LeBron James reached 38,390 points in the match between Los Angeles Lakers and Oklahoma City Thunder on February 7, thereby setting a new NBA record.
The previous scoring record belonged to legendary center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, with 38,387 points.
Legend Abdul-Jabbar presented a commemorative ball to LeBron James after his scoring record was broken by his junior on the evening of February 7. Photo: ESPN
LeBron James entered the game with 38,352 points and needed 36 points to take the top spot on the all-time scoring list. The 38-year-old star reached his goal in the final seconds of the third quarter, with his signature fade-away two-pointer.
The game was immediately halted for about 10 minutes after James’ historic score. He was honored by the NBA, and the legendary Abdul-Jabbar himself presented him with a ball as a souvenir. The wife and children of the Los Angeles Lakers star also entered the field to celebrate with cheers of “MVP” (Most Valuable Player) from tens of thousands of spectators.
Abdul-Jabbar spent 14 years with the Lakers in the 1970s and 1980s. It took him two decades to set the NBA scoring record. James wasn’t even born when Abdul-Jabbar set the record. James is now in his 20th year in the NBA and has ambitions to play until he’s 40.
“It’s a surreal feeling,” James said in his on-court interview. “I never thought Kareem’s record would be broken. I’m honored to have my name listed alongside Kareem and the other legends. I believe the NBA will continue to produce new legends.”
A series of famous stars such as Rihanna, Drake, Kendrick Lamar, Snopp Dogg and famous colleagues Stephen Curry, Shaquille O’Neal honored James with video messages. On social networks, many NBA stars expressed their admiration for James’s feat.
“It’s exciting to see how far James can go,” Abdul-Jabbar said. “James has the lifestyle, the leadership and the qualities of a great player. He’s an example for the younger generation.”
James came to the NBA in 2003 when he was selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers as the number one draft pick that year. He immediately won the Rookie of the Year award in 2004, then MVP in 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013. James won the NBA championship four times with three teams: Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat and Los Angeles Lakers.
