MINNEAPOLIS — Kobe Bryant surpassed Michael Jordan on the NBA’s all-time scoring list Sunday, moving into third place behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Karl Malone.

The Los Angeles Lakers star, now in his 19th season, passed the Chicago Bulls legend (32,292 points) and the player to whom he has long been compared with a free throw in the second quarter against the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Target Center.

Bryant, 36, entered the game eight points shy of Jordan’s mark. He now trails only Abdul-Jabbar (38,387)and Malone (36,928) in career NBA points.

For Bryant, the milestone is no small feat, as Bryant forged his Hall of Fame career in Jordan’s shadow, with every achievement being measured against his idol almost since the day Bryant entered the league in 1996 at the age of 18.

Phil Jackson coached both players in the NBA, winning six titles with Jordan’s Bulls and five with Bryant’s Lakers, and he wrote in his book “Eleven Rings” that Bryant was “hell-bent on surpassing Jordan as the greatest player in the game.”

Bryant disputes Jackson’s claim and has downplayed topping Jordan’s scoring total for weeks, saying, “It’s really not a big deal to say I passed him for something like that. It’s a great accomplishment, but the true beauty is in the journey.”

Another star of the game, LeBron James, said Friday in anticipation of Bryant reaching the milestone that the accomplishment was “not surprising.”

“He’s one of, if not the greatest scorer our game has ever seen,” James said. “And for him to be able to still be playing at a high level at his age right now — not even the age, but the years and the mileage that he has in this league of 19 years — it just shows the commitment to the game that he gives every single season.”

James grew up admiring Bryant.

“I think for me to be able to grow up and watch Kobe, he’s one of the guys that I looked up to as well,” James said. “Going straight from high school to the NBA, he was on my wall, and to see him continue to do so many great things out on the basketball floor is very commendable.”

ESPN.com’s Dave McMenamin contributed to this report.