LeBron James has made basketball history by breaking Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s 39-year all-time NBA scoring record in Tuesday’s 133-130 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The Los Angeles Lakers star hit a fadeaway two-pointer late in the third quarter to bring up his 36th point of the game, having needed 35 to match Abdul-Jabbar’s mark of 38,387 heading into the game.
The 38-year-old achieved the feat in his 19th season in the NBA, having been drafted with the No.1 pick in 2003, spanning a career across the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat and Lakers. He is a four-time NBA champion, four-time MVP and four-time NBA Finals MVP.
James finished the game with only two more points, having 38 for the game with seven rebounds and three assists, but it was all about his historic moment.
The game was halted for several minutes as James’ family entered the court to embrace him, while photographers flocked around him taking snaps.
There was a video presentation followed by an opportunity for NBA commissioner Adam Silver to congratulate the four-time MVP, with Abdul-Jabbar on hand to present a basketball to him and embrace him for breaking his long-held record, which had been viewed as unbreakable.
James spoke on the court, stating: “I just want to say thank you to the Laker faithful, you guys are one of a kind. To be able to be in the presence of such a legend and great as Kareem, it means so much to me, it’s so humbling. Please give a standing ovation to the captain, please.
“To my beautiful wife, to my daughter, to my two boys, my friends, my boys, my family, my mother, anyone who’s ever been part of this run with me over the past 20-plus years, I just want to say thank you so much because I wouldn’t be me without y’all. All y’all help, all y’all passion, all y’all sacrifice helped me get to this point.
“To the NBA, to Adam Silver, to the late great David Stern, I thank you guys so much for allowing me to be a part of something I’ve always dreamed about and I would have never ever in a million years dreamt this better than what it is tonight.”
