Cleveland Cavaliers’ LeBron James (23) passes over Atlanta Hawks’ Thabo Sefolosha (25), from Switzerland, to Kevin Love in the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, Nov. 21, 2015, in Cleveland. AP
CLEVELAND — LeBron James has joined Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson as the only players in NBA history to rank in the Top 25 in points and assists.
With his fifth assist Monday against Orlando, James pulled into the elite company of the “Big O,” who finished with 26,710 points and 9,887 assists. James entered the game needing 21 points to pass Reggie Miller (25,279) for 18th on the career scoring list. Robertson is 11th.
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James reached the milestone with 5:00 left in the second quarter. The Cavaliers’ star drove the lane, jumped and made a quick pass into the corner to Kevin Love, who knocked down a 3-pointer.
Before the game, Magic coach Scott Skiles said James is more like Robertson and Magic Johnson than Michael Jordan, the player with whom he is most often compared.