Lakers’ LeBron James turns into first participant in NBA historical past to achieve 10,000 factors, rebounds, assists

PHOENIX — LeBron James created a statistical class all to himself Sunday, changing into the primary participant in league historical past to achieve the 10,000 plateau in factors, rebounds and assists within the Los Angeles Lakers‘ 140-111 loss to the Phoenix Suns.

“To now sit alone at a statistical class on this league that I’ve actually modeled my recreation after: with the ability to rating, rebound and help,” James mentioned after ending with 31 factors, 7 rebounds and 6 assists towards the Suns. “I sit alone at a stat is fairly like — I would say ‘cool,’ nevertheless it does not fairly make sense to me.”

James set the mark by passing the ball to Carmelo Anthony for a 3-pointer early within the second quarter, notching his second help of the sport and 10,000th of his profession.

“I get misplaced for phrases anytime issues like this are taking place to me due to the place I come from,” he mentioned. “I robotically begin pondering to my hometown of Akron [Ohio] and my upbringing and the place I come from and the goals that I had of being on this league and taking part in on the highest stage.”

James now has 36,824 profession factors (third all-time), 10,004 assists (seventh) and 10,150 rebounds (39th). He’s in vary to cross Karl Malone for No. 2 on the all-time scoring record someday this week, if he continues to play on his sore left knee.

He walked out of Footprint Middle with the sport ball tucked underneath his proper arm, with the date of the sport and the stat milestone famous on the ball in black magic marker.

“My teammates congratulated me after the sport,” James mentioned. “My mother texted me, I consider at halftime, I noticed it after the sport.”

The accomplishment got here throughout a blowout loss in a dropping season, a disappointing wrinkle to the night time that James acknowledged.

“It is an honor to be part of this league and it doesn’t matter what’s happening this season, you attempt to take the victories that occur all through the course of an extended marathon,” he mentioned. “And tonight is one which occurred not just for myself however for my household and pals.”