Cleveland superstar LeBron James surpassed NBA icon Michael Jordan as the league’s all-time playoff scoring leader on Thursday in the Cavaliers’ Eastern Conference finals victory over the Celtics in Boston.
With a three-pointer with 2:40 left in the third quarter James, 32, surpassed Jordan’s 5,987 playoff points.
He entered the contest needing 28 points to pass Jordan and finished with a game-high 35 points for a total of 5,995.
He also added eight rebounds, eight assists and three steals as the Cavs romped to a 135-102 victory and a 4-1 series win.
“I’ve always told you guys, anytime I’m linked to any of the greats, even the greatest in Mike, it’s just an honour,” James told reporters Thursday morning with the milestone looming.
“It’s a tribute to what I’ve been able to do with this game.”
Jordan, who led the Chicago Bulls to six NBA titles in the 1990s, played 179 post-season games in his career.
James has played 212 career playoff games — and is now in the NBA Finals for a seventh straight time.
The Warriors beat Cleveland for the title two years ago, and the Cavaliers turned the tables last year with a remarkable rally from a 3-1 series deficit to capture the title in seven games.
With the rubber match set to begin in one week, James was looking ahead not back, but teammate Kyrie Irving said he urged James to savor his achievement.
“I told him not to take the moment for granted. Passing MJ in scoring — that’s an iconic moment,” said Irving, adding that James’s contribution to the sport was “nothing short of legendary”.
