LeBron James becomes youngest player to score 26,000 points

LeBron James reached a pair of impressive milestones on Friday evening against the Detroit Pistons.

Kenny Ducey | Jan 29, 2016

LeBron James becomes youngest player to score 26,000 points /

LeBron James reached a pair of impressive milestones in a 114–106 road win against the Detroit Pistons.

With Cleveland ahead handily in the third quarter, James hit a free throw to become the youngest player to reach 26,000 points in NBA history, minutes after passing Derek Harper for 20th on the all-time assist list.

James currently sits 17th on the league’s all-time scoring list behind Kevin Garnett, who has scored 26,071.

• JENKINS: LeBron’s Time: Cavs star is feeling the urgency to win (12.07.15)

.@KingJames is now the 17th player in #NBAHistory to reach 26,000 career points and is the youngest player to do so. pic.twitter.com/CWcgm1xxJF
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) January 30, 2016

Photos: LeBron James ranks 17th on the NBA all-time scoring list

The NBA's All-Time Scoring Leaders

#20: Reggie Miller

25,279 points

#19: Carmelo Anthony

25,551 points* (through Nov. 15, 2018)

#18: Alex English

25,613 points

#17: Kevin Garnett

26,071 points

#16: John Havlicek

26,395 points

#15: Paul Pierce

26,397 points

#14: Tim Duncan

26,496 points

#13: Dominique Wilkins

26,668 points

#12: Oscar Robertson

26,710 points

#11: Hakeem Olajuwon

26,946 points

#10: Elvin Hayes

27,313 points

#9: Moses Malone

27,409 points

#8: Shaquille O'Neal

28,596 points

#7: Dirk Nowitzki

31,187 points* (through Nov. 15, 2018)

#6: Wilt Chamberlain

31,419 points

#5: LeBron James

31,425 points* (through Nov. 15, 2018)

#4: Michael Jordan

32,292 points

#3: Kobe Bryant

33,643 points

#2: Karl Malone

36,928 points

#1: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

38,387 points

James finished with 20 points, nine rebounds and eight assists in Cavaliers’ victory. Kevin Love led all scorers with 29 points.

Cleveland improved to 33–12 and won its third straight game since losing Tyronn Lue’s head coaching debut against the Chicago Bulls. Detroit fell to 25–22.

Published Jan 29, 2016

KENNY DUCEY

Kenny Ducey writes baseball, basketball and off-beat stories for SI.com. He is a member of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America, and an editor at Baseball Prospectus.