LeBron James becomes highest scorer in NBA history, surpassing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

LeBron James is the NBA’s new career scoring leader.

With a step-back jump shot with 10.9 seconds left in the third quarter of the Los Angeles Lakers’ game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday night, James pushed his career total to 38,388 points and broke the record held by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar by nearly four. decades.

James raised his hand, threw both hands in the air, then smiled. Abdul-Jabbar rose from his seat and applauded. The game was halted as several members of James’ family, including his mother, wife and children, took the floor for a ceremony recognizing the moment.

Abdul-Jabbar — a longtime Laker and one of the many celebrities and sports stars who made sure he was there to see history — became the league’s all-time leading scorer on April 5, 1984 and retired in 1989 with 38,387 points. It was a record that few thought would last forever, with very few even coming close. Karl Malone retired 1,459 points behind Abdul-Jabbar, Kobe Bryant was 4,744 points shy, and Michael Jordan was 6,095 points shy.

WATCH l ‘Scoring King’ LeBron James make NBA history with a step back:

James went through everything, then caught Abdul-Jabbar as well. He did so in his 20th season. Abdul-Jabbar also played 20 NBA seasons.

And now, King James — a moniker he’s had since high school, as a kid from Akron, Ohio — is the NBA’s scoring king.

“It’s a record that’s been going on for almost 40 years, that a lot of people thought would never be broken,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said.

Abdul-Jabbar held the ball high, then handed it to James, a torch ceremony. They took photos with Silver, then with each other. James wiped the tears from his eyes and addressed the crowd.

“I just want to say, thank you for being loyal to Laker. You are one of a kind,” James. “To be in the presence of a legend like Kareem is very humbling. Please give the Captain a standing ovation, please.”

WATCH l James speaks after becoming the NBA’s all-time leading scorer:

James then thanked his family and those who have supported him, including Silver and the late NBA Commissioner David Stern.

“I’m very grateful for allowing me to be a part of something that I’ve always dreamed of,” James said.

At least 16 different players have, technically, been the top scorers in league history – most of which came in the league’s opening month in 1946, when everyone started from zero and nine players topped the scoring list. in the first 16 days.

But only six have finished the official season as the all-time leader: Joe Fulks, George Mikan, Dolph Schayes, Bob Pettit, Wilt Chamberlain and Abdul-Jabbar.

James will be the seventh name on the list, and he will stay there for a long time. No active player is within 10,000 points of James, who has two more years on his contract and will be on pace to become the league’s first 40,000-point scorer next season.

“Nobody’s going to touch it,” said Cleveland forward Kevin Love, James’ teammate on the title team in 2016. “The scoring record is never going to be broken. I don’t care. It’s never going to be touched. It’s never going to happen again.”

The Toronto Raptors acknowledged the milestone on social media. “Recognize greatness when you see it. Congratulations, LeBron James,” read a post on the team’s Twitter account.

James could have a long scoring streak in the past, if he were to. But he would have preferred to pass. James is only behind John Stockton, Jason Kidd and Chris Paul on the all-time assists list. None of them were even close to James’ scorer. Of that group, Paul is the closest, ranking 38th in NBA history.

And Paul 17,000 points behind the new score king.

“I don’t think so, but it’s true,” Silver told the Associated Press. “I even add – right? – to this achievement for the man who is the goal scorer because he defines what is necessary to win. because there is a lot of focus and attention on him. … I think it is more special, he prefers to be known for his help instead of a basket.”

James is the only member of the NBA’s triple-quintuple club: at least 10,000 points, 10,000 rebounds and 10,000 assists. There are 44 players to reach five digits in the two categories.

He will almost certainly become the NBA’s all-time leader in earnings per retirement; when adding in $97 million US which will make over the next two seasons, which will be over $500 million in salary on the court alone. He was his 19th All-Star selection, tying Abdul-Jabbar’s record. If he plays in that game on February 19 in Salt Lake City, he will set the record for appearances.

Others, perhaps, have improved this. That is always up for debate. But nothing ever goes well, for long. James – two-time champion in Miami, champion in Cleveland in 2016 and champion with the Lakers in 2020 – averaged 30 points per game in 20 seasons; only three other players have averaged more than 10 points per game this deep into their careers, no one averaged more than Bryant’s 17.6 in 20. and last season.

“I never did, ‘OK, if I play this time and I average this,'” James said. “I’ve never done anything wrong in my career. I’ve always said, ‘If it happens, it happens.

It happened.