LeBron James passes Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to become NBA's all-time scoring leader
In his 20th season at 38 years old, 'The King' is the new career scoring king of the NBA with 38,390 points.
Basketball
LeBron James has done it.
James became the National Basketball Association's all-time leading scorer on Tuesday (7 February), passing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's career total of 38,387 points.
The moment of truth came with 10.9 seconds left in the third quarter of the Los Angeles Lakers' game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, when James hit a step-back jumper for his 36th point of the night - and the 38,388th of his career.
The 38-year-old James accomplished the feat in his 20th season. Abdul-Jabbar's record stood for almost 40 years, when he set the old mark on 5 April, 1984 - nine months before James was born.
James finished with 38 points, seven rebounds, three assists and three steals as the Lakers lost 133-130 for a new total of 38,390 points.
The game was stopped with Abdul-Jabbar and NBA Commissioner Adam Silver joining James on the court, along with James' family.
"I just want to say thank you to the Laker faithful," a tearful James said to the crowd at Crypto.com Arena. "You guys are one of a kind.
"To be able to be in the presence of such a legend as great as Kareem, it means so much to me. It's very humbling. Please give a standing ovation to the captain.
"To my beautiful wife, my daughter, my two boys, my friends... Man, everybody that's ever been a part of this run with me the last 20-plus years, I just want to say I thank you so much 'cause I wouldn't be me without y'all."
In an interview with TNT after the game, Abdul-Jabbar heaped singular praise on 'The Chosen One', who has shouldered the hugest expectations since coming out of high school two decades ago.
"LeBron's career is one of someone who planned to dominate this game," Abdul-Jabbar said. "He got out of high school, he had the size and the talent to step right into the NBA and he immediately started to have his effect - and it’s gone for almost 20 years now.
"He led three teams to world championships. They didn’t get there because of someone else and LeBron tagged along. You have to give him credit for just the way he played and for the way he's lasted and dominated.
"He has that indefinable essence that they call leadership."
Added Silver, "A record that has stood for nearly 40 years. Many people thought it would never be broken. LeBron, you are the NBA's all-time scoring leader. Congratulations."
Accolades poured in from James' peers around the league.
"Your sustained level of play for 20 years, reaching this pinnacle of scoring in basketball - it is unbelivevable," Golden State Warriors guard Steph Curry said.
"So be proud, celebrate with your family and your teammates. An accomplishment that is beyond well deserved."
And it doesn't look like James is about to stop any time soon.
"For sure I know I can play a couple of more years," he said. "The way my body's been reacting to me over the course of the season... It's all about my mind.
"If my mind is sharp and if I feel motivated to go out and prepare myself, I can continue to play this game."