Stephen Curry made history by becoming the Golden State Warriors’ all-time leading scorer with the ninth 50-point game of his career in Monday’s NBA victory over the Denver Nuggets.
Curry, who joined the Warriors as a first-round draft pick in 2009, scored 53 points in the 116-107 win.
It took him to 17,818 points and past Wilt Chamberlain’s record of 17,783.
“This is special,” Curry said. “With Wilt, any time you hear his name, you just assume his record’s unreachable.”
The 33-year-old added: “I did play six extra years here I guess, but it still means something to be at the top of that list.
“These last 12 years, all the team-mates I’ve played with, the coaching staff, the ownership, our fans – I’ve had some amazing experiences here.
“I’m not planning on slowing down, but this is one to kind of take a second and appreciate, for sure.”
Ex-NBA star Reggie Miller said Curry was “Mr Warrior” while Miami Heat’s Andre Iguodala said he was “a God”.
His coach, Steve Kerr, said: “What he’s doing is ridiculous. Nobody has ever shot the ball like this. It’s kind of crazy what he does out there.”
Despite Curry’s landmark moment, and the victory, the Warriors are 10th in the NBA’s Western Conference.
Elsewhere on Monday, Bradley Beal contributed 34 points and Russell Westbrook scored a triple double as the Washington Wizards ended the Utah Jazz’s 24-game home winning streak with a 125-121 victory.
The Jazz remain top of the Western Conference, while in the east, the Philadelphia 76ers hold top spot after a 113-95 win over the Dallas Mavericks, with Joel Embid notching 36 points.
Julius Randle scored 34 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for the New York Knicks against the Los Angeles Lakers, his former team, in a 111-96 win.
The Lakers, who have won just five of the 13 games missed by star players Anthony Davis and LeBron James this season, now sit fifth in the Western Conference.
De’Aaron Fox, the Sacramento Kings guard, responded to being fined $20,000 by the NBA for criticism of game officials over the weekend by netting 43 points, although his team were beaten 117-110 by the New Orleans Pelicans.
Jae Crowder made a career-high eight three-pointers as the Phoenix Suns set a franchise record of 25 three-pointers in a 126-120 victory over the Houston Rockets.
The Suns sit second in the west, while elsewhere the San Antonio Spurs eased past the Orlando Magic 120-97 and Jonas Valanciunas recorded a franchise-record 15th consecutive double-double as the Memphis Grizzlies beat the Chicago Bulls 101-90.
Image source: BBC News
