LeBron James just hit another incredible milestone, moving into sixth place on the NBA’s all-time steals list during Tuesday’s game against the Philadelphia 76ers. Though the Lakers fell 118-104, James added another steal to his impressive career total, now standing at 2,311.
That’s enough to pass Maurice Cheeks (2,310) and Scottie Pippen (2,307), adding to King James’s already legendary resume at age 40.
The NBA’s steal leaders read like a who’s who of basketball greatness. John Stockton sits at the top with an almost unbelievable 3,265 steals. Jason Kidd (2,684), Chris Paul (2,671), Michael Jordan (2,514), and Gary Payton (2,445) round out the top five.
James had another strong night despite the loss, putting up 31 points while shooting a red-hot 62.5% from the field. He nearly notched a triple-double, adding eight rebounds and nine assists in his 32 minutes on the court.
It’s just another day at the office for the 20-time All-Star, who’s been having a stellar season.
Through 42 games this year, he’s averaging nearly a triple-double: 23.8 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 9.0 assists per game. He’s also shooting a career-best 38.1% from three-point range.
But the night wasn’t all celebration for the Lakers. Anthony Davis left the game early in the first quarter with an abdominal strain, dealing a tough blow to the team’s chances.
“When our best player goes out, it’s always challenging,” James said after the game. “If he’s out from the beginning, then we have a game plan set. But when AD or any one of our guys go down during the game, it’s just tough.”
Davis managed just four points and two rebounds before exiting. The Lakers expect to update his status on Wednesday.
The team’s now in the middle of a five-game road trip, heading to Washington on Thursday and New York on Saturday. They’ll finish up with an unusual “road” game against the Clippers in the new Intuit Dome next Tuesday.
