Kobe Bryant sets new NBA record

Bryant becomes the fifth player to reach the 30,000th mark.

Kobe Bryant, 34, scored his 30,000th career point on Wednesday with a short jumper after a drive into the lane against the New Orleans Hornets. This made him become the youngest player in NBA history to eclipse 30,000 career points and only the fifth overall to hit that mark.

Bryant started his elitist journey when he scored during the first half of the Los Angeles Lakers‘ game against the New Orleans Hornets. He arrived in New Orleans 13 points short, and scored his 13th and 14th points on a short jumper with 1:16 to go in the first half.

Because the basket came in the flow of play, there was hardly any reaction on the court as Bryant and his team mates ran back on defense.

Wilt Chamberlain was 35 when he hit the mark, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Karl Malone were each 36 and Michael Jordan was 38.

Bryant is the only player to accomplish this feat while playing for just one club; he is also the youngest to reach the milestone, at 34.

Bryant joins Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (38,387), Karl Malone (36,928), Michael Jordan (32,292) and Wilt Chamberlain (31,419) as the only players to tally 30,000 or more points in the NBA.