LeBron James has become the NBA’s all-time scoring leader, hitting a fadeaway to smash a nearly 40-year-old record.
LeBron had been hot on the heels of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s 38,387 point record, a mark many believed was unreachable.
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Abdul-Jabbar had held the record since April 5, 1984, a remarkable 38 years, 10 months and two days.
But the Lakers legend was there to hand it over to another legend as LeBron James reached the 36-points he required just before the end of the third quarter.
Abdul-Jabbar was on hand to pass the record over to LeBron and the pair embraced on court in an impromptu presentation on court.
With tears in his eyes and the crowd chanting “MVP”, James was able to say a few words.
“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+ 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.
‘F**k man, thank you guys.”
The record was one that the NBA world didn’t believe could be broken, with just seven players in history within 10,000 points of LeBron.
The reaction was swift as fans piled on the praise for the historic moment.
US sports anchor Brandon A. Williams tweeted: “I sincerely hope people take the time to appreciate the greatness of LeBron James. He’s shown no signs of slowing down, leads by example, doesn’t cheat the game and tonight he got his flowers plus the record.”
In the LA Times, columnist Bill Plaschke said the record had settled the GOAT argument and that it was LeBron.
LeBron 16 points from history at halftime
LeBron James is just 16 points from beating Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s NBA record for points and there’s little doubt he wants it tonight.
Despite the Oklahoma City Thunder trying to spoil the party by leading 76-66 at the half, no one will remember the score if James can pass the record tonight.
And there’s no doubt he’s after it tonight, if his custom headphones are anything to go by.
James has 20 points, two rebounds and two assists for the match so far, just 16 points short of the record of 38,387 held by Abdul-Jabbar since he passed Wilt Chamberlain’s record on April 5, 1984.
Before the match, LeBron was caught talking to his sons and asked: “(Should I) go ahead and get it? Alright, I’ll go and get it.”
That and him practicing Kareem’s trademark Skyhook in the pre-game make us think it’s happening today.
Aussie young gun whacks LeBron
Australian Josh Giddey has smacked LeBron in the face as the legend chases history at Crypto.com Arena.
With LeBron attacking the rim midway through the first quarter off a pass from teammate Russell Westbrook and needing 30 points for the record, Giddey struck James in the face on a layup inside the lane.
With no foul being called on the play, Oklahoma City pushed the ball back up in transition to score off a Giddey floater to cut the Lakers lead to 17-15 with 5:30 left in the quarter.
LeBron chasing NBA record
Hailing from Akron, Ohio, James was drafted in 2003 as the first overall pick out of St. Vincent-St. Mary High School, and was named the 2004 NBA Rookie of the Year.
He is one of the most decorated players in the history of the sport, having won four NBA championships, four MVP awards, four Finals MVP awards, three All-Star MVP awards, two Olympic gold medals, being named an All-Star a record 19 times and being selected to the All-NBA Team a record 18 times.
Last year, he became the first player in NBA history to accumulate over 10,000 career points, rebounds and assists.
James himself is acutely aware of not just the milestone, but its significance.
“I think it’s one of the greatest records in sports in general,” he said.
“It’s one of those records that you just don’t ever see or think that it would be broken.”
Despite the looming enormity of the legacy he is due to create, James said he “just (wants) to win”.
Abdul-Jabbar himself says he looks forward to passing the record on.
“I’ve been carrying the torch as record holder for 38 years,” he said.
“I’m excited and relieved to pass it along to the next worthy recipient.
“LeBron earned it and I hope he carries it even longer than I did.”
The milestone once again raises the ever-present debate of who the greatest player of all time is, but for now, LeBron is contracted through another two years and says he would like to stay in the league until his eldest son, LeBron James Jr, can enter the league.
Story Credit: news.com.au