Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

With a third-quarter jump shot Tuesday night against the Thunder, Lakers star LeBron James overtook Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the NBA's all-time scoring leader ...

"I just think it was a blessing and an honor to be able to be a part of it," said Ham. His businesses, him speaking out on social issues, his leadership; he's an example to not just young basketball players, but young human beings, domestically and internationally, for how to be a professional, how to have passion, how to be persistent, productive, and never to be satisfied." The scoring record was never, ever even thought of in my head because I've always been a pass-first guy." Abdul-Jabbar made only one 3-pointer in his career, averaging 24.6 points in his 20 seasons, setting the all-time mark in 1,560 games played. "I never thought that Kareem's scoring record would be broken by anybody," Lakers great Magic Johnson said in a message congratulating James. You have to give him credit for just the way he played and for the way he's lasted and dominated. Please give a standing ovation to the Captain, please." James entered the game with 38,352 points, needing 36 to overtake Abdul-Jabbar. "To be able to be in the presence of such a legend as great as Kareem, it's very humbling. "I just want to say, thank you to the Laker faithful. Abdul-Jabbar held the game ball aloft, then handed it to James, the ceremonial passing of the torch. After the record-breaking shot, which came with 10.9 seconds left in the quarter, James raised both hands into the air as he looked skyward.

James, the Los Angeles Lakers star, scored the record-breaking 38388th point that had eluded generations of superstars.

Philadelphia’s Harden (33 years old) and the Lakers’ Russell Westbrook (34) are next and thousands of points behind Durant. As players like Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and James Harden made the 3-pointer a core part of the game over the past decade, James sharpened that tool, too. Few have embodied the term the way he has. He has dealt with injuries in recent years with the Lakers, but he has carried on in between absences like he had something to prove. Instead, he became skilled enough at every facet of the game to remain relevant, and dominant, for 20 years. When the moment came, Abdul-Jabbar, in a black jacket bearing his jersey number, 33, came onto the court with N.B.A. Then he raised them up and looked up into the stands at the thousands of people who had come to see him make history. That was the end of James’s rookie year. He broke the record on a fadeaway 2-point shot in the final seconds of the third quarter of Tuesday night’s game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. But the 38-year-old James, in his 20th season, is still pouring in points as one of the best players in the N.B.A. He had tears in his eyes. LOS ANGELES — Lakers forward LeBron James is the leading scorer in N.B.A.

LeBron James is now the NBAs all-time leading scorer after breaking Kareem Abdul-Jabbars record of 38387 career points on Tuesday.

LeBron James broke Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's longstanding NBA scoring record, becoming the league's all-time regular season points leader.

I never said I wanted to lead the league in scoring, or for sure be the all-time leader in scoring… “I wanted to lead the league in assists, make all-defensive team, Defensive Player of the Year. James, at this point in his career, has also been in the NBA for 20 years, having entered the league out of high school in 2003.

The King has now become the scoring king. From the time LeBron James graced the cover of Sports Illustrated as a teenager, so much was expected of him.

His N.B.A. career scoring record has been broken, but his legacy of activism and his expansion of Black athlete identity endure.

That season, he led the fledgling Milwaukee Bucks to the 1971 N.B.A. Still, his Lakers are so disjointed they would need Abdul-Jabbar in his prime to make a serious run at an N.B.A. He also absorbed blow after blow on the court. with his lithe quickness and a singular, iconic shot: the sky hook. to three national titles in his three years of eligibility, his teams accumulating a scorched-earth record of 88-2. Soon, there he was, dominating the N.B.A. It is easy to forget now, in today’s digitized world where week-old events are relegated to the historical dustbin, how much of a force Abdul-Jabbar was as a player and cultural bellwether. As a star at the basketball powerhouse U.C.L.A. “He is an intelligent, still maturing man, who realizes some of the individual and collective frailties of human beings, including himself.” “America is not my home,” he said in a televised interview. Guided by the footsteps of Jackie Robinson and Bill Russell, Abdul-Jabbar pushed forward, stretching the limits of Black athlete identity. That is what will always keep his name among the greats of sport, no matter how many of his records fall.

In one of sports' biggest achievements, the Los Angeles Lakers superstar scored his record-breaking 38388th point, against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

James has been a relentless scorer – the youngest to 10,000 points in 2008, the youngest to 20,000 points in 2013 and just the seventh player in NBA history to reach 30,000 points in 2018. He has scored at least 10 points in a league-record 1,140 games, a record that began on Jan. Throughout his career, he has adapted his game to become a proficient scorer from 3-point range, mid-range and at the rim. He has scored at least 30 points in 22 of 43 games, with five 40-plus performances, including a season-high 48 against Houston on Jan. He took a Josh Giddey elbow to the eye on a driving layup but remained in the game. When he took the court for warm-ups, James sported a T-shirt that read "Built by Black History" along with his once-customary headband.

The King has now become the scoring king. From the time LeBron James graced the cover of Sports Illustrated as a teenager, so much was expected of him.

LeBron James owns the NBA scoring record, but what former record holder Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has done on and off the court still makes him one of a kind.

He missed 22 games with a broken hand, and it was never clear whether he had broken the hand on Benson’s face or in anger and frustration later in his hotel room. When he retired, it was to a life of literature and media. Benson played 11 seasons in the NBA and averaged 11 points and six rebounds, not exactly numbers of a No. Bucks coach Don Nelson, recently a Celtic and well involved in much of Boston’s physical approach over the years to stopping the rival center — especially in those ’74 playoffs — had a top draft choice to pit against Abdul-Jabbar in that opener. But before that, in the opening game of Abdul-Jabbar’s first season as a Laker, the schedule had the team playing at the Bucks. As the clock ticked down and desperation set in, Abdul-Jabbar got a little room and, in a combination of desperation and incredible skill, rolled a 15-foot hook shot off his fingertips. Two years later, a dynamic young superstar, as extroverted as Kareem was introverted, arrived on the scene and L.A. The Bucks trailed in the series 3-2, but they had the ball. He was unstoppable then, and he remained so through his four years at [UCLA](https://www.latimes.com/sports/ucla) and 20 years in the pros. The Bucks had another shot at the title in 1974. Alcindor led the Bucks to their first NBA title in 1971. He led UCLA to NCAA titles the next three years, was the most valuable player in each of those tournaments, and, as the obvious top choice in the 1969 NBA draft, became the subject of the most-famous coin flip of all time.

Here's a collection of photos from LeBron James' historic night in Los Angeles, passing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the NBA's all-time scoring leader.

The GOAT conversation becomes less of a debate with each step King James takes.

Even when Jordan reigned as the GOAT, there were other old heads saying, and writing, and debating, and insisting, that it was Kareem who was the true Greatest Of All Time. Now LeBron has done the same, to all of them. The debate will surely rage on, especially this week, but the deed is done. There is so much to say about Jordan in defense of his position as the game's GOAT. The record will last in a way other nuances of greatness won't. He has been too astounding for too long, with too much dominance, in a way that makes his greatness so similar to Jordan's but with a longevity Mike cannot match. The GOAT game is a zero-sum proposition. But history has a way of forgetting as much as happening, and LeBron's mark Tuesday will not just etch him in greatness. The weight of it all seemed heavy and beautiful and inevitable. [Lakers](https://www.cbssports.com/nba/teams/LAL/los-angeles-lakers/) jersey now, the purple and gold perfectly suited for the meaning of the thing. The media was at a NBA Finals level, overflowing. He had the four rings, and the four regular season Most Valuable Player awards, and the four [NBA](/nba/) Finals MVPs.

On Tuesday night against the Thunder, LeBron James broke Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's record for most career points in the NBA, after scoring 38.

James will be the seventh name on that list, and he’s likely to stay there for a long time. James — a None of them were, or are, close to the scorer that James is. “I hadn’t thought of it that way, but that is very true,” Silver told The Associated Press. He’ll almost certainly be the NBA’s all-time leader in earnings whenever he retires; when adding in the $97 million he’ll make over the next two seasons, he’ll be past $500 million in on-court salary alone. There are 44 players to reach five digits in two of those categories. James is behind only John Stockton, Jason Kidd and Chris Paul on the all-time assists list. Abdul-Jabbar held the ball aloft, then handed it to James, the ceremonial passing of the torch. “I just want to say, thank you to the Laker faithful. James outstretched his arms after his 36th point of the night, threw both hands in the air, then smiled. “The scoring record now will never be eclipsed. “To be able to be in the presence of such a legend as great as Kareem, it’s very humbling.

On hand in Los Angeles to witness the occasion was NBA legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who had held the title for 39 years since dethroning then-champ Wilt Chamberlain in 1984. Abdul-Jabbar, himself a former Los Angeles Laker, walked onto the court to present ...

"It's as if I won a billion dollars in a lottery and 39 years later someone won two billion dollars. "It means someone has pushed the boundaries of what we thought was possible to a whole new level," he wrote. It's as if I won a billion dollars in a lottery and 39 years later someone won two billion dollars. "I retired from the NBA 34 years ago." Grateful that I won and happy that the next person also won," he wrote in a post published on The only time I ever think of the record is when someone brings it up," he wrote.

LeBron James is now the NBA's all-time scoring leader. He passed the record of 38387 points held by Hall-of-Fame center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar since 1984.

He talks a lot, and he did last night again, about the importance of being a good husband and a good dad. But he had a lot of people who helped him develop as an athlete and as a person. I mean, a lot of people really like this guy and who he's become in his two decades in the limelight. He was a kid who had a hard upbringing in his hometown of Akron, Ohio. Then Abdul-Jabbar - he has held the record since 1984 - he took the game ball and theatrically handed it to James, symbolizing the passing of the record. Here he is after the game. Is it just because of the record? That's why it's probably so surreal and so just, like, weird to me because I never, ever talked about being an all-time scorer in NBA history. In fact, he just moved to the No. He got there on a fadeaway jump shot with about 10 seconds left in the third quarter. So the scoring record is major. And it's not crazy to think the mark will go over...

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar embraced LeBron James at center court in Los Angeles on Tuesday night after the latter broke his record as the leading scorer in NBA ...

In an online letter a day after James broke his scoring record, Abdul-Jabbar blamed himself for the contentious relationship between them, citing his own ...

"My good opinion of LeBron has grown in the two years since I wrote that," Abdul-Jabbar said. Abdul-Jabbar also pointed out that he has previously written articles "lavishly praising LeBron," and continues to do so today. "I knew the pressures he was under and maybe I could have helped ease them a bit." Abdul-Jabbar corroborated comments James made earlier that the two athletes don't have a relationship. Having retired from the NBA 34 years ago, Abdul-Jabbar said he's now more focused on his family and social activism. Grateful that I won and happy that the next person also won.

Los Angeles Lakers legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar explained why teammate and friend, Magic Johnson, was wrong in his prediction that he would be upset when ...

[CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM](https://www.foxnews.com/sports) [NETS’ CAM THOMAS MAKES NBA HISTORY WITH THIRD STRAIGHT 40-POINT PERFORMANCE](https://www.foxnews.com/sports/nets-cam-thomas-makes-nba-history-third-straight-40-point-performance) I fret much more over picking the right word in this sentence than in my record being broken." I might have hobbled out of retirement just to add a few more points on my record." I don’t blame him for thinking that I might be bothered because he knows how competitive I used to be. "And the fact that it’s a dude playing for the Lakers too," Johnson continued.

James combined three critical factors better than any player in league history: longevity, consistency and durability.

[fourth all-time](https://www.basketball-reference.com/leaders/ast_career.html)in assists, and has scored more points than John Stockton (No. Between the lines: James becoming the NBA's all-time leading scorer is particularly remarkable given he doesn't even consider scoring to be his best attribute. Karl Malone played in 19, so the only real outlier is Michael Jordan (15 seasons), because of course he is. [regular-season minutes](https://www.basketball-reference.com/leaders/mp_career.html)and by far the most [playoff minutes](https://www.basketball-reference.com/leaders/mp_career_p.html)all-time. [told ESPN](https://www.espn.com/nba/insider/insider/story/_/id/35605308/lebron-james-seldom-labeled-pure-scorer-eyes-nba-points-summit). [fifth-highest](https://www.basketball-reference.com/leaders/pts_per_g_career.html)career points per game average in NBA history (27.22), and he's looking as strong as ever in year 20, ranking seventh in the league this season.

LeBron James has just surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the most regular season points scored in NBA history. In front of cheering fans at L.A.'s Crypto.com ...

It's always about passing it on to the next guy in line." Since entering the league in 2003, James has become one of the NBA's biggest stars, collecting four championship rings in the process. would be eligible to be drafted in the 2024-2025 season under the current collective bargaining agreement, ESPN reported. "And knows how to use his body and coordinate. "Please give a standing ovation to the Captain, please." "You have to see somebody else play 20 years again at a high level, which I don't think we'll see," he said. Keep the faith, and congratulations." Since then, he has averaged 27 points per game throughout his 20 seasons in the NBA, according to "You elevated the game and more than that, like Kareem and Bill Russell and others who came before you, you challenged and inspired the nation to do better, be better and live up to our full promise. Abdul-Jabbar became the league's leading scorer in 1984, and his 38,387 career points had stood as the record since 1989. James set the record with a fadeaway jumper with 10.9 seconds left in the third quarter. You are one of a kind."

In an online letter a day after James broke his scoring record, Abdul-Jabbar blamed himself for the contentious relationship between them, citing his own ...

"My good opinion of LeBron has grown in the two years since I wrote that," Abdul-Jabbar said. Abdul-Jabbar also pointed out that he has previously written articles "lavishly praising LeBron," and continues to do so today. "I knew the pressures he was under and maybe I could have helped ease them a bit." Abdul-Jabbar corroborated comments James made earlier that the two athletes don't have a relationship. Having retired from the NBA 34 years ago, Abdul-Jabbar said he's now more focused on his family and social activism. Grateful that I won and happy that the next person also won.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar held the NBA's all-time scorer record for decades before LeBron James came along.

James is currently in the latter half of a two-year contract with the Lakers. Much like Abdul-Jabbar, Chamberlain ended his career with the Lakers. The previous scoring record was held by none other than Wilt Chamberlain. He played another five seasons and added nearly 7,000 points to the existing record. 1 overall pick in the 1969 NBA Draft. At 75, Abdul-Jabbar remains a towering figure around the NBA. LeBron James did the unthinkable on Tuesday. The Milwaukee Bucks -- in only their second year of existence -- took Abdul-Jabbar with the No. When did Kareem Abdul-Jabbar set the scoring record? When did Kareem Abdul-Jabbar enter the NBA? His 38 points against the Thunder were enough to pass Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in the record books for Abdul-Jabbar was present for the record-breaking performance at Crypto.com Arena and joined James on the court for a ceremony near the end of the third quarter.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar held the NBA's all-time scorer record for decades before LeBron James came along.

James is currently in the latter half of a two-year contract with the Lakers. Much like Abdul-Jabbar, Chamberlain ended his career with the Lakers. The previous scoring record was held by none other than Wilt Chamberlain. He played another five seasons and added nearly 7,000 points to the existing record. 1 overall pick in the 1969 NBA Draft. At 75, Abdul-Jabbar remains a towering figure around the NBA. LeBron James did the unthinkable on Tuesday. The Milwaukee Bucks -- in only their second year of existence -- took Abdul-Jabbar with the No. When did Kareem Abdul-Jabbar set the scoring record? When did Kareem Abdul-Jabbar enter the NBA? His 38 points against the Thunder were enough to pass Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in the record books for Abdul-Jabbar was present for the record-breaking performance at Crypto.com Arena and joined James on the court for a ceremony near the end of the third quarter.

Los Angeles Lakers legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar shared his thoughts Wednesday on LeBron James breaking his iconic NBA regular season scoring record, ...

And he makes me proud to be part of an ever-widening group of athletes who actively care about their community." That's why I don't want my fans to in any way tarnish or equivocate his enormous achievement." I knew the pressures he was under and maybe I could have helped ease them a bit. To that, Abdul-Jabbar responded in his piece, "Ouch." After James sunk the record-breaking basket, the game was paused so that Abdul-Jabbar could ceremoniously hand James the basketball. He's right—and for that I blame myself.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar held the NBA's all-time scorer record for decades before LeBron James came along.

James is currently in the latter half of a two-year contract with the Lakers. Much like Abdul-Jabbar, Chamberlain ended his career with the Lakers. The previous scoring record was held by none other than Wilt Chamberlain. He played another five seasons and added nearly 7,000 points to the existing record. 1 overall pick in the 1969 NBA Draft. At 75, Abdul-Jabbar remains a towering figure around the NBA. LeBron James did the unthinkable on Tuesday. The Milwaukee Bucks -- in only their second year of existence -- took Abdul-Jabbar with the No. When did Kareem Abdul-Jabbar set the scoring record? When did Kareem Abdul-Jabbar enter the NBA? His 38 points against the Thunder were enough to pass Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in the record books for Abdul-Jabbar was present for the record-breaking performance at Crypto.com Arena and joined James on the court for a ceremony near the end of the third quarter.

LeBron James now holds the NBA record for most points scored. The NBA record for total points scored was previously held by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar — for 34 ...

FULLER: Sean Deveney is a writer for the Heavy and is the author of "The History Of The NBA In 12 Games: From 24 Seconds To 30,000 3-Pointers." FULLER: He's taken 1,600 more free-throw attempts than Kareem. But LeBron broke the record in roughly 150 fewer games than Kareem played. He's not the best shooter in NBA history. Literally every top basketball evaluator in the country had made up their mind that he would have been the No. It's a longevity record. However, in LeBron's case, it's not really a scoring record. You got to keep your eye on the basket, but you don't have to have your eye on the ball. He had the sky hook down to a science. Sky hook up - in - good. SUMMERS: The previous NBA leader in total points scored was Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Last night, it was a fadeaway jump shot that made history.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar held the NBA's all-time scorer record for decades before LeBron James came along.

James is currently in the latter half of a two-year contract with the Lakers. Much like Abdul-Jabbar, Chamberlain ended his career with the Lakers. The previous scoring record was held by none other than Wilt Chamberlain. He played another five seasons and added nearly 7,000 points to the existing record. 1 overall pick in the 1969 NBA Draft. At 75, Abdul-Jabbar remains a towering figure around the NBA. LeBron James did the unthinkable on Tuesday. The Milwaukee Bucks -- in only their second year of existence -- took Abdul-Jabbar with the No. When did Kareem Abdul-Jabbar set the scoring record? When did Kareem Abdul-Jabbar enter the NBA? His 38 points against the Thunder were enough to pass Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in the record books for Abdul-Jabbar was present for the record-breaking performance at Crypto.com Arena and joined James on the court for a ceremony near the end of the third quarter.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar held the NBA's all-time scorer record for decades before LeBron James came along.

James is currently in the latter half of a two-year contract with the Lakers. Much like Abdul-Jabbar, Chamberlain ended his career with the Lakers. The previous scoring record was held by none other than Wilt Chamberlain. He played another five seasons and added nearly 7,000 points to the existing record. At 75, Abdul-Jabbar remains a towering figure around the NBA. 1 overall pick in the 1969 NBA Draft.

Adidas Honors Kareem Abdul-Jabbar With Limited-Edition "Evolution of Excellence " Sneaker Collection: Featuring three adidas Forum silhouettes.

The first of the three is the adidas Forum Alpha which arrives in a blue and gold color scheme. The shoe honors the player’s fight for racial equality and social justice during his career and after. The shoe incorporates specific insignia and major milestone moments during his NBA career. The release features three pairs of [adidas Forum](https://hypebeast.com/tags/adidas-forum) sneakers, each of which commemorates a significant part of Abdul-Jabbar’s life and career. 33, only 33 pairs of shoes will be produced for each of the designs. [Kareem Abdul-Jabbar](https://hypebeast.com/tags/kareem-abdul-jabbar)‘s legendary basketball career, has released a limited-edition “Evolution of Excellence” collection.

Dawning a custom adidas trefoil letterman jacket and pair of adidas Forums, the Three-Stripes has concurrently announced an honorary collection commemorating ...

Releasing simultaneously with the launch of Kareem’s Club Skyhook on February 28th, only a select 33 pairs of each silhouette were produced in homage to Kareem’s retired number with the Lakers. [adidas Forum](https://sneakernews.com/tag/adidas-forum/), each sneaker boasts a disparate dedication to the varying aspects of the Hall of Famer’s career. Dawning a custom adidas trefoil letterman jacket and pair of adidas Forums, the Three-Stripes has concurrently announced an honorary collection commemorating the impact and legacy of Abdul-Jabbar and the record he held for 39 years.

adidas is honoring basketball legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar with the “Evolution of Excellence” Forum Collection. Each sneaker in the three shoe collection ...

The adidas Forum Accolades, dressed in Purple and Gold, represents the era in Los Angeles when basketball took the city by storm and Abdul-Jabbar was at the center of it all, literally. Each sneaker in the three shoe collection commemorates a significant aspect of Abdul-Jabbar’s life and career. Lastly the adidas Forum Legacy, an all-Black and Copper colorway, pays respect to Abdul-Jabbar’s life commitment to the fight for racial equality and social justice.