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LeBron James #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts after scoring a goal to pass Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, surpassing Abdul-Jabbar’s career total of 38,387 points against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Crypto.com Arena on February 07. , 2023 in Los Angeles, California. Harry How / Getty Images / AFP
LeBron James said Tuesday that he expects his NBA career to last at least two more years as he achieves the “surreal” feat of becoming the league’s leading point scorer.
The 38-year-old Los Angeles Laker finally passed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the NBA’s leading scorer with 38 points in his team’s 133-130 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
James finished the night with 38,390 career regular season points, three more than Abdul-Jabbar’s 38,387, a record that had stood since 1984.
The only question now is how much James will add to his record tally before finally calling time on his career.
James said after the record-breaking night that he was not in the mood to leave the stage yet.
LeBron on the emotions of a record-breaking night. #ScoringKing
Hear more from him and the Lakers:
📲 https://t.co/enwi9jW91O pic.twitter.com/X84g2n2zYk— NBA (@NBA) February 8, 2023
“I know I can play a few more years,” James told TNT television. “The way I felt, the way my body responded to me during the season.
“I know I can play for a few more years – it’s all about my mind. If my mind is still there, if I’m still motivated to go out and try to compete for championships, I think I can still do it.
“If my mind is clear and I’m motivated to prepare myself every day, then I can continue to play this game.”
James, meanwhile, admitted he’s still struggling to come to terms with finally surpassing Abdul-Jabbar’s long-standing record.
“It’s very surreal,” he said. “Because I never set goals or targets, I like it.
What a night.#ScoringKing pic.twitter.com/hsvuOeiNgv
— NBA (@NBA) February 8, 2023
“Having a long life, being able to go out on the floor for three different franchises, trying to be the best I can be every night, and having great teammates and coaches that let me be me.
“I don’t know if it hit me. It hit me a little bit on the floor with my family after it happened. But it hasn’t sunk yet.
“To be able to play at this level for 20 years, to be at the top of my game, it’s really surreal.
“I hope I can continue, but at the end of the day it’s just good to be in this league for 20 years.
“And as long as I can go, it’s really hard.”
Asked by television pundit and NBA great Shaquille O’Neal whether Tuesday’s record means he is now the greatest player in NBA history, James replied: “I’ll let other people decide who.
“But it’s good barbershop talk.”
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