LeBron James has become the NBA's all-time leading scorer, passing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's long-standing record.

Los Angeles Lakers star James hit 38 points in a 133-130 defeat by the Oklahoma City Thunder to surpass Abdul-Jabbar's mark of 38,387, set in 1989.

Abdul-Jabbar initially broke the scoring record in April 1984, eight months before James was born.

"To be able to be in the presence of a legend and great as Kareem, it means so much to me," said James.

The 38-year-old, who needed 36 points to break the record, did so with a fadeaway jumper at the end of the third quarter and he finished the match with a career total of 38,390.

An emotional James rose both arms in celebration while 75-year-old Abdul-Jabbar, who was at the match at the Lakers home court, stood and applauded.

There was a brief break in play for a ceremony to mark the achievement, with James taking a microphone to make a speech on court.

"Everybody that has ever been a part of this run with me the last 20-plus years, I want to say thank you so much because I wouldn't be me without all you. You all helped. Your passion and sacrifices helped me to get to this point," he said.

"And to the NBA to Adam Silver, to the late great David Stern, thank you very much for allowing me to be a part of something I always dreamed about. I would never in a million years dreamt this to be even better than what it is tonight."

Abdul-Jabbar ceremoniously handed over the ball to James to recognise his new record in front of a cheering crowd that included tennis legend John McEnroe, music stars Jay-Z, LL Cool J and Bad Bunny, boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr and actor Denzel Washington.

"I thought it had every chance of being broken. It just had to have someone that the offense focused on continually," said Abdul-Jabbar, who retired in 1989.

"LeBron's career is one of someone who planned to dominate this game. You have to give him credit for just the way he played and for the way he's lasted and dominated."

Four-time NBA champion James is in his 20th season in the NBA, having been drafted first overall by hometown team the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2003.

The forward joined the Miami Heat in 2010, winning two titles, before returning to lead Cleveland to the only NBA title in their history in 2016.

He has been with the Lakers since 2018 and helped them win the 2020 title, which was also the fourth time he has been named NBA finals MVP.

Two-time Olympic champion James has won four regular season MVP titles and appeared in the NBA Finals 10 times.

Abdul-Jabbar played in the NBA for 20 seasons with the Milwaukee Bucks and Lakers, during which he won six titles, six regular season MVP crowns and was named finals MVP twice.

Asked after the game whether he is the best NBA player of all time, James said: "I'll let everybody else decide who that is or just talk about it, but it's great barbershop talk.

"Me personally, I'm going to take myself against anybody who's ever played this game. But everyone's going to decide who their favourite is."

LeBron James came into the NBA in 2003 with expectations through the roof & STILL exceeded them.

19x All-Star
4x Champion
4x Finals MVP
4x MVP
2x Olympic Gold
1st All-Time in Points
4th All-Time in Assists
9th All-Time in Steals
9th All-Time in Threes

Timeline of success
26 June 2003 - drafted number one by the Cleveland Cavaliers

30 October 2003 - makes debut aged 18 against the Sacramento Kings, recording 25 points, nine assists, six rebounds and four steals

20 February 2005 - makes All-Star Game debut, the first of 19 appearances

7 June 2007 - first NBA Finals appearance for Cleveland, who go on to lose to San Antonio Spurs

24 August 2008 - wins Olympic gold with the USA at Beijing Games

4 May 2009 - wins the first of his four regular season MVP titles

8 July 2010 - joins the Miami Heat after seven seasons with the Cavaliers

21 June 2012 - wins first NBA championship with the Heat and claim first of four Finals MVP titles

12 August 2012 - wins second Olympic gold at London Games

20 June 2013 - becomes back-to-back NBA champion with the Heat

11 July 2014 - returns to Cleveland after four seasons in Miami

19 June 2016 - leads the Cavaliers back from 3-1 down against the Golden State Warriors to win their first NBA Championship

9 July 2018 - signs for the Los Angeles Lakers after four years during second stint in Cleveland

11 October 2020 - claims fourth NBA title by beating the Miami Heat, also becoming first player to win Finals MVP for three different teams

8 February 2023 - passes Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to become NBA's all-time leading points scorer

19x All-Star
4x Champion
4x Finals MVP
4x MVP
2x Olympic Gold
1st All-Time in Points
4th All-Time in Assists
9th All-Time in Steals
9th All-Time in Threes

PlayMaker14:
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For me, King James is the GOAT of Basketball game... No disrespect to Michael Jordan and the late Kobe Bryant, but this guy has paid his dues and deserve all the accolades he is getting.

He is a Liverpool fan... He Never Walk Alone. ✌️

fergie001:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3wWuBM5OQI


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