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LeBron passes Kobe Byrant for third on NBA all-time scoring list [UPDATE]

Lakers star makes history again, moving ahead of Kobe by scoring 18 points Saturday vs. the Sixers.

Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James hugs Los Angeles Lakers forward Kobe Bryant near the end of the Cavaliers’ 120-111 win at Quicken Loans Arena. David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

Live Updates: LeBron James passes Kobe Bryant on scoring list

Update, 10:04 p.m. — LeBron has done it! In a Lakers uniform no less. James passed Kobe Bryant for third place on the all-time scoring list.

Does this make LeBron the GOAT? Has he always been the GOAT? LeBron > Kobe? No, but seriously, this is just another stop on the road toward eternal greatness for James. He’s potentially adding another title to his trophy case in June and may be staring down Karl Malone in a few seasons — you know he’s playing until he’s 50. The Philly crowd showed some love (via ESPN):

James finished with 29 points, eight assists and seven boards but the Lakers got dominated by Ben Simmons and Tobias Harris, losing 108-91.

Update: 9:45 p.m. — James has 14 points at halftime and is four off of Kobe Bryant for third place. There’s no doubt he’s going to pass Bryant tonight.

Update: 9:21 p.m. — LeBron is off to a hot start in the second quarter and is up to 12 points, six off of Kobe.

Update, 9:13 p.m. — James has six points in the first quarter and the Lakers are down 35-25. So he needs 12 points to move past Bryant with three quarters to go, only a matter of time.

Los Angeles Lakers All-Star LeBron James needed 18 points to pass Kobe Bryant for third place on the NBA’s all-time scoring list on Saturday vs. the Philadelphia 76ers. James is now at 33,644 total points in his NBA career. The only two players that would be ahead of LeBron on the list are former Utah Jazz PF Karl Malone (36,928) and former Lakers Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (38,387).