Dirk: LeBron can break Kareem's scoring record if he stays healthy
With his 35-point performance against the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday night, Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James passed Dallas Mavericks legend Dirk Nowitzki for the title of active scoring leader and moved into sixth on the all-time scoring list.
Nowitzki believes James still has a lot left in the tank, though, and that he can break Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's all-time record of 38,387 points.
"If he stays healthy, the way he's looking and moving, he has a chance at Kareem," Nowitzki said, according to ESPN's Tim MacMahon. "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."
James has averaged 27.2 points per game through 15-plus seasons and has shown little sign of slowing down. Even in his 16th campaign, the King currently ranks 10th in the league in scoring with 27.3 points per game through nearly two weeks.
The consistent excellence has James 7,185 points shy of Abdul-Jabbar's record. At his career scoring pace, he would truly assume the throne in 265 games.