Kobe Passes Jordan For 3rd On All-Time Scoring List

MINNESOTA (CBSLA.com) - Kobe Bryant has passed Michael Jordan for third place in the NBA  all-time scoring list during the second quarter against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Point no. 32, 293 came on his second free throw with 5:24 left in the second quarter.

Bryant, 36, now trails only Karl Malone(36,928) and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar(38,3870).

Michael Jordan scored 32,216 points in 1,072 games, while Bryant needed 197 more games to pass Air Jordan.

Bryant, who is in his 19th season in the NBA, has an career average of 25.4 points per game.

"Laker fans we've been so blessed to watch Kobe Bryant, one of the top 5 or 6 best players ever, play in a Lakers uniform," Magic Added. "Just like we've never seen another player like Michael Jordan, we will never see another player like Kobe Bryant!"

After the milestone point, Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor stopped the game to congratulate him and presented him with the game ball.

"I congratulate Kobe on reaching this milestone," Jordan, the owner of the Charlotte Hornets, said in a statement released to The Associated Press. "He's obviously a great player, with a strong work ethic and has an equally strong passion for the game of basketball. I've enjoyed watching his game evolve over the years, and I look forward to seeing what he accomplishes next."

Bryant finished with 26 points to lead the Lakers to its third straight win

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