Dirk Nowitzki was helpless as LeBron James passed him for 6th place on the NBA's all-time scoring list last night. Dirk for one, thinks LeBron will likely close his career at the very top of the list. LeBron entered the contest with 31,167 career points, needing only 21 to move past Dirk on the all-time list. He did just that, posting 35 with 11 rebounds and 4 assists in a loss to DeMar DeRozan and the Spurs.
"If he stays healthy, the way he's looking and moving, he has a chance at Kareem (Abdul-Jabbar)," Nowitzki told ESPN. "His numbers have been unbelievable. He doesn't seem to slow down. The stuff he was doing last year in Year 15 was incredible. If he keeps this up, he can pass Kareem." The Mavericks veteran has been outspoken about his admiration for LeBron, himself a universally respected figure in the game.
The point at which he eclipsed Dirk for 6th place came at middle mark of the 3rd quarter on an uncontested 17-foot jumper. His final haul of 35 points marked the 432nd time in his career he went for over 30, bringing his career total to 31,202 on 11,339 made field goals. Only Wilt Chamberlain, Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Karl Malone, and Kareem Abdul Jabbar stand in his way.
