LeBron and on: James becomes youngest player to 20,000 NBA points
January 17, 2013 -- Updated 1256 GMT (2056 HKT)
At 28 years and 17 days old, LeBron James became the youngest player in NBA history to reach 20,000 points with his haul of 25 against the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday. It is the latest in a long line of milestones for James, who is also the youngest to 1,000 and 10,000 points, and the youngest to win NBA Rookie of the Year.
James started his NBA career with the Cleveland Cavs in 2003 after being the number one overall pick in the draft. Though they didn't make the playoffs, James averaged over 20 points in his first season, matching the feat of Oscar Robertson and a certain Michael Jordan.
LeBron became a free agent in 2010 and with franchises clamoring to sign him, one sports network dedicated an entire show to his move. He eventually revealed he'd signed for the Miami Heat but later admitted he regretted the way his switch was handled.
LeBron's march to 20,000 points has taken the record from the NBA's other megastar, Kobe Bryant. The L.A. Lakers stalwart reached the landmark at an age of 29 years and 122 days old, well over 12 months after LeBron.
LeBron finally got his hands on a championship ring in 2012 when the Heat defeated Oklahoma City in the NBA finals. He was duly voted NBA Finals MVP, and season MVP for the third time.
LeBron became the USA's all time top scorer during the 2012 London Olympics as his team beat Spain in the final to take gold, just as they had done four years previously in Beijing.
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STORY HIGHLIGHTS
- Miami Heat's LeBron James becomes the youngest player in NBA history to reach 20,000
- James reaches milestone with a haul of 25 points in clash with Golden State Warriors
- The 28-year-old was first to 1,000 and 10,000 points and is USA all time leading scorer
(CNN) -- For LeBron James the NBA records just keep on tumbling.
The Miami Heat star notched up 20,000 career points against the Golden State Warriors Wednesday, becoming the youngest player in NBA history to reach the milestone.
And the fact he swiped the title from the other undisputed megastar of the league, Kobe Bryant, will only have added to his satisfaction.
James was the youngest to reach 1,000 and 10,000 points and now at the tender age of 28 years and 17 days, he's reached 20,000 over a year before his LA Lakers rival.
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A haul of 25 points in the Heat's 92-75 victory over the Warriors secured another slice of history for one of the finest players the NBA has ever seen.
He took to social networking site Twitter to thank teammates and fans alike: "I give everything to the game and I hope it continues to give back to me! Love you so much!
"More importantly I wouldn't be anything without my teammates over these 10 years! Thanks guys. You're the best."
James reiterated his thanks in quotes reported by the Miami Herald: "It was awesome. They've given me an opportunity to be in this position because they trust me on the floor to make plays and make decisions. Both milestones are pretty cool."
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra paid tribute to James' tenacity after he was the victim of some roughhouse tactics from the Warriors.
He added: "Everybody was proud of him. It's a big moment. We gave him the game ball and then everyone took a shot at him -- a punch, a jab, an elbow, whatever they could get in before he started hitting back."
James also racked up assist number 5,000 in the same game, becoming the 13th player in history to reach 20,000 points and 5,000 assists.
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