LeBron James is now very close to breaking a legendary NBA record. Despite Saturday's defeat, James is now 36 points away from passing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the NBA's all-time leading scorer after he scored 27 points for the Los Angeles Lakers.
Basketball legend Kareem Abdul Jabbar reportedly plans to attend the two home games in which LeBron James is expected to overtake him as the NBA's all-time greatest scorer.
Next week, Crypto.com Arena will host two sold-out shows, each of which will establish a new record for ticket pricing. On Tuesday and Thursday, the Lakers will host the Oklahoma City Thunder and Milwaukee Bucks, respectively, with James potentially requiring one or two more games to break Kareem Abdul Jabbar's scoring record, according to Yahoo! Sports.
Whichever game James breaks the long-standing record, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar intends to be there.
Kareem Respects LeBron
For the last 34 years, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has stood out from the crowd as he has accumulated an all-time scoring record of 38,387 points, which many believed was untouchable. Kareem's skyhook was his primary offensive weapon. It was a masterpiece of physics, and no one could match it in terms of ingenuity or physical ability, per NPR.
LeBron James will surpass Kareem Abdul Jabbar's scoring record because of technological advancements, such as the 3-point shot (introduced in 1979, 10 years following Kareem Abdul Jabbar's NBA debut), footwear and health industry advances, hard work, and a little bit of luck.
The 19-time NBA All-Star discussed James becoming the league's all-time top scorer with CNN's Don Lemon. Abdul-Jabbar gives credit to the 38-year-old who is firmly planting his legacy.
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Kareem Abdul-Jabbar said: "I've been carrying the torch as the record holder for 38 years. I'm thrilled and relieved to pass it forward to the next deserving recipient. LeBron earned it and I hope he carries it even longer than I did."
Longevity Is the Key
When LeBron James officially retires from the NBA, his longevity will be his legacy. The two of them definitely have a lot in common since Abdul-Jabbar was renowned for his endurance, which has contributed to their status as the league's best scorers.
LeBron James seems unfazed by the prospect of breaking the Kareem Abdul Jabbar scoring record. In his 20th NBA season, "King James" is still performing at a very high level, averaging more than 30 points per game, per Lakers Nation.
James has had a spectacular season smashing records, and the big one is certainly yet to come, even as he and the Lakers try to find winning consistency to reach the playoffs.
While LeBron James strives for one of the milestones of his basketball career, the Lakers will play the following schedule of NBA games:
- On Tuesday night, at 10:30 p.m., they will face the Oklahoma City Thunder. ET
- Against the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday night at 10.
- Sunday, February 11, 8:30 p.m., in Oakland, against the Golden State Warriors.
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