Bryant becomes league's youngest to score 20,000

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant became the youngest player in NBA history to score 20,000 career points when he had 39 points in the Lakers' 95-90 road win over the New York Knicks on Sunday.

Now with 20,019 points, Bryant reached the milestone at age 29 years, 122 days, surpassing NBA greats Wilt Chamberlain (29 years, 134 days) and Michael Jordan (29 years, 326 days).

He reached 20,000 points on a three-pointer with 11:08 left in the third quarter of Sunday's game at Madison Square Garden.

"It is special to do it here," Bryant told reporters after connecting on 14 of 28 field goal attempts, including five of 12 three-pointers. He also had 11 rebounds and eight assists.

"The culture of basketball here, it is the Mecca, it is special to play in Madison Square Garden," Bryant added. "This is my favorite place to play."

Bryant is the 31st NBA player to score 20,000 points, achieving the honor in 811 games, 15th fastest. Chamberlain needed only 499 games.

Bryant was already youngest to score 10,000 through 19,000 career points. He achieved 17,000, 18,000 and 19,000 points last season.

(Writing by Gene Cherry in Salvo, North Carolina, editing by Clare Lovell and Pritha Sarkar)