LeBron James hopes he can 'continue to break records'

Cleveland's LeBron James becomes the youngest player in NBA history to score 15,000 career points as the Cavaliers defeat the Chicago Bulls 92-85.

Cleveland's LeBron James became the youngest player in NBA history to score 15,000 career points as the Cavaliers defeated the Chicago Bulls 92-85. James, who turned 25 in December, shaved more than two years off the previous record held by Kobe Bryant as he helped the Cavs to their 12th win in 13 games. "I was born with a God-given gift," James said. "I take full advantage of it by being able to do what I do on the basketball court. Hopefully, I can continue to stay healthy, and hopefully, I'll continue to break records."

James scored 13 of his 29 points in the fourth quarter, giving him a total of 15,026. He broke the record when he hit two free throws for 15,001 career points shortly after he had gained his first points of the night about 4.40 into the game when he scored with a dunk. James claimed the record aged 25 years, 79 days, in his 540th game. Bryant was 27 years, 136 days when he set the mark playing for the Los Angeles Lakers.

Bryant, who passed 15,000 points in his 657th game, also had a satisfying night on Friday, scoring 22 points and 13 assists for the Lakers in a 104-96 win over Minnesota. But Andrew Bynum, the Lakers centre, strained an Achilles' tendon in the game, the Los Angeles Times reported. "I was just running and felt a lot of pain in my calf and down from there," Bynum said. "It's calmed down a little bit now. It was just really sharp, really quick. One or two seconds of super sharp pain."

While the severity the injury was not immediately clear Phil Jackson, the Lakers coach, said: "He'll probably miss a little while." * With agencies