By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
The latest achievement certainly was special for LeBron James, becoming the all-time leading scorer in the NBA.
James, 38, connecting a stepback jumper in the third period of the game between the Los Angeles Lakers and Oklahoma City Thunder in the packed crypto.com Arena lifted him over the record of 38,387 points held by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar since 1984.
“I just want to say thank you to the Laker faithful,” reacted James, “You guys are one of a kind. To be able to be in the presence of such a legend as great as Kareem, it’s very humbling.”
The game was interrupted to celebrate the historic moment with Abdul-Jabbar joining his successor on the court alongside NBA Commissioner Adam Silver.
“Congratulations to LeBron on breaking one of the most hallowed records in all of sports by becoming the NBA’s all-time scoring leader,” Silver said in a statement, “It’s a towering achievement that speaks to his sustained excellence over 20 seasons in the league. And quite amazingly, LeBron continues to play at an elite level and his basketball history is still being written.”
The crowd was focused on the pursuit of the record, paying more attention to the individual efforts of the four-time NBA champion than the game itself. At the end of the day, the Lakers lost, 133-130, missing the opportunity to reduce the deficit from the Play-In zone of the Western Conference table.
James poured 20 points in the first half and with his 16th point in the third period broke the record. He ended up with 38 points behind 13/20 field goals, including 4/6 triples. Beyond marching to the all-time leading scorer status, he tallied seven rebounds, three steals, and three assists in the losing effort.
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