LeBron James’ record-setting Tuesday night — when he passed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to become the NBA’s all-time leading scorer — resulted in a historic achievement for NBA exposure.
The late game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Oklahoma City Thunder averaged 3 million viewers on TNT — the most-watched regular-season NBA game for the network in nearly five years, excluding opening nights, according to the league.
The game played on L.A.’s Pacific Time didn’t prevent people from tuning in, as the broadcast peaked with 3.7 million viewers from 11:45 p.m. to midnight ET when James hit the record-breaking shot.
The 38-year-old’s achievement also set records for the NBA online.
The league’s social and digital platforms on Tuesday night generated 225 million video views — the most ever for a regular-season night.
Those in attendance at Crypto.com Arena got to witness the history in person — and did so for relatively cheap, as the get-in price bottomed out at $128.
But those who gambled that James would break the record Thursday night against the Milwaukee Bucks are probably feeling buyer’s remorse: Before Tuesday night, the minimum price to get into Thursday’s game was $796 — and was just $100 as of Wednesday.
![The University of Alabama showed off renovations to Bryant Denny Stadium Thursday, Oct. 1, 2020. Sports Illustrated covers decorate the walls inside the new press box. [Staff Photo/Gary Cosby Jr.]](https://frontofficesports.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/USATSI_15005835_168422351_lowres-scaled-e1779297429645.jpg?quality=80&w=300)
