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Los Angeles Lakers SF / PF LeBron James sets NBA All - Time Career Scoring Record
Introduction
On Tuesday, February 7th, 2023, LeBron James just became the National Basketball Association’s all-time career leading scoring when James hit a step-back jump shot deep in the 3rd - quarter of the Los Angeles Lakers game on last Tuesday night, as LeBron passed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's long - standing record. During James’ 38-point performance in the Los Angeles Lakers' 133 to 130 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder James became the all-time NBA leading scorer.
The Celebration for the New NBA Record
LeBron managed to go over the mark which was held in the record books of the National Basketball Association since April of 1984 by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who witnessed the basketball game from a court - side seat that was close to the Los Angeles Lakers' bench.
Abdul-Jabbar quickly joined in on an extremely emotional and for sure Basketball Hall of Famer LeBron as well as the Commissioner of the National Basketball Association, Adam Silver, on the court following the legendary and historic hoop sunk by James.
LeBron’s mom, his wife, and his children also were sitting on courtside to watch James’ hit this major NBA milestone amongst the other celebrities in the star-studded crowd which came to their feet in waves pretty much every time LeBron touched the basketball.
James refused to let everyone down, as he scored 20 - points during the 1st - half of the game with a complete stage - setting performance of his dominant offensive talent that continues to shine brilliantly even following the last 2 decades of LeBron’s illustrious NBA career. James somehow managed to set the new all-time NBA record due to his unbelievable 16 - point 3rd - quarter crowned off with that amazingly beautiful jump shot that made NBA history.
“I didn’t set this as a goal, so that’s probably why it’s so surreal and so weird to me,” the Los Angeles Lakers superstar small forward / power forward LeBron James explained. “I never talked about being the all - time scorer in NBA history … until my numbers started getting closer and closer, and I was like, ‘Oh wow, this is crazy. This is weird, but I guess I’m doing it.’”
The ball game was necessarily held up for close to 10 minutes while LeBron James hugged his family, teammates, coaches, and he partook in a momentary ceremony including the likes of NBA commissioner Adam Silver as well as Kareem Abdul - Jabbar. LeBron explained that he almost never gets emotional and cries, but James acknowledged the tears falling from his eyes as an indication of a very special moment in his life.
“I just want to say thank you to the Laker faithful," James goes on to say. “You guys are one of a kind. To be able to be in the presence of such a legend as great as Kareem, it’s very humbling.”
Recent Performance
LeBron has recorded a total of 5 40 - point NBA regular - season performances ever since he turned 38 - years - old on December 30th, 2022, and James has been able to score 30 - points in 10 of his 17 - games that he has played in since his birthday last December. LeBron scored just 2 - points throughout the entire fourth quarter last Tuesday night, putting him at the top of the National Basketball Association career scoring list with a total of 38,390 - points, which is only 3 - points in front of the long time NBA record holder in Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
“That was a great feeling, a great moment,” LeBron James Los Angeles Lakers’ teammate, Anthony Davis, said. “Well deserved to a guy who puts in so much work on and off the floor. It’s a real moment. Everybody was very happy for him.”
The Los Angeles Lakers
While LeBron was able to hit his mark on Tuesday, February 7th, 2023, the Los Angeles Lakers unfortunately took on another disheartening loss in their struggle to sidestep the embarrassment of missing the NBA playoffs for a 2nd - consecutive NBA season.
Shai Gilgeous - Alexander was somehow able to produce a 30 - point performance last Tuesday night, and Jalen Williams scored 25 - points for the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Oklahoma City Thunder never did trail throughout the 2nd - half of the ball game while they held off the Los Angeles Lakers' 14 to 4 come from behind rally during the last 2 - minutes of game time.
“It was a blessing and an honor to be a part of it,” the Los Angeles Lakers head coach Darvin Ham stated. “He gave the people what they wanted, in true LeBron fashion. ... It (stinks) 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.”
The young Oklahoma City Thunder team appeared to feed off of the energy that was generated by LeBron James' monumental evening, even if the Oklahoma City Thunder were unable to guard James much. The Oklahoma City Thunder popped off to a 15 - point advantage during the 1st - half of the game, and they nailed approximately 60 % of their shot attempts last Tuesday night.
The Oklahoma City Thunder now have moved to 1 and half games in front of the 13th - place Los Angeles Lakers, who are sitting at an overall record of 25 and 30, which is close to the bottom of the NBA Western Conference standings.
LeBron James’ Basketball Career Achievements, Honor, & Awards
- 4 - Time NBA Champion (2012, 2013, 2016, 2020)
- 4 - Time NBA Finals MVP Award Winner (2012, 2013, 2016, 2020)
- 4 - Time NBA Most Valuable Player Award Winner (2009, 2010, 2012, 2013)
- 19 - Time NBA All - Star Selection (2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023)
- 3 - Time NBA All - Star Game MVP Award Winer (2006, 2008, 2018)
- 13 - Time All - NBA First Team Selection (2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020)
- 3 - Time All - NBA Second Team Selection (2005, 2007, 2021)
- 2 - Time All - NBA Third Team Selection (2019, 2022)
- 5 - Time NBA All - Defensive First Team Selection (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013)
- NBA All - Defensive Second Team Selection (2014)
- NBA Rookie of the Year Award Winner (2004)
- NBA All - Rookie First Team Selection (2004)
- NBA Scoring Champion (2008)
- NBA Assists Leader (2020)
- NBA 75th Anniversary Team Selection
- 4 - Time Associated Press Athlete of the Year Award Winner (2013, 2016, 2018, 2020)
- 3 - Time Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year Award Winner (2012, 2016, 2020)
- Time Athlete of the Year Award Winner (2020)
- USA Basketball Male Athlete of the Year Award Winner (2012)
- 2 - Time National High School Player of the Year Award Winner (2002, 2003)
- McDonald's All - American Game MVP Award Winner (2003)
- 2 - Time First - Team Parade All - American Selection (2002, 2003)
- 3 - Time Ohio Mr. Basketball Selection (2001, 2002, 2003)
Sources:
“LeBron sets NBA career scoring mark in Lakers' loss to OKC”, espn.com, Tuesday, February 7, 2023.
“LeBron James breaks Kareem Abdul - Jabbar's NBA scoring record”, Dave McMenamin & Ohm Youngmisuk, espn.com, Tuesday, February 7, 2023.
“LeBron James”, basketball-reference.com, Tuesday, February 7, 2023.