LeBron James becomes top scorer in NBA history

King James broke Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's 39-year-old record and continues to add to the legacy of his storied career.

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8 de febrero, 2023

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King. The long-time nickname of LeBron James feels a bit more fitting today, as he became the leading scorer in NBA history. After scoring 38 points in the loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, "King James" extended his career point total to 38,390, breaking the all-time record held by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who was present in the stands. Everyone has their own opinion on whether or not James is the best basketball player in history, but there is no doubt that he holds a place on the NBA's Mount Olympus.

The Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, previously known as the Staples Center, experienced a moment that many thought would never happen. The fans of the purple and gold were witnesses of history when LeBron James score his 38,388th point.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar passes the torch to LeBron James

Abdul-Jabbar came down to the court to congratulate James on the milestone. The new all-time leading scorer in NBA history wanted to thank all those who supported and helped him during his career:

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 means to much to me. It's very humbling. Please give a standing ovation to the captain, please. To my beautiful wife, my daughter, my two boys, my friends, my boys, my family, my mother, everybody that has ever been part of this run with me the last 20 years, 20-plus years, I just want to say I thank you so much because I would not be me without y'all.

Abdul-Jabbar encouraged James to keep scoring in hopes that this new record will outlast his own:

I've been carrying the torch as record holder for 38 years. 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.

"Legendary" and "incredible"

The first to congratulate him were the Lakers. "After 39 years, the NBA has a new #ScoringKing," they posted.

Current NBA stars like James Harden and Stephen Curry, along with retired players such as Paul Pierce and Dirk Nowitzki, were quick to congratulate LeBron James after surpassing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's record.