LeBron James has become the NBA’s all-time leading points scorer, surpassing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s 34-year record amid a stunning performance against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Los Angeles.
Fans shelled out thousands to secure a seat at Crypto.com arena to witness history, and James didn’t make them wait, putting on a show to seal the record, while Abdul-Jabbar watched on from courtside.
James went into the game against OKC needing 36 points to overtake the record of 38,387 – which was set by Abdul-Jabbar in 1989.
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LeBron James claimed the record with 10.9 seconds remaining in the third quarter with a trademark fadeaway dagger. He finished with 38 points, seven rebounds and three assists.
The game between the Lakers and OKC – which the Thunder ultimately won 133-130 – was stopped in order to recognize the moment.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver grabbed a microphone, as social media ran wild, to honour James alongside Abdul-Jabbar, who gifted James the ceremonial basketball.
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James came into Tuesday’s game averaging 30 points, with his performance sure to be a huge disappointment to those who shelled out up to $100,000 a ticket to secure a seat for Thursday’s game against Milwaukee.
Celebrities, companies and seemingly millions paid tribute to James, who was visibly emotional while celebrating with family and particularly before and during the ceremony with Silver and Abdul-Jabbar.
‘I just want to say thank you to the Laker faithful, you guys are one of a kind,’ James said.
‘To be in the presence of such a legend and great as Kareem it means so much to me, it’s very humbling. Please give a standing ovation to the captain, please.’
‘To my beautiful wife, my daughter, my two boys, my friends, my boys, my family, my mother. Man, everybody that’s been a part of this run with me these last 20+ years. I just wanna say thank you so much because I wouldn’t be me without y’all.
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