What does it take to etch your name into the tapestry of NBA history? Do you have to win a certain number of games? Championships? MVP awards? Theoretically, it could give you an edge against the competition, but the reality is much more daunting than that. In order to rise above the rest you must do what others cannot, even if the deck is stacked against you. That’s how Lebron James made history, by surpassing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the all-time NBA scoring leader at 38 years old.
Despite losing to the Oklahoma City Thunder 133-130, Lebron ended the game with 38 points, securing the scoring title in the 3rd quarter, and cementing himself as one of the all-time greats in the sport of Basketball. Many people have doubted Lebron’s ability for years, saying that he wouldn’t survive in the Michael Jordan era or the fact that he needs superstars around him in order to win championships.
Lebron took all of those comments into account and effectively silenced the media by discussing his label as a pure scorer, and why he deserves to be in that conversation.
Lebron started the game off against the Thunder with a three-pointer in the first half, followed by a couple baskets and free throws leading into the second quarter. James continued to work toward the basket with every play with the majority of his points coming from the paint and mid-range areas, with occasional three-pointers every now and then.
- The image above was taken from ESPN’s shot chart tool. Showcases Lebron’s made attempts (Filled in circles) and missed attempts (non-filled-in circles) against the Thunder across all four quarters.
James went into the locker room at the end of the 2nd quarter, with just 19 points left to go until the record was broken. Going into the third quarter, many people had anticipated that this would be the quarter. With 10.9 seconds left on the clock, Lebron James hit a fadeaway 2-pointer, securing the scoring title before the start of the fourth quarter, making it one of the most infamous shots in NBA history.
Waiting for Lebron to break the record, was former NBA all-time scoring leader Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Jabbar is known as one of the greatest centers in NBA history, coining the famous “Sky-Hook” shot. Jabbar was a 6-time MVP and holds the title for most minutes played by any NBA player in history. Jabbar originally won the scoring title by surpassing Wilt Chamberlin on April 5th, 1984, scoring his 31,420th point against the Utah Jazz, becoming the all-time scoring leader at 37 years old. Jabbar would go on to add around 7,000 points on top of the record before retiring from the game at 42 years old.
- The Image above was taken from NBA.com. Showcases Kareem receiving the game ball which indicated that he had broken the all-time scoring record
For almost 39 years the record remained untouched, unattainable, and impossible to break in the eyes of many NBA executives, fans, and players. In order to achieve greatness, by going one step further than Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, you must possess a skillset that separates you from the rest of the NBA. For the past 20 years, Lebron has been building his repertoire in order to go after championships, all-star selections, and recently, NBA records. James broke the all-time scoring record at 38, meaning that he was just one year older than Kareem. Kareem continued to add on points after 31,000 had already been achieved, but it was clear that he was past his prime after he hit 39. With Lebron obtaining 38,000+ points while being in peak shape, there’s no telling how many points he’ll score before he retires.
- The image above was taken from People.com
If Lebron breaking the record indicates anything, it is the fact that the impossible can become possible. The work ethic, drive and passion for playing at such a high level deserves nothing but the utmost praise from NBA fans across the globe. As the next generation of talent enters the NBA, there could potentially be more broken records with the game getting more and more fast-paced. However, you cannot deny that the talent of Lebron James will never be matched. With more gas left in the tank, we could see Lebron gear up for one more NBA championship, or even play with both of his sons (Bronny and Bryce James) like he envisioned.
At the end of the day when it is all said and done, there is only one Lebron James, One kid from Akron, Ohio, and one current all-time scoring leader.
- The image above was taken from theScore.com
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