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LeBron James #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers scores 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 7, 2023 in Los Angeles. (Photo by RONALD MARTINEZ/Getty Images NORTH AMERICA/Getty Images via AFP)
NBA legends and current stars hailed LeBron James as the league’s best player on Wednesday after the 38-year-old Los Angeles Lakers superstar led the competition in scoring.
LeBron passed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the NBA scoring record with a jump shot in the third quarter of Tuesday’s 133-130 loss at Oklahoma City to reach 38,388 career points, one more than the iconic big man Abdul-Jabbar’s total. .
“This is an impressive achievement that demonstrates the continued excellence of the league over 20 seasons,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said.
“And amazingly, LeBron continues to play at an elite level and basketball history is still being written.”
Retired Lakers legend Magic Johnson, Abdul-Jabbar’s former teammate in the LA “Showtime” championship club in the 1980s, was surprised to see James beat the score.
Wow, at my age, I don’t think I’ll ever see two NBA athletes score over 38,000 points! I still remember when my friend at Showtime, the legendary Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, broke the record. It is an honor to be the one to present him and strengthen his legacy!
– Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) February 8, 2023
“Wow, at my age, I don’t think I’ll ever see two NBA athletes score over 38,000 points!” Johnson tweeted.
“I still remember when my friend at Showtime, the legendary Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, broke the record. It was an honor to be the one to pass it on to him and strengthen his legacy!
Kevin Love, a former Cleveland Cavaliers and 2012 US Olympic teammate of James, used the “goat” emoji – for Greatest Of All Time – to announce the feat.
“True greatness. Thank you so much for witnessing and being a part of your journey,” Love tweeted. “History was made. 38,388 (sheep).
“It’s undeniable that LeBron has been the longest,” Love said in a social media video from James’ former club.
“The fact that he’s been able to do what he’s done for 19 years, I don’t think anyone can do it again.”
Congratulations from a friend.@kevinlove x @KingJames | #ScoringKing pic.twitter.com/VHWwX6apx5
– Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) February 8, 2023
Brooklyn Kevin Durant, who twice beat James and the Cavs in the NBA Finals when he was with Golden State, said James has been another motivation in his journey from a poor youth in Akron, Ohio, to a global sports icon.
“Where you’ve come from, how hard you’ve been grinding for this long, it’s been an inspiration since day one,” Durant said. “Lots of love and keep setting the bar high.”
‘Greatest of all time’
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar stands courtside with LeBron James #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers after James passed Abdul-Jabbar as the NBA’s leading scorer, surpassing Abdul-Jabbar’s career total of 38,387 points against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Crypto. com Arena on February 07, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. Harry How / Getty Images / AFP
Another NBA star who is now tweeting his congratulations and explaining that James is the best player in the NBA.
“Congratulations @KingJames … legendary stuff there,” tweeted Golden State superstar Stephen Curry, a four-time NBA champion like James.
“Either. Congrats bro,” tweeted Philadelphia 76ers star James Harden.
“Greatest of all time,” Memphis standout Ja Morant said on Twitter.
“This is WILD!!! Unreal,” tweeted Draymond Green of Golden State. “Actually doing this like THE (Sheep) should.”
“The greatest,” tweeted Boston’s Jaylen Brown. “Congratulations to @KingJames.”
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