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In a historic moment that will go down in the annals of the National Basketball Association (NBA), Los Angeles Lakers' Lebron James surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to become the league's all-time leading scorer. The game between the Lakers and Oklahoma City Thunder was briefly interrupted with a score of 99:104, as James notched up 36 points - the number he needed to break Abdul-Jabbar's long-standing record of 38,387 points.
A Momentous Occasion
At the end of the match, which the Lakers lost 130:133, Adam Silver, NBA Commissioner, took to the mic to acknowledge James' achievement. "A record that has stood for nearly 40 years," Silver said via ESPN.
"Many people thought it would never be broken. LeBron, you are the NBA's all-time scoring leader. Congratulations." In a touching gesture, Abdul-Jabbar, who held the record for 20 years while playing for the Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers, handed the game ball to James in a ceremonial passing of the torch.
The Lakers' new all-time leading scorer expressed his gratitude to the fans and spoke of his humility in the presence of a basketball legend like Abdul-Jabbar. "I just want to say, thank you to the Laker faithful. You guys are one of a kind," James told the fans that turned out in droves for the chance to see a once-in-a-generation achievement.
"To be able to be in the presence of such a legend as great as Kareem, it's very humbling. Please give a standing ovation to the Captain, please."
38,388 POINTS
LeBron James hits the fadeaway jumper to become the NBA’s all-time leading scorer!#ScoringKing pic.twitter.com/P5LyTZAZn3 — NBA (@NBA) February 8, 2023
"A Kid from a Small Town in Ohio"
Before the game, James had 38,352 points from 1,409 games over 20 years of playing in the NBA, and he needed 35 points to equal Abdul-Jabbar's record or 36 to break it.
Reflecting on his journey, James expressed his emotions, "I had a moment when it happened, and I embraced that moment. Seeing my family and friends, the people that have been around me since I started this journey to the NBA, was definitely very emotional.
Just a kid from a small town in Ohio. I had a moment there, but I don't think it has really hit me, what just transpired." As James moves on to a new challenge of reaching 40,000 points, his name will forever be inscribed in golden letters in the history of the world's strongest basketball league. LeBron James' historic feat has marked a momentous occasion in the NBA.