LeBron James: Breaking Records and Making History as the NBA's All-Time Leading Scorer

By Alex Benjamin

MARTINA GIL

On April 5, 1984, Kareem-Abdul Jabbar used his signature sky hook to go up and officially overtake Wilt Chamberlain as the NBA's all-time leading scorer.

LeBron James was born in December 1984, a few months later. Kareem had no idea that the baby would surpass him to take the current all-time Scoring lead in NBA history.

A record that has been held for 39 years was broken. While I believe most people thought it was just a matter of time, we should nevertheless pause to recognize the magnitude of the historical event we are witnessing.

On February 8, 2023, LeBron James achieved the historic feat of surpassing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the all-time leading scorer in league history. With his signature fade away in the third quarter against the Thunder, LeBron passed Kareem’s record of 38,387 points and solidified his place as one of the greatest basketball players of all time, if not THE greatest player.

It was truly a spectacle watching him break the record. The moment James made history, he threw his hands up in the air and ran downcourt. The game was stopped as he embraced all his family, friends, and teammates. The torch was passed from Kareem to Lebron.

LeBron's record might last twice as long as Kareem's if his did for 39 years. It's still really incredible that LeBron accomplished this record in 150 fewer games, even with the three-point line. His longevity is what makes this so remarkable. You are aware of how great you must be and how long you must maintain it in order to reach over 38,000 points? That is a crazy amount. Given that we still have many seasons to add to LeBron's already-record total, he will likely have scored well over 40,000 points. Just pause and consider that for a moment.

The next highest-scoring active player? Kevin Durant. One of the NBA's top scorers in league history. How many points do you think he has? 26,684. He's a long way away. This record will not be broken in our lifetime.

Who knows whether any of us will witness a replacement for LeBron in our lifetimes? It's as significant as it gets at the NBA level when you start talking about these kinds of records. Then you are reminded that LeBron ranks fourth all-time in assists, proving that he is genuinely one of one. We most likely won't ever see another LeBron James.

LeBron James’ journey to this record-breaking moment started in 2003 when he was drafted first overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers. From the start, LeBron was said to be a once-in-a-generation talent, a player with the size, skill, and athleticism to change the game. He lived up to the hype, winning Rookie of the Year honors in his first season and establishing himself as one of the league’s top players.

Over the course of his career, LeBron has proven time and time again that he is a dominant force on the court. He’s been named to the All-Star team 19 times, has won four NBA championships, and has taken home four MVP awards. He’s also been a key member of two Olympic gold medal-winning teams and is widely considered one of the best players to ever play the game.

Do the man justice. He has never slowed down and never stopped. Although he's unlikely to surpass Michael Jordan's six championships, it was obvious from the time he entered the building on Tuesday that he had chosen this night to achieve the record in front of everyone.

Off the court, LeBron has also made a significant impact. He’s been a vocal advocate for social justice issues, using his platform to raise awareness and make positive changes in his community. He’s also been a strong leader in the fight against racism and has been a major figure in the ongoing conversation about the role of athletes in activism.

LeBron has meant so much to my childhood and my entire generation. LeBron James has been a source of inspiration and motivation for me, showing them that with hard work and determination, it is possible to overcome obstacles and achieve greatness in whatever they set their minds to.

As LeBron continues to play at an incredibly high level, his legacy as one of the greatest players in NBA history only grows. His record-breaking feat serves as a reminder of his incredible impact on the game and his place among the all-time greats. While he may have passed Kareem in the record books, LeBron’s impact on the game of basketball will be felt for generations to come.

I'm going to say it now, Lebron has surpassed Michael Jordan as the GOAT. He's gonna finish with 10,000 more career points than Jordan when the only argument for Jordan is, "he was a better scorer", and when you ask people to explain that they start saying things like "you had to be there and just trust me", that is when the LeBron versus Jordan debate is going to look like a foolish one.

THANK YOU GOAT!