Basketball superstar LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers has the points record in the North American professional league NBA broken and replaced Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as number one.
LeBron James fought back tears when the previous record holder Kareem Abdul-Jabbar symbolically presented him with a basketball. “To be in the presence of someone as unique as Kareem is outstanding. Please applaud the Captain. Applause also for my mother, my wife, my children. I wouldn’t be me without your help.”said the 38-year-old superstar, who once again made NBA history and is now the top points-scorer in league history.
Even US President Joe Biden was presented with a specially recorded video message. “Congratulations LeBron. You inspired the nation to be better. Keep it up!”, said Biden. In the game against them Oklahoma City Thunder James broke the record held by Abdul-Jabbar for nearly 39 years. In front of his own Lakers fans in Los Angeles, the star overtook Abdul-Jabbar’s 38,387 in the third quarter.
Game stopped for ceremony
“A record that has stood for almost 40 years and that many thought would never be broken. LeBron, you are the NBA’s all-time scoring leader. Congratulations!”, said NBA boss Adam Silver at an impromptu ceremony on the arena floor. The main round game between the Lakers and the Thunder was briefly interrupted for around 15 minutes.
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James, who is in his 20th season in the world’s top basketball league, started the game 35 points off Abdul-Jabbar’s best. Like early in his career, James played with a headband against the Thunder. The 38-year-old is now the third-oldest active player in the NBA and has won four championships in his career.
The entire evening was dedicated to James, whose required points for the record were permanently displayed at the top right of the screen by the broadcasting station TNT. James was specially wired to a microphone. In the audience at the arena in California was not only Abdul-Jabbar himself, but also his children, his wife Savannah and his mother Gloria.
Debate about best basketball player is reignited
Things got serious towards the end of the third quarter when James came on for German national team captain Dennis Schröder. With a so-called fadeaway, the Lakers star got the record 10.9 seconds before the end, which was long considered untouchable. James raised both hands to the sky, Abdul-Jabbar rose straight from his front row seat and applauded.
This should also pick up speed again in the debate as to whether James or Michael Jordan is the best basketball player in history. Germany’s retired star Dirk Nowitzki already said at Christmas: “I always say Michael Jordan is the greatest of all time, but when James passes Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on the all-time scoring list, I kind of run out of arguments for Michael.”