After weeks and months of anticipation, it finally happened: LeBron James surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to become the all-time leading career scorer in the history of the NBA.
The moment came with 10.9 seconds remaining in the third quarter of Tuesday’s contest between the Los Angeles Lakers and Oklahoma City Thunder. James scored his 36th point on a fadeaway jumper, giving him the record and 38,388 points for his career.
The record had stood since Abdul-Jabbar retired in 1989. He became the record-holder by surpassing Wilt Chamberlain’s career total on April 5, 1984 against the Utah Jazz in Las Vegas. Abdul-Jabbar, Chamberlain, George Mikan and now James have all held the record as members of the Lakers.
HISTORY.
With this bucket, LeBron James moves past Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to become the NBA’s all-time leading scorer! pic.twitter.com/N6V5RxPe6r
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) February 8, 2023
Abdul-Jabbar was on hand at Crypto.com Arena for the occasion, and he was very gracious while passing the torch, so to speak.
Kareem just handed LeBron James the game ball…
Chills… 👑 pic.twitter.com/e17NYpRMHf
— Tavio Thrower 🏀 (@TavioThrowerNBA) February 8, 2023
It is onward and upward for James. The next milestone will be the 40,000-point mark, which seems within reach.
