Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James shoots during an NBA basketball game against the New Orleans Pelicans in Los Angeles on April 1, 2022. (ASHLEY LANDIS / AP)

LeBron James became only the second player in NBA history to score 38,000 career points on Sunday as he inches closer to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's all-time record.

James, playing in his 20th NBA season, needed 11 points to reach 38,000 points and hit a mid-range jumper in the first quarter of the Los Angeles Lakers' home game against the Philadelphia 76ers to move past the milestone.

James eventually finished with 35 points but it was a bittersweet night as the Lakers lost 113-112.

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The 38-year-old forward, who started his career with the Cleveland Cavaliers and also played for the Miami Heat, has averaged 29 points per game this season.

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (right) shoots as Los Angeles Clippers forward Marcus Morris Sr. defends during the second half of an NBA basketball game on Oct 20, 2022, in Los Angeles. (MARK J TERRILL / AP)

A four-times champion and four-times MVP, James is on course to break former Lakers center Abdul-Jabbar's 34-year-old record of 38,387 points in the coming weeks.

When James turned 38 last month, Abdul-Jabbar had wished him happy birthday with the message: "38 is the new 38,388."

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James is now 363 points behind Abdul-Jabbar and based on his scoring average, NBA statisticians expect him to break the record before the All-Star break next month.