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LeBron James is no stranger to commemoration. Over his storied career, he has been honored time and time again, and as he continues to break records, those moments of recognition grow increasingly significant. Now, ahead of the Los Angeles Lakers’ game against the Chicago Bulls, a new celebration of James’ achievements has been revealed.

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In NBA posts on social media, it was revealed that James will wear a special patch on the left side of his jersey to honor him becoming the all-time leader in made field goals. The record-breaking achievement has only further cemented his place amongst the greatest players in league history, and the NBA is making sure that everyone recognizes the significance.

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James surpassed Hall of Fame center and Laker legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to take over the record, which previously stood at 15,837 made baskets. The King achieved this in a game against the Denver Nuggets on March 5th, which the team unfortunately lost.

The moment itself was in the first half, when the King buried a turnaround fadeaway on Nuggets forward Zeke Nnaji for his third field goal of the night about 20 seconds before the end of the half.

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“I grew up watching, reading [about], idolizing a lot of the greats,” James said after the game where he passed Abdul-Jabbar. “If I ever was able to be part of the NBA, I wanted to put myself in position that I can be named with some of the greats.”

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For now, the next record James is chasing is the one for most games played, where he sits five games behind Celtics legend Robert Parish’s figure of 1,611 for first place.

However, this isn’t the first commemorative patch James has received from the NBA this season.

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LeBron James’ Other Jersey Patch Celebrates Record 23 Seasons In the NBA

Earlier this season, in January, the league announced that LeBron James would wear a patch on the upper right chest to celebrate his 23rd season in the league, an NBA record.

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The patch itself features a silhouette of his famous pre-game chalk-toss routine, along with three colored stripes representing the teams he has played for: the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Miami Heat, and the Los Angeles Lakers. At the time, reports said that the patch would be worn for every one of the King’s remaining games this season.

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Notably, though, this patch was removed after every game from his jersey, dated, and shipped to Topps’ production facility in Dallas, where it is authenticated before being inserted into trading cards.

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Patches of this kind are a new development for Topps, which also has rookies wearing a “Debut Patch” during their first career games starting this season. In addition, last season’s MVP, Rookie of the Year, and Defensive Player of the Year, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Stephon Castle, and Evan Mobley, wear a special gold NBA logo on the back of their uniforms. All of these effects are eventually used in trading cards.

Today, the 23rd season patch is being replaced, but it’s unclear if this will continue.

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Siddharth Rawat

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Siddharth Rawat is an NBA writer at EssentiallySports, focused on covering roster moves and injury updates from the Newsroom Desk. Combining a background in literature with analytical approach, he provides reports that go beyond surface-level news. Siddharth has closely followed the Cleveland Cavaliers for years, offering timely and insightful updates on any trades, injuries, or roster shifts involving the team. In addition to his sports journalism, Siddharth is a passionate gaming content specialist with extensive knowledge of game culture and esports. He holds a degree in literature and computer science and has experience in organizing esports events and conducting industry research. His blend of creativity, structure, and research experience allows him to craft engaging content and community-focused experiences tailored for gaming and interactive media audiences.

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Tanay Sahai

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