As the NBA embarks on its 77th season, fans and players alike are eagerly anticipating a season filled with excitement and significant milestones. Two marquee names, Damian Lillard and James Harden, have trade requests looming over their heads, adding an extra layer of intrigue to the upcoming campaign. Additionally, both of these All-Stars are chasing individual records that could further cement their legacies in the league.
Damian Lillard, the face of the Portland Trail Blazers, is on the verge of etching his name into the franchise’s record books. Already the team’s all-time leader in points and three-pointers, Lillard is tantalizingly close to another milestone. He currently stands just 169 assists away from surpassing the franchise’s record for assists, a feat that would solidify his status as a Portland legend.
On the other side of the NBA drama spectrum is James Harden, who finds himself in the midst of turmoil with the Philadelphia 76ers. Despite the off-court distractions, Harden is on the brink of achieving a remarkable career milestone. He is a mere 220 three-pointers away from surpassing Ray Allen for the second spot on the NBA’s all-time three-pointers list, a testament to his incredible shooting prowess.
These individual pursuits of greatness are just a fraction of what makes the upcoming 2023-2024 NBA season so captivating. From players like LeBron James and Russell Westbrook etching their names into the record books to iconic matchups and game-winning moments, this season promises to be memorable.
One of the most prominent milestones on the horizon involves LeBron James, who recently achieved a monumental feat by surpassing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to become the NBA’s all-time leading scorer. With 38,652 points under his belt, LeBron is now within striking distance of another historic milestone – 40,000 career points. Needing just 1,348 points to achieve this, LeBron’s consistent scoring ability makes this achievement highly plausible. Based on his career average of 27.2 points per game, he could potentially reach this milestone by his 49th game of the season.
Kevin Durant, another prolific scorer, is also eyeing a climb up the all-time scoring leaderboard. Requiring 518 points to surpass legends like Hakeem Olajuwon, Elvin Hayes, and Moses Malone for the 10th-most points, Durant’s journey with the Phoenix Suns is crucial. Last season, he was plagued by injuries and managed only 208 points. However, if Durant maintains his health, consistency, and career average of 27.3 points per game, he could achieve this milestone in just 18 games.
If Durant has his sights set on breaking into the top 10 all-time scorers, he faces the challenge of surpassing Shaquille O’Neal and Carmelo Anthony, needing a total of 1,705 points. While this is a feasible target, Durant’s injury history, with no more than 55 games played in a season since 2018-19, adds an element of uncertainty to this pursuit.
Beyond individual milestones, the NBA boasts two remarkable scoring streaks that are in jeopardy. LeBron James, now entering his 21st season, has an astounding record of scoring 10 or more points in 1,151 consecutive regular-season games. This remarkable achievement stands as the longest streak in NBA history, and James aims to extend it when the Los Angeles Lakers open their season against the defending champion Denver Nuggets on October 24th.
