Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James will miss the team’s game against the Milwaukee Bucks Thursday.
The 38-year-old has been ruled out of the clash against the Eastern Conference second-place team with ankle soreness, according to Chris Haynes.
The game would have been James’s first since he broke the NBA’s all-time scoring record on Tuesday during the Lakers’ 133-130 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
James appeared in the Lakers’ last four games despite his ankle injury as he chased Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s 34-year record.
With James unable to suit up, Lonnie Walker and Austin Reaves are candidates to see additional playing time against the Bucks.
LeBron James will miss the Lakers’ game against the Milwaukee Bucks with an ankle injury
James broke the NBA’s all-time scoring record against the Oklahoma City Thunder Tuesday
The Lakers star surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s (right) 34-year mark with 38,388 points
D’Angelo Russell and Malik Beasley, who were both recently traded to the Lakers, could also step up and provide assistance if they are able to make their team debuts.
Despite his injury, James is still expected to participate in the Lakers’ pregame ceremony to honor his new record.
James’s record-setting performance drew in a massive audience for TNT Tuesday night with the telecast peaking at 3.7 million viewers from 11.45pm to midnight – exceptional numbers for an NBA regular season game in February.
Fans had also shelled out thousands to secure a seat at Crypto.com arena to witness history in person, and James didn’t make them wait – putting on a show to seal the record, while Abdul-Jabbar watched on from courtside.
James went into the game against OKC needing 36 points to overtake the record of 38,387 – which was set by Abdul-Jabbar in 1989.
The King claimed the record with 10.9 seconds remaining in the third quarter with a trademark fadeaway dagger. He finished with 38 points, seven rebounds and three assists in a 133-130 defeat.
Following the record-breaking shot, James walked away with his hands high in the air before he was mobbed by teammates and eventually his sons, Bronny and Bryce, along with wife, Savannah.
The game between the Lakers and OKC was stopped in order to recognize the moment.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver grabbed a microphone, as social media ran wild, to honor James alongside Abdul-Jabbar, who gifted James the ceremonial basketball.
James celebrated the achievement with his sons Bronny (L) and Bryce (R) on Tuesday night
James lofted his hands high into the air as his teammates celebrated before mobbing The King
NBA commissioner Adam Silver congratulated James alongside former holder Abdul-Jabbar
The King thanked his family, friends and the Lakers fanbase for the everlasting support
James came into Tuesday’s game averaging 30 points, with his performance sure to be a huge disappointment to those who shelled out up to $100,000 a ticket to secure a seat for Thursday’s game against Milwaukee.
‘I just want to say thank you to the Laker faithful, you guys are one of a kind,’ James said.
‘To be in the presence of such a legend and great as Kareem it means so much to me, it’s very humbling. Please give a standing ovation to the captain, please.’
‘To my beautiful wife, my daughter, my two boys, my friends, my boys, my family, my mother. Man, everybody that’s been a part of this run with me these last 20-plus years. I just wanna say thank you so much because I wouldn’t be me without y’all.
‘All y’all help, all y’all passion, all y’all sacrifice has helped me get to this point. And to the NBA, to Adam Silver, to the late, great David Stern, I thank you guys so much for allowing me to be a part of something I’ve always dreamed about.
‘I would never, ever in a million years dreamt this any better than what it is tonight. F*** man, thank you guys,’ he ended.
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