PHILADELPHIA – Isa na namang career milestone ang nakamit ni four-time NBA MVP LeBron James.
Ang 30-anyos na si James ang naging pinakabatang player na nagposte ng 25,000 career points makaraang tulungan ang Cleveland Cavaliers laban sa Philadelphia 76ers, 107-100.
“It just means I’ve played with a lot of great teammates, a lot of great coaches,” sabi ni James. “I’ve been around some great groups and I’ve been able to reap the benefits. It’s a cool thing. I’ve got more work to do but it’s pretty cool to see where you’re able to kind of stop and look at it.”
Siya ang ikaanim na active player na nakapag-lista ng 25,000 points at pang-20 sa kabuuan para makasama sina Dallas Mavericks’ star Dirk Nowitzki, San Antonio Spurs’ center Tim Duncan, Minnesota Timberwolves’s forward Kevin Garnett, Los Angeles La-kers’ guard Kobe Bryant at Paul Pierce ng Clippers.
Tumapos si James na may 22 points, 11 assists at 9 rebounds at ibinalik ang Cavs sa pagkakalubog sa second half mula sa 15-point lead ng 76ers.
Itinala ni James ang kanyang milestone basket mula sa isang alley-oop dunk sa 8:07 minuto sa fourth quarter. Nang magawa ito ni James ay binigyan siya ng 18,094 76ers fans ng standing ovation.
“They are Sixer fans to death. But they know and they respect the game of basketball,” sabi ni James. “To get a standing ovation for reaching that milestone, it was very special.”
Pinamunuan naman ni Jahlil Okafor, ang No. 3 overall pick, ang Philadelphia sa kanyang 24 points kasunod ang 15 ni Nik Stauskas at 14 ni Nerlens Noel.
Hindi naman nagpapigil ang nagdedepensang Golden State nang gibain ang Memphis, 119-69; nakamit ng Houston ang kanilang unang panalo mula sa come-from-behind 110-105 victory laban sa Oklahoma City, tinalo ng Portland ang Minnesota, 106-101; pinatumba ng San Antonio ang New York, 94-84; at dinaig ng Los Angeles Clippers ang Phoenix, 102-96.