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Lakers superstar LeBron James scored his way into history, breaking a record set by another veteran Laker Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
James scored 38 points in a Lakers Vs. The thunder game made him the top scorer in the history of the NBA, with 38,390 points over Abdul-Jabbar’s 38,387-point.
Abdul-Jabbar’s record had stood for 39 years.
James broke Abdul-Jabbar’s NBA’s all-time scoring leaderboard with 10.9 seconds left in the third quarter in the game against the Oklahoma Thunder (OKC), where the Lakers lost 130-133.
James’ sons Bronny and Bryce were at the arena and celebrated the moment, recording the moment with their phones as their dad scored the historical points.
Bronny and Bryce react to LeBron breaking the all-time NBA scoring record ❤️#ScoringKing pic.twitter.com/JSGvepCxvr
— NBA (@NBA) February 8, 2023
Abdul-Jabbar, also present in the arena, applauded James.
“There couldn’t be a better person to do it than LeBron. He earned it. He worked hard for it,” Abdul-Jabbar said.
Read about Abdul-Jabbar’s NBA history here.
My thoughts on @KingJames breaking my record.https://t.co/G3fs3hHlil pic.twitter.com/z61oDX7Z3N
— Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (@kaj33) February 8, 2023
Speaking to TNT Abdul-Jabbar said James deserves a lot of credit for the effort he put toward excellence in the sport.
“LeBron’s career was one of someone who planned to dominate this game. He got out of high school, he had the size and the talent to step right into the NBA, and he immediately started to have his effect, and that’s gone for almost 20 years now.
“So I think that you’ve got to give him credit for just the way he has planned to last and to dominate. And he led teams to three world championships. They didn’t get there because of someone else and LeBron tagged along. LeBron led them. You know, he has that indefinable essence that they call leadership. You know, he gets there on the court and tries to get things done. Guys want to get behind him and see that that happens because they have that much respect for him and his talent,” Abdul-Jabbar said.
But by the end of the game, James said he had not fully absorbed the gravity of the moment.
“I don’t think it has hit. I had a moment obviously when it happened, and embracing that moment and seeing my family and my friends and people that’s been around me since I started this journey, even before the NBA. So definitely a great moment right there, very emotional just being a kid from a small town in Ohio. I had a moment there, but I don’t think it’s really hit me on what just transpired. As much as I tried to live in the moment, it was kind of a blur. But looking back there and seeing my guys back there and out there on the floor with my kids, my wife and my mom, you know, it’s just a surreal feeling.”
Asked if he considers himself the greatest NBA player of all time (GOAT), James was philosophical but self-confident.
“I don’t know, man. For me I think it’s great barbershop talk. It’s gonna happen forever and ever. If I was the GM or whatever the case may be of a franchise I was starting up and I had the No. 1 pick, I would take me,” James said. “But that’s just me because I believe in myself, what I bring to the table, a guy that’s been able to transform his game over the course of 20 years, be able to play any position in this league, excel at any position. I can play 1 through 5. I’ve led the league in assists. I’ve been able to do whatever it is this game has wanted me to do and also transform my game as well.”
Well said, LeBron, but that does not solve the problem he has now presented to the world.
The argument of who’s the greatest basketball player of all time between James and Michael Jordan is still far from getting settled.
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