James: Elbow injury is much more serious than hitting a funny bone; the fadeaway jumper was practiced after losing to the Mavericks in the Finals.

On March 6th, Beijing time, the Lakers lost 111-116 to the Nuggets, ending their three-game winning streak. James played 33 minutes and 42 seconds in this game, shooting 7-of-11 from the field, 0-of-2 from three-point range, and 2-of-2 from the free-throw line, recording 16 points, 5 rebounds, 8 assists, 3 steals, and 1 block, with a plus/minus of -10. He injured his elbow in the final moments of the fourth quarter. After the game, he spoke to the media in the locker room. Details are as follows—

Reporter: How are you feeling now?

James: It's pretty painful right now, kind of like hitting your funny bone, but much more severe than that.

Reporter: Were you trying to test it out at the time, to see if you could finish the game?

James: Yes. We'll definitely keep monitoring it and see how it feels tomorrow.

Reporter: You started slow and were playing catch-up the whole game. What was the toughest part about battling from behind all night?

James: We fought hard and had our chances; it was a one-possession game late. We just didn't make enough plays down the stretch. Credit to the opponent.

Reporter: With Ayton leaving early, Hayes played extended minutes and finished with 19 points and 8 rebounds. If Ayton's status is uncertain and Hayes needs to take on more and play longer, do you have confidence in him?

James: We don't just trust Hayes, we fully trust him. And it's not just him; everyone has to step up. This isn't the first time we've dealt with injuries, and it won't be the last.

Reporter: Even while still playing, what does it mean to you to keep breaking these records?

James: Honestly, nothing too special. At the end of the day, having my name mentioned among the greatest players in history has always been humbling and cool. I grew up watching them, reading about them, idolizing them. If someone had told me back then I'd make the NBA, I just hoped I could do it the right way and earn my place among the greats. So to be here now is truly an honor.

Reporter: In 2023, everyone was discussing what shot you'd use to break Kareem's record. You broke it with a turnaround fadeaway jumper this time. What are your thoughts on that?

James: It's one of my signature moves, a skill I've been refining throughout my entire career. It feels great to have the ability to make that shot.

Reporter: How did you first develop this move? When did it truly become a go-to weapon for you?

James: I started practicing it after losing to the Dallas Mavericks in the Finals; I played like crap. I went to learn all the post moves from Hakeem, then worked hard training and polishing it all season, and have been refining it ever since throughout my career.

Reporter: How concerned are you about your elbow injury?

James: We'll see how it feels over the next few days. Hopefully, it won't feel worse when I wake up tomorrow; it would be best if it improves. We'll just take it day by day.

Reporter: Speaking of scoring records, it's been a while since you passed Kareem. You're approaching 16,000 made field goals alone—so many shots, so many baskets made. When you occasionally sit back and think about it, what does it feel like?

James: I don't really feel anything right now. All I feel right now is the pain in my elbow and this loss. Obviously, it's an incredible accomplishment, but it's hard for me to truly process it. I never set out to break the scoring record. When I entered the league, I wanted to start from scratch.

I was the top high school player in the country, but I wanted to start over and work my way back to being the best player in the world—that was my only mindset. Along the way, I've hit some milestones, some I set as goals, some I didn't. Tonight's wasn't one of those goals, but it is an unbelievable achievement. Look at the list, look at all the great players who have played in this league—every single person in the NBA is among the best in the world.