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LeBron James has overtaken Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to become the NBA’s all-time leading scorer.
James passed Abdul-Jabbar’s career mark of 38,387 points with a fadeaway jumper against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday night local time.
James has had a legendary career with Cleveland, Miami, and the Los Angeles Lakers after being taken with the first overall pick in the 2003 draft.
“To be able to be in the presence of such a legend and great as Kareem, it means so much to me. It’s very humbling,” James said in an on-court presentation after breaking the record.
“Everybody that’s ever been part of this run with me the last twenty plus years, I just wanna say I thank you so much because I wouldn’t be me without you.”
James won Championships in 2012 and 2013 with the Heat, 2016 with the Cavaliers, and 2020 with the Lakers, also winning the Finals MVP award in each victorious season.
His other accolades include four MVP awards (2009, 2010, 2012, 2013), nineteen consecutive All-Star selections from 2005 onwards, thirteen All-NBA First Team selections, and two Olympic gold medals.
The 38 year old is still playing at an elite level for the struggling Lakers, averaging 30.0 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 7.1 assists per game this season.
He says he plans to retire after playing a season with his son Bronny, who is currently in his last year of high school.
As well as Abdul-Jabbar, who played twenty seasons with the Milwaukee Bucks and the Lakers and was famous for his ‘skyhook’ shot, other famous figures James passed on his ascent to the record include the legendary Michael Jordan, the late Kobe Bryant, and one-time teammate Shaquille O’Neal.
IMAGE: FILE