LEBRON JAMES is officially a billionaire – and still breaking records on court.
The LA Laker, 37, is now the second-highest scorer of time in the NBA after passing legendary forward Karl Malone.
James has passed Karl Malone’s NBA points totalCredit: AP
The Lakers star is now closing in on Kareem Abdul-JabbarCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Malone played the majority of his glittering career with the Utah JazzCredit: Reuters
James passed the milestone after scoring 36 points in a 127-119 March defeat to the Washington Wizards, taking him past Malone’s NBA total of 36,928.
Malone – known as the Mail Man – formed a terrific duo with John Stockton during a glittering career at the Utah Jazz.
He averaged 25 points-per-game over a near-two decade stretch from 1985 to 2004.
It might have been another loss in a dismal season for the Lakers, but James continues to thrive on and off the court despite his team’s struggles.
And now the Akron-born superstar has his sights set on the all-time record, held by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
Kareem, a six-time MVP and six-time NBA champion, was selected by the Milwaukee Bucks as the first overall pick in 1969.
The 7ft2 star dominated defenses for the next twenty years, racking up an incredible 38,387 points.
That record could well be in danger with James showing no signs of slowing down.
After finishing the 2022 campaign without a playoff run, he currently stands on 37,062.
In recent years he’s dedicated himself to the sport, pushing himself to the limit in the gym and honing his diet to ensure maximum physical performance.
‘I WON’T THINK ABOUT IT TOO MUCH’
And he’s certainly come a long way from his early days at the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Like Abdul-Jabbar, James was the first overall pick in the NBA Draft when he was selected by his hometown team in 2003.
James’ first contract was a juicy one, with the Rookie of the Year taking home $4,018,290 in his first year with the Cavs.
Since then, he’s amassed a stunning fortune that has been built on elite play, lucrative sponsorship deals and forays into film.
James is arguably the most recognizable NBA global star since Michael Jordan.
And his net worth is now north of $1billion, making him just the third NBA player ever – behind Jordan and Kobe Bryant – to reach nine figures.
But LeBron holds the honor of being the first active player to ever reach the three-comma club.
According to Spotrac, his total NBA career earnings amount to a stunning $387,384,119.
And he’s not done there, with the final year of his Lakers contract set to net James a further $44,474,988 in 2022-23.
But in total, LeBron has brought in over $1billion when combining his playing salary with annual sponsorship deals.
Deals with Beats, Blaze Pizza, GMC, AT&T, Pepsi, Rimowa and Walmart alone are believed to rake in a whopping $100m-per-year.
Plus his joint venture with Maverick Carter – SpringHill Entertainment – is worth a cool $300m alone.
LeBron is not afraid to enjoy his hard-earned cash, owning an incredible fleet of luxury cars and a $37m Beverly Hills mansion.
‘PLAYING THE RIGHT WAY’
But his focus remains on the Lakers and getting back to winning ways – with the all-time scoring record secondary to that.
He said after passing Malone’s total: “I will not allow myself to think about [passing Kareem].
“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.
“I hope to accomplish that at some point in my career, but I won’t think about it too much.”
Rising into second-place on the all-time list is a huge achievement, especially when you consider which NBA royalty make up the rest of the top ten.
There is only one other active player currently on the list – LeBron’s LA teammate Carmelo Anthony.
He sits ninth, just in front of Moses Malone, before Shaquille O’Neal, Wilt Chamberlain and Dirk Nowitzki come next.
In fifth is Chicago Bulls legend Jordan with 32,292, before tragic Lakers legend Bryant sits fourth on 33,643.
The top three are way out in front, with Malone, James and Abdul-Jabbar sitting pretty in an elite club.
The NBA is gearing up for the Finals this week as Boston Celtics take on Golden State Warriors for the crown.
While superstar former Laker Shaquille O’Neal has revealed how cutting out sandwiches led him to shed a load of weight.
LeBron is enjoying his summer away from basketball and was recently spotted hanging out with Formula One’s Lewis Hamilton in Monaco.
James says he won’t focus too much on Abdul-Jabbar’s recordCredit: Getty – Contributor
LeBron is joined on the list by Michael Jordan and Kobe BryantCredit: AFP
