History has been made in the NBA as LeBron James achieved the unthinkable by breaking the NBA scoring record. The record, previously held by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, had stood since 1984. Abdul-Jabbar extended his record, totaling 38,387 points in his career before retiring in 1989.
Going into Tuesday night’s game against the OKC Thunder, James needed 36 points to surpass the mark held by the former Lakers great. The staples center was filled to capacity, with fans anticipating that he would pass Abdul-Jabbar and cement his place in NBA history. Celebrities, including Jay-Z, Denzel Washington, Bad Bunny, LL Cool J, and other notables, were in attendance to witness this momentous occasion. James’ family, including his St. Vincent St. Mary’s teammates, were also in attendance.
The Shot That Broke The NBA Scoring Record
With 10.9 seconds left in the third quarter of Tuesday night’s game, King James took matters into his own hands. He isolated himself near the free-throw line and sealed it with a Fadeaway. The crowd erupted as James made the record-breaker. The game was halted to celebrate the moment.
“I couldn’t have dreamt this any better than what it is tonight. So … f— man, thank you guys,” James said. The F-bomb-laden speech capped off one of the greatest feats in sports history.
Lakers Governor Jeanie Buss stated, “I remember the night when Kareem broke the record, and I can still hear Chick Hearn saying, ‘This record will never be broken.’ And the idea that we’re here and that someone is breaking it. When Kareem broke it so many years ago, 39 years ago, we couldn’t even imagine a player like LeBron. And now here he is, and what he’s done; this record is not a Laker record. This is a LeBron record. This is a tribute to his hard work, perseverance, and longevity in this business.”
He finished the night with 38 points on 13-of-20 shooting (4-of-6 from 3) to go along with 7 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals. The efficient outing put him at 38,390 career points.
Fans have praised James for his continuous determination and ability to perform at the highest level year after year consistently. A video package of celebrities from Magic Johnson to Drake celebrated James’s impact on sports and entertainment over the last two decades. As James sat in the locker room after the game, he soaked in the moment while paying tribute to the people who have supported him along the way.
Lakers Fall to Thunder, 133-130
Despite making history with his record-breaking performance, the Lakers could not secure a win against the Oklahoma City Thunder. This puts the team at 25-30 on the season, which is 13th in the West. The Lakers are only two losses behind a play-in bid despite the loss.
“It was a blessing and an honor to be a part of it,” coach Darvin Ham said. “He gave the people what they wanted, in true LeBron fashion. … It sucks we didn’t get the win on a night like this, but there’s a lot of things to pull from it, a lot of things to take away.”
After the NBA trade deadline, the team will look to bounce back against the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday.
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