Giannis Antetokounmpo sets sights on LeBron James’ NBA scoring record after reaching 21,000 career points

The Milwaukee Bucks have stumbled out of the gate in the 2025–26 NBA season, posting a 9-12 record that places them 11th in the Eastern Conference standings.

However, the team showed signs of a resurgence in their most recent game on Sunday, November 30 (Philippine Standard Time), cruising past the Brooklyn Nets 116-99 at home in the Fiserv Forum.

Star forward and two-time NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) Giannis Antetokounmpo spearheaded the victory, leading the team with 29 points, eight rebounds, and two assists. In doing so, the 30-year-old reached the 21,000 career point milestone, becoming the 42nd player and sixth-youngest in NBA history to achieve the feat.

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Following the win, Antetokounmpo shared his bold ambitions with the media, claiming he believes he can surpass Los Angeles Lakers legend LeBron James’ all-time scoring record before retiring.

“First of all, we have to talk about who those guys are because I just saw those guys. Talk about Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Wilt Chamberlain, and Kevin Durant. I think it’s the GOATs of the GOATs. And I don’t think anybody disagrees in this room,” Antetokounmpo said.

Giannis Antetokounmpo believes he will become the NBA All-Time leading scorer in the next 4-5 years

“I think when I’m going to be 35 years old and sitting in this chair, we are going to have a discussion how I am the top list of all time in scoring.”

(Via @Bucks) pic.twitter.com/CSLAyzdGsI

— Fullcourtpass (@Fullcourtpass) November 30, 2025

“I don’t think anybody in this world disagrees; just to be in that list with them is incredible. Have I accomplished as much as them? I don’t think so. Do I have a lot of room to improve and room to grow in years to keep on writing my own legacy? Yes.

“And I think getting to the top of the scoring list is not six, seven, or eight years away. I think in my opinion it’s four, five years away, four and a half years away. I think when we are going to be 35 years old, we’ll have a discussion that I am in the top list of all time in scoring—and I will have made that a reality because I believe I’m going to do it. It’s something I want to do.

“But hey, again, that’s too far away. Four, five years from now, I might have four other kids. I don’t know if my wife might have left me. Who knows? Maybe four, five years from now… I just have to worry about Monday against Washington and stay healthy,” he added.

While Giannis is undeniably an elite scorer, breaking LeBron’s all-time scoring record is highly improbable. LeBron currently has 42,250 career points, meaning Giannis would need an additional 21,248 points to catch up. Even if he averages 30 points per game, he would require roughly 700 more games—over eight and a half seasons of perfect health—to reach that milestone.

Regardless of whether he surpasses LeBron, Giannis’ place among the NBA’s all-time greats is secure. He is currently averaging 30.9 points per game this season, marking his fourth consecutive year above 30 points, and has finished in the top five in MVP voting for seven straight seasons.

Selected 15th overall by the Milwaukee Bucks in the 2013 NBA Draft, Giannis has spent his entire career with the franchise, leading them to the 2021 NBA Championship. Among his many accolades, he has won two MVP awards, the 2021 NBA Finals MVP, the 2020 NBA Defensive Player of the Year, the 2017 NBA Most Improved Player, the 2024 NBA Cup and NBA Cup MVP, and earned nine NBA All-Star nominations.

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