Some records and milestones in sports are quickly forgotten after a player attains them. Others will stand forever and leave a mark on those who witnessed it.
The NBA’s all-time career scoring record is an example of the latter. LeBron James broke it on Feb. 7 versus the Oklahoma City Thunder by surpassing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s career point total of 38,387.
The game was paused as the Los Angeles Lakers, the league and Abdul-Jabbar himself honored James for the monumental accomplishment.
At halftime of Sunday’s NBA All-Star Game, the festivities continued, as James was honored on the court along with Abdul-Jabbar and Karl Malone, who is third on the career scoring list.
The four-time MVP called the moment “surreal” (h/t ClutchPoints).
LeBron reflects on being honored for becoming the NBA's all-time leading scorer.#NBAAllStar pic.twitter.com/Q4h1CexBD0
— NBA (@NBA) February 20, 2023
“It’s a surreal feeling. I didn’t get the opportunity to watch Kareem live, but I know the history of the game, I got enough opportunity to watch a lot of his games (through) replays or seeing footage of him. I did get the opportunity to watch a lot of Karl Malone games live,” James shared.
“To see the way they grace the court with their ability. You have the physicality of Malone’s game and he has some finesse as well with his mid-range jump shot, with his ability to run the floor and be point guard or shooting guard down the floor. And Kareem’s game [is] a unique game that no one has ever been able to try to patent or steal from. They were just so dominant in their eras. They were so unique in their own game, and it’s the reason they are two of the all-time greatest basketball players that this world has ever seen. That moment for me is like, I’m standing between these guys, it’s just a surreal feeling.”
James was only able to play in the first half due to a hand injury, and his five-year streak of winning the All-Star game as a captain ended, as Team Giannis emerged victorious.
Still, many feel he has ascended to an even higher place in the annals of basketball history by becoming the sport’s all-time scoring leader.
