBron on the bench) pulls the Wizards within 99-93. – 9:49 PM

Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
LeBron (29.7 points per game) trails Embiid (30.0) and Giannis (29.8) for the 2021-22 scoring title.
He has 33 points tonight through 3 Q’s tonight.
He’d need 16 more in the 4th tonight (49 total) to get just over 30.0 on average. – 9:48 PM

CBS NBA @CBSSportsNBA
Lakers’ LeBron James moves up to second on NBA’s all-time scoring list
cbssports.com/nba/news/laker… – 9:46 PM

Ohm Youngmisuk @NotoriousOHM
LeBron passes Karl Malone and now trails only Kareem on the all-time scoring list espn.com/nba/story/_/id… – 9:45 PM

Law Murray @LawMurrayTheNU
Former Laker Karl Malone – 9:41 PM

Steve Luhm @sluhm
Karl Malone’s reign as the No. 2 scorer in NBA history ended tonight after 21 years and three months. LeBron James passed him in a game at Washington. Malone took over second place, behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, on Dec. 5, 2000. – 9:36 PM

Kamenetzky Brothers @KamBrothers
Not to get ahead of ourselves, but Austin Reaves is only 36,686 points away from passing LeBron James for #2 on the all-time scoring list. AK – 9:35 PM

Marla Ridenour @MRidenourABJ
Lakers’ LeBron James passes Karl Malone for second place on NBA all-time scoring list usatoday.com/story/sports/n… via @USATODAYj – 9:34 PM

Kurt Helin @basketballtalk
Watch LeBron James pass Karl Malone for second NBA all-time scoring list nba.nbcsports.com/2022/03/19/wat… – 9:32 PM

Micah Adams @MicahAdams13
LeBron just passed Mailman.
Eventually, he’ll pass Kareem.
Will his final tally be yet another unbreakable record?
Here are our picks for LeBron’s five most unbreakable records… so far.
✍️ @TheCarlanGay
sportingnews.com/us/nba/news/le… – 9:23 PM

Michael Lee @MrMichaelLee
It’s crazy to look at the top 10 all-time NBA scorers & see seven of them got buckets for the Lakers at some point in his career. A Laker has been in the No. 1 spot since Wilt donned purple & gold in 1968. When LeBron hunts down Kareem, that streak might last another 50+ years. – 9:18 PM

Ohm Youngmisuk @NotoriousOHM
The Washington crowd gives LeBron a standing ovation. pic.twitter.com/g4VP4QovYu – 9:17 PM

Ohm Youngmisuk @NotoriousOHM
LeBron is now the second all-time leading scorer on this basket, passing Karl Malone pic.twitter.com/pwh4pZa5br – 9:15 PM

Synergy Sports Tech @SynergySST
In his 19th #NBA season, LeBron James is shooting 50% in one-on-one situations and ranks second in the league in transition scoring. – 9:11 PM

Melissa Rohlin @melissarohlin
LeBron James has passed Karl Malone for No. 2 on the all-time scoring list. – 9:09 PM

Brad Turner @BA_Turner
LeBron James has 23 points and Russell Westbrook has 10 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists as Lakers open 67-58 lead over Wizards at the half. – 9:08 PM

Bill Oram @billoram
LeBron poured in 23 points in the first half after playing 45 minutes last night in Toronto. Quite the performance. Another half to be played, but so far this is the second impressive game in a row by a Lakers team that hasn’t won consecutive games since early January. – 9:07 PM

Josh Robbins @JoshuaBRobbins
Halftime: Lakers 67, Wizards 58
Avdija: 12 pts., 2 rebs., 3 assts.
LeBron: 23 pts., 7 rebs., 4 assts. and moves into second place on career points list
Westbrook: 10 pts., 6 rebs., 6 assts. – 9:07 PM

Christos Tsaltas @Tsaltas46
LeBron James means greatness. 2nd scorer of all-time in the NBA.
All hail the king! #lakeshow #LeBronJames sdna.gr/mpasket/946040… – 9:07 PM

Kyle Goon @kylegoon
HALFTIME: Lakers 67, Wizards 58.
The Lakers got a little tight on offense when LeBron was a point away from passing Karl Malone, but they’re still ahead of one of the most porous defenses in the league. LeBron has 23 points, four other Lakers have at least 7. – 9:07 PM

Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
LAL take a 67-58 lead into halftime, with the headline of course going to @LeBron James, now the 2nd leading scorer ever.
He leads LAL with 23 points on 10 of 16 from the field. – 9:07 PM

Ava Wallace @avarwallace
Halftime: Lakers 67, Wizards 58
Deni Avdija has 12p
LeBron James has 23, Malik Monk has 11. Russell Westbrook has 10-6-6 – 9:06 PM

Chase Hughes @ChaseHughesNBCS
The Lakers lead the Wizards 67-58 at halftime. LeBron has 23 points, while Deni Avdija leads the Wizards with 12. – 9:06 PM

Kyle Goon @kylegoon
Now that LeBron has passed Karl Malone, let’s talk about how he has 23 points in the half – 9:03 PM

Kamenetzky Brothers @KamBrothers
It’s gotta be surreal for Stanley Johnson to go from out of the league last December to the guy who assisted LeBron James to reach #2 on the all-time scoring list. AK – 9:02 PM

Tommy Beer @TommyBeer
Don’t take Lebron granted – 9:02 PM

Bill Oram @billoram
The answer to a trivia question someday: Who assisted LeBron James on the basket that moved him to No. 2 on the all-time scoring list? The answer is Stanley Johnson. – 9:00 PM

Mike Bresnahan @Mike_Bresnahan
History in Washington today: LeBron James passes Karl Malone for second on the NBA’s all-time scoring list.
He did it on a layup down the right side with 5:20 left in the second quarter. He now has 36,930 points.
(Footnote: Stanley Johnson with the assist.) – 9:00 PM

The Ringer @ringernba
The history-making bucket from LeBron James. 👑
(📼 @NBAonTNT)
pic.twitter.com/08POYQB0oX – 9:00 PM

Wayne Cole @waynec0le
Lebron James moves up to 2nd in scoring all-time in NBA history. pic.twitter.com/5PZyYIIELv – 8:59 PM

Mark Medina @MarkG_Medina
LeBron James with yet another milestone. LeBron just eclipsed Karl Malone for No. 2 on the NBA’s all-time scoring list. LeBron earlier on why he believes he’s not given enough credit for his scoring https://t.co/uOnpKuA6rd pic.twitter.com/lhFfbAzBgx – 8:59 PM

Matt Williams @StatsWilliams
LeBron James Career Ranks
Points (2nd)
Assists (7th)
Rebounds (39th)
Those ranks combine to 48, the lowest combined ranks in points, rebounds and assists in NBA history.
He passed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who is at 49 (1st in points, 3rd in rebounds and 45th in assists). – 8:58 PM

Kyle Goon @kylegoon
Washington fans recognized LeBron during the timeout, and after a long pause, he waved back. KCP was there to dap him up. pic.twitter.com/pTYHzPRaVz – 8:58 PM

Ava Wallace @avarwallace
Standing ovation for LeBron James as he passes Malone for second place on the NBA scoring list. KCP gives him a little hug at center court. 36,930 – 8:56 PM

Brad Turner @BA_Turner
LeBron James scored on layup to become second all time scorer in NBA history with 36,930 point so far. – 8:56 PM

Bob Garcia @bgarciaivsports
LeBron is now second all time in scoring. Wow. – 8:56 PM

Kyle Goon @kylegoon
LeBron James is now the No. 2 scorer in NBA history. pic.twitter.com/Gu0V2a8uRa – 8:56 PM

JD Shaw @JShawNBA
Lakers superstar LeBron James has passed Jazz legend Karl Malone for second on the NBA’s all-time leading scoring list. – 8:56 PM

Chase Hughes @ChaseHughesNBCS
LeBron James has passed Karl Malone for the 2nd-most points in NBA history. Standing ovation at Capital One Arena. – 8:56 PM

Chris Haynes @ChrisBHaynes
LeBron James has surpassed Karl Malone for No. 2 on the all-time scoring list. – 8:56 PM

Marc J. Spears @MarcJSpears
With his ninth field goal of the night, LeBron James passed Karl Malone for second place on the NBA’s all-time scoring list. pic.twitter.com/X6Mwm4Hogf – 8:56 PM

StatMuse @statmuse
LeBron James has overtaken Karl Malone for 2nd on the all-time scoring list.
Unlike the Mailman, the King delivers every day of the week. pic.twitter.com/FBLNuFMxkt – 8:56 PM

Allen Sliwa @AllenSliwa
Lebron does it in the 1st half, he passes Karl Malone for 2nd All Time on the scoring list…
He’s up to 21pts (9 of 14 from the field)…
LBJ!!!!! – 8:55 PM

Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
* @LeBron James has surpassed Karl Malone for 2nd on the all-time @NBA scoring list, with a driving layup.
Only @Kareem Abdul-Jabbar remains.
Kareem: 38,387
LeBron: 36,930 (at the 5:20 mark of the 2nd Q vs. Washington)
Malone: 36,928
Kobe: 33,643 – 8:55 PM

Josh Robbins @JoshuaBRobbins
LeBron James now is in sole possession of second place in NBA history in career regular-season points (36,930), breaking his tie with Karl Malone. – 8:55 PM

Shams Charania @ShamsCharania
LeBron James now second on the NBA’s all-time scoring list, surpassing Karl Malone and trailing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for No. 1. – 8:55 PM

Bill Oram @billoram
LeBron James: No. 2. – 8:55 PM

Kyle Goon @kylegoon
After starting the game 8 for 12, LeBron with a big, big heat check from deep that he doesn’t make. Feels like he knows where he’s at. – 8:49 PM

Neil Dalal @NeilDalal96
LeBron James ties Karl Malone for 2nd all-time regular-season scorer at 36,928 pic.twitter.com/PsOOBzAZlM – 8:49 PM

Brad Turner @BA_Turner
LeBron James drills three to tie Karl Malone for second most points in NBA history all time scores with 36,928 points – 8:49 PM

Ava Wallace @avarwallace
With that three, LeBron James has tied Karl Malone for No. 2 on the NBA’s all-time scoring list.
James has 19 with 7:40 left in the second – 8:49 PM

Kyle Goon @kylegoon
LeBron is now even with Karl Malone with 36,928 career points. Another tough three against a contest. He’s in quite a rhythm tonight. – 8:48 PM

Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
LeBron’s putting on a show, much to the pleasure of what seems like a partisan Lakers building in D.C., with his 3rd straight 3, as he ties Karl Malone for 2nd all-time. – 8:48 PM

Allen Sliwa @AllenSliwa
Lebron up to 19pts, has tied Karl Malone at 36,928pts… – 8:48 PM

Chase Hughes @ChaseHughesNBCS
LeBron James has tied Karl Malone for the 2nd most points in NBA history. He’s got all 13 of the Lakers’ points in the 2nd quarter so far. – 8:48 PM

Ohm Youngmisuk @NotoriousOHM
LeBron has tied Karl Malone for second all-time on the scoring list. – 8:48 PM

Bill Oram @billoram
36,928 for Karl Malone. 36,928 for LeBron. – 8:47 PM

Josh Robbins @JoshuaBRobbins
With 16 points already in the first half, LeBron James needs only three more points to tie Karl Malone for second place on the career regular-season points list at 36,928. – 8:45 PM

Chase Hughes @ChaseHughesNBCS
LeBron James is now only 3 pts away from tying Karl Malone for 2nd on the all-time list. He’s got 10 pts already in just 3:34 in the 2nd quarter, 16 total. The last bucket was a stepback 3 and he started running back before it went in. Sheesh. – 8:45 PM

Neil Dalal @NeilDalal96
LeBron James has 16 points in 11 minutes and already did the going crazy finger twirls – 8:44 PM

Bill Oram @billoram
LeBron hits his second three and is up to 16 points, now just three behind Malone. He may do it tonight … before halftime. – 8:44 PM

Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
LeBron has 10 quick points early in the 2nd Q, with a pair of 2’s, then a pair of 3’s, to reach 16, just 4 shy of Malone. – 8:43 PM

Kyle Goon @kylegoon
LeBron is up to 16 points tonight after a three. The crowd is very much behind him and the Lakers. Needs 3 to tie Malone, 4 to pass. – 8:43 PM

Allen Sliwa @AllenSliwa
Lebron already with 16pts (7 of 11), 4 away from passing Malone… – 8:43 PM

Wayne Cole @waynec0le
Lebron is 10 points away from the record. – 8:42 PM

Josh Robbins @JoshuaBRobbins
Deni Avdija’s aggressiveness on the offensive end has been one of Washington’s few positives so far tonight. He just drove past LeBron James and scored on a right-handed layup. Avdija has 10 points and two assists with 9:59 remaining in the second quarter. – 8:40 PM

Brad Turner @BA_Turner
LeBron James, Russell Westbrook and Malik Monk each have six points to help Lakers open 36-26 lead over Wizards after first. – 8:37 PM

Kyle Goon @kylegoon
Facing the Wizards defense does an offense good. Lakers lead 27-16 in the first quarter. Bunch of Lakers on the board, but LeBron James has six points, putting him just 13 behind Karl Malone, the NBA’s second all-time leading scorer. – 8:25 PM

StatMuse @statmuse
PPG leader by quarter this season
1Q: Luka (9.5)
2Q: LeBron (7.6)
3Q: Morant (9.3)
4Q: Giannis (8.3) pic.twitter.com/0S0KdOffdU – 8:18 PM

Neil Dalal @NeilDalal96
It did not count, but LeBron James casually throwing down a left hand reverse dunk after the whistle is just wow – 8:17 PM

Michael Lee @MrMichaelLee
The early part of LeBron’s career featured some intense games with the Wizards. Tapped Gilbert on the chest at the FT line. Got Soulja Boy & Jay Z involved in a beef with DeShawn. The crab dribble. It’s kind of fitting that he’ll look to pass Karl Malone on the scoring list in DC – 8:06 PM

Chase Hughes @ChaseHughesNBCS
LeBron James WILL play tonight against the Wizards after being a gametime decision. – 7:40 PM

Wayne Cole @waynec0le
Lebron James is in tonight and could become the NBA’s 2nd leading scorer of all time. – 7:35 PM

Ryan Ward @RyanWardLA
LeBron James IS playing tonight: pic.twitter.com/UIG6ilducg – 7:32 PM

Brad Turner @BA_Turner
LeBron James is starting tonight for Lakers at Washington. – 7:32 PM

Bill Oram @billoram
Lakers say LeBron James is starting tonight in DC. Malone watch is on. – 7:31 PM

Kyle Goon @kylegoon
LeBron is IN tonight in Washington. pic.twitter.com/3VoQawOyRe – 7:31 PM

Ohm Youngmisuk @NotoriousOHM
LeBron James is in the starting lineup tonight. – 7:31 PM

Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
LeBron James (knee soreness) will start tonight in Washington, alongside Westbrook, Monk, Reaves and Johnson. – 7:31 PM

Bill Oram @billoram
LeBron James will be a game-time decision tonight in Washington, Vogel says. He is 19 points behind Karl Malone for second on the NBA’s all-time scoring list. Have to wonder whether the opportunity to pass Malone in Cleveland on Tuesday factors into his availability tonight. – 6:32 PM

Ava Wallace @avarwallace
KCP (ankle) is a game-time decision, Unseld said. He was able to go through his pregame routine.
LeBron James also a game-time decision tonight, Frank Vogel says. – 6:32 PM

Kamenetzky Brothers @KamBrothers
Per Frank Vogel, LeBron is a game time decision vs. the Wizards, Wayne Ellington remains out (non-COVID illness), and Melo and THT are both available. AK – 6:32 PM

Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
LeBron James is a game time decision.
Wenyen Gabriel, THT and Melo are all available. – 6:31 PM

Kyle Goon @kylegoon
LeBron James is a game time decision tonight in Washington. Gabriel, Horton-Tucker and Melo are in. Wayne Ellington remains out with non-COVID illness. – 6:31 PM

Brad Turner @BA_Turner
LeBron James a game time decision, per Frank Vogel. Will test on floor. – 6:31 PM

Ohm Youngmisuk @NotoriousOHM
LeBron James is a game-time decision. Will test his knee pregame. Wayne Ellington remains out with non-COVID illness. – 6:31 PM

Ryan Ward @RyanWardLA
Frank Vogel says LeBron James is a game-time decision tonight. – 6:31 PM

Wayne Cole @waynec0le
I’m trying to figure out if I’m in DC or LA; it’s Lebron James and Lakers jerseys everywhere. #LakeShow – 5:39 PM

Kevin Pelton @kpelton
With LeBron James on the verge of passing Karl Malone for second in NBA career scoring, I wrote about when we might reasonably expect him to catch Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for first and which current players could eventually challenge them: es.pn/3qj3l0f (ESPN+) – 5:37 PM

Brad Turner @BA_Turner
Lakers status update for Wizards game: Wayne Ellington (non-COVID related illness), Wenyen Gabriel (left ankle sprain) and LeBron James (left knee sorenesss/effusion) are questionable. Talen Horton-Tucker (left ankle sprain) is probable. – 1:23 PM

Neil Dalal @NeilDalal96
LeBron James (left knee soreness/effusion) is questionable against the Wizards on the second night of a back-to-back for the Lakers – 12:52 PM

Brad Turner @BA_Turner
The @latimessports has more #lakers coverage with: LeBron James and big finish vs. Raptors help Lakers snap 11-game road skid latimes.com/sports/lakers/… – 12:41 PM

Brad Turner @BA_Turner
My dude @Dan Woike has this in @latimessports on: After another amazing night, LeBron James is poised to reach No. 2 on NBA scoring list latimes.com/sports/lakers/… – 12:40 PM

Kamenetzky Brothers @KamBrothers
Special @LockedOnLakers podcast for a Saturday. HUGE shorthanded win over the Raptors, with especially big nights from LeBron, Russ and Wenyen Gabriel(!). What does this mean for the Lakers moving forward? @LockedOnNBAPods @LockedOnNetwork
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/leb… – 12:19 PM

Justin Kubatko @jkubatko
📅 On this day in 2010, the @Cleveland Cavaliers LeBron James became the youngest player in NBA history to reach 15,000 career points (age in years-days):
✅ James (25-079)
✅ Kevin Durant (26-078)
✅ Kobe Bryant (27-136)
✅ Wilt Chamberlain (27-156)
✅ Carmelo Anthony (27-234) pic.twitter.com/7ebEdeeY0x – 12:01 PM

StatMuse @statmuse
Most go-ahead or game-tying shots in the final 60 seconds since Russ entered the league:
53 — Russell Westbrook
52 — Damian Lillard
51 — Kevin Durant
51 — LeBron James pic.twitter.com/7zqGthBgXo – 11:08 AM

Justin Kubatko @jkubatko
Russell Westbrook (22p/10r/10a) recorded his 10th triple-double of the season last night.
It’s the seventh time he’s reached that mark, the second-most such seasons in NBA history (Magic Johnson, 9).
The only other @Los Angeles Lakers to reach that mark are Johnson and LeBron James (1x). pic.twitter.com/sHj8FGss2Z – 10:51 AM

Justin Kubatko @jkubatko
LeBron James last night:
✅ 36 PTS
✅ 9 REB
✅ 7 AST
It’s the 14th time James has recorded at least 35p/5r/5a in a game since turning 35 years old.
No other player in NBA history has recorded more than five such games after their 35th birthday. pic.twitter.com/y37LfRE5T4 – 10:11 AM

Ira Winderman @IraHeatBeat
Sunday notes on a Saturday: Heat’s Bam Adebayo gets defensive when it comes to award (and also is serving as his own campaign manager). sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-h… Plus: Dragic, Allen, Achiuwa, Iguodala, LeBron, more. – 9:02 AM

More on this storyline

After scoring six points in the first quarter, James came out firing in the second. He scored the Lakers’ first 15 points of the quarter to pass Malone. James hit a cutting layup on a feed from Stanley Johnson at the 5:20 mark to give him 36,929 points, one better than Malone. “Just to be a part of this league for as many years as I’ve been a part of it and being linked to some of the greatest who’ve ever played this game, guys I’ve either watched or studied or read about or aspired to be like … I’m just always lost for words for it,” James said. “It’s an honor for myself, for my hometown, for my family and my friends to be able to live these moments throughout this journey. And that’s exactly who I do it for.” -via USA Today Sports / March 20, 2022

James finished the game with 38 points for 36,937 in his career and now trails only legendary center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on the all-time list. Abdul-Jabbar has been the NBA’s scoring king since 1984 and finished his 20-year career with 38,387 points. “I will not allow myself to think about it,” James said of the possibility of passing Abdul-Jabbar. “I’ve always just played the game the way I’ve been playing it over the years, and these things have just happened organically by just going out and playing the game the right way. Hope to accomplish that at some point in my career, but I won’t think about it too much.” -via Matt Eppers @ USA Today Sports / March 20, 2022

Ryan Ward: Carmelo on LeBron passing Malone: “Take your hat off to LeBron” for being able to do what he’s done in his career thus far. -via Twitter @RyanWardLA / March 20, 2022