Feb 7, 2023; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (6) shakes hands with former player Kareem Abdul-Jabbar after breaking the NBA all time scoring record against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
This Day In Lakers History: LeBron James Passes Kareem Abdul-Jabbar To Become NBA’s All-Time Leading Scorer
For the longest time, it felt that the NBA’s all-time scoring record held by Los Angeles Lakers legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was one that would never be broken. The combination of skill, desire, longevity and health it would take to break it seemed almost impossible. But nothing is impossible to LeBron James.
No player in NBA history has ever been as good as LeBron has been this late into his career. And on Feb. 7, 2023, he made history.
In the third quarter of the Lakers’ game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, James hit a midrange fadeaway to surpass Abdul-Jabbar and becoming the NBA’s all-time leading scorer. Many stars and legends were on hand to witness history, including Kareem himself, and the two shared a moment commemorating the accomplishment at halfcourt.
It was undoubtedly one of the most gratifying moments in a career full of records being set and history being made. LeBron is not known as a scorer and yet nobody in NBA history has scored more than he has. With him playing at such a high level this later in his career, he may build up a point total high enough that will never be broken.
Who knows what the final number will be, but everyone will remember where they were to witness LeBron passing Kareem to become the all-time leading scorer in NBA history.
The Lakers may have lost the game to the young Thunder, but all of the focus was rightly on James and his historic accomplishment on that night.
