Giannis, OKC, and LeBron Make Historic Friday Breakthroughs

In a thrilling showcase of basketball, January 3, 2026, witnessed remarkable achievements by some of the NBA’s elite players, highlighted by Giannis Antetokounmpo, Oklahoma City Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and LeBron James.

Historic Contributions from Giannis, OKC, and LeBron

• Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Milestone: In the Milwaukee Bucks’ narrow victory against the Charlotte Hornets, Giannis scored 30 points, recorded 10 rebounds, and dished out 5 assists. His game-winning alley-oop marked his 158th career game with 30-plus points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists, surpassing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s record. He is now one game away from tying Oscar Robertson for the all-time record.
• Oklahoma City’s Historic Start: The Thunder emerged with a decisive 131-94 win against the Golden State Warriors, now boasting a 30-5 record, the best in the NBA. This achievement places OKC among the select franchises that have started a season 30-5 in consecutive years, joining the ranks of the Chicago Bulls and Golden State Warriors. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 30 points in just 28 minutes, confirming his status as one of the league’s top performers.
• LeBron James’ Ageless Performance: LeBron continued to defy age with a stellar 31-point game against the Memphis Grizzlies, accompanied by 9 rebounds and 6 assists. This performance set a new record for the most points scored by a 41-year-old in an NBA game, surpassing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s 25 points from 1988. LeBron and Luka Dončić combined for 65 points, showcasing their scoring prowess during a critical moment in the game.

Other Notable Performances

Beyond the standout performances, other players also made significant contributions:

• Ryan Rollins contributed 29 points for Milwaukee, while rookie Kon Knueppel led Charlotte with 26 points.
• Donovan Mitchell led the Cleveland Cavaliers to a comeback victory over the Denver Nuggets with 33 points, outperforming Jamal Murray.
• The San Antonio Spurs achieved their best start since the 2016-17 season, improving to 25-9 after defeating the Indiana Pacers.

As teams continue their pursuit of success, all eyes will remain on these stars who seek to cement their legacies in the annals of basketball history.