LeBron James breaks Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's all-time NBA scoring record with 38-point performance vs. Thunder

The NBA has a new all-time leading scorer

Lakers superstar LeBron James became the NBA's all-time leading scorer Tuesday night after draining a stepback elbow jumper in the third quarter to pass Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. It took just 26 minutes for James to total the 36 points needed to pass Abdul-Jabbar, and he finished the night with 38 points, seven rebounds and three assists in the Lakers 133-130 loss. 

The shot that broke the record for James came with 10 seconds left in the third quarter, and it wasn't an easy look as Thunder forward Kenrich Williams played admirable defense to make the four-time champion work for it.

There was stoppage in play once James broke the record, and he was presented with a commemorative ball from NBA commissioner Adam Silver and Abdul-Jabbar to celebrate the moment. An emotional James expressed his gratitude in the moment, saying "I just want to say, thank you to the Laker faithful, you guys are one of a kind," James said after breaking the record. "To be able to be in the presence of such a legend and a great as Kareem it means so much to me."

[Feb 8, 2023 at 1:26 am ET · Jasmyn Wimbish]

LeBron says he can play "couple more years" after breaking scoring record

Fresh off becoming the NBA's all-time leading scorer, LeBron made it clear that he feels good enough to still play a couple more years. While many worry about the physical toll an athlete's body takes, James said that it will be a mental thing for him moving forward. 

"The way I'm feeling, the way my body's been reacting to me throughout this course of the season, I know I can play a couple more years," James said. "It's all about my mind. If my mind is still into it, if I'm still motivated to go out and try to compete for championships. Because I feel like that's what I can still do for any group of guys, for any franchise I can go out there and still help win multiple championships. That's my mindset."

[Feb 8, 2023 at 1:07 am ET · Jasmyn Wimbish]

LeBron says he would take himself in the GOAT debate

LeBron has now become the all-time scoring leader, so of course, the Greatest of All Time debates will begin to churn once again. It'll dominate the morning talk shows tomorrow, but Shaquille O'Neal wanted to hear straight from LeBron himself, if he felt like he was the greatest ever now. It took some pushing, but after Shaq constantly nudging him, LeBron said "I'm gonna take myself against anybody that's every played this game...I always feel like I'm the best to ever play this game."

[Feb 8, 2023 at 12:51 am ET · Jasmyn Wimbish]

Magic Johnson thanks LeBron for "trusting and believing" in the Lakers legend

Back in the summer of 2018 when LeBron James signed with the Lakers, he was doing so on the trust of L.A.'s front office, which at the time featured Lakers legend Magic Johnson as president. LeBron was trusting a Lakers braintrust that hadn't been to the playoffs in the past four years at the time of him signing. A team that just won 35 games the season prior to him joining. While the first year of LeBron's time with the Lakers was unsuccessful in making the playoffs, the following year, the Lakers won the title on the strength of LeBron and the moves made by L.A.'s front office. While Johnson wasn't president of the team when they won it all in 2020, Magic clearly still appreciates LeBron for trusting him.

Johnson took to Twitter to thank James for trusting him, and lauding the four-time champion for everything he's done in a Lakers uniform.

[Feb 8, 2023 at 12:31 am ET · Jasmyn Wimbish]

NBA commissioner Adam Silver congratulates LeBron on "towering achievement"

Though Silver was there to congratulate LeBron in person while gifting him a commemorative ball celebrating the new all-time leading scorer, the commissioner of the league also released a statement on the achievement:

"Congratulations to LeBron on breaking one of the most hallowed records in all of sports by becoming the NBA's all-time scoring leader.  It's a towering achievement that speaks to his sustained excellence over 20 seasons in the league.  And quite amazingly, LeBron continues to play at an elite level and his basketball history is still being written."

[Feb 8, 2023 at 12:28 am ET · Jasmyn Wimbish]

Nike releases epic LeBron commercial in honor of scoring record

As soon as LeBron broke the record, Nike released this commercial to commemorate the moment. It touches on many important moments across LeBron's journey to become the all-time leading scorer, from most hyped high school prospect ever, winning a title for Cleveland, the back-to-back rings in Miami and everything in between. It then ends with a high-flying LeBron dunking the ball with "38,388 points and counting..." written across the screen.

[Feb 8, 2023 at 12:22 am ET · Jasmyn Wimbish]

Bronny and Bryce watching their dad break the record up close

At halftime LeBron talked to his sons, Bronny and Bryce, and asked them, "Go ahead and get?" While looking at how many more points he needed to pass Kareem. Bronny responded, "Go ahead," to which LeBron responded, "I'll get it." Then James went out there and did it while his sons were recording the whole thing sitting courtside:

[Feb 8, 2023 at 12:07 am ET · Jasmyn Wimbish]

LeBron gifted commemorative basketball from Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

After breaking the record in the third quarter, NBA commissioner Adam Silver, as well as previous record holder Kareem Abdul-Jabbar joined James at center court to give him a commemorative basketball to celebrate him breaking the all-time scoring record. 

"I just want to say, thank you to the Laker faithful, you guys are one of a kind," James said after breaking the record. "To be able to be in the presence of such a legend and a great as Kareem it means so much to me." 

[Feb 8, 2023 at 12:00 am ET · Jasmyn Wimbish]

LeBron with a stepback elbow jumper to break the scoring record

James triumphantly threw his hands up as he sunk an elbow jumper to break Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's scoring record, and you could hear the pop from the crowd serenading him with MVP chants shortly after. LeBron James is now the all-time leading scorer in NBA history, and he did it with 10.9 seconds left in the third quarter.

[Feb 7, 2023 at 11:57 pm ET · Jasmyn Wimbish]

LeBron's next shot will make him the all-time scorer

After LeBron finished off another layup, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was shown on screen and flashed a smile as he knew his record was falling tonight. The one record many thought would never fall is about to come down tonight with LeBron's next basket. Hopefully we get an exciting shot.

[Feb 7, 2023 at 11:55 pm ET · Jasmyn Wimbish]

LeBron within four points of Kareem's record

We're going to witness history tonight folks, now we know for certain. LeBron finished off an alley-oop for a layup to get to 32 points. Now we can start thinking about what shot he'll use to get the record. Will it be a dunk? A mid-range jumper? Will he get a skyhook to pay some homage to Kareem? We'll just have to wait and see. 

[Feb 7, 2023 at 11:48 pm ET · Jasmyn Wimbish]

Lakers turning up the defensive intensity to give LeBron more opportunities

LeBron has 10 points in the third quarter, and that's due in part because of the Lakers turning up the intensity on defense. They're forcing the Thunder into mistakes, getting out in transition and LeBron is doing damage. He's within 6 points of the record, and he's likely going to pass it in this third quarter. 

[Feb 7, 2023 at 11:42 pm ET · Jasmyn Wimbish]

LeBron knocks down back-to-back triples...8 points to go

Back-to-back triples for LeBron, and you can feel the energy and electricity inside Crypto.com arena. The 3-ball is one reason why LeBron has managed to get to within striking distance of Kareem's record in far fewer games. Abdul-Jabbar only made one 3-pointer in his entire career, while LeBron has made 2,237, including 4 of 5 tonight.

[Feb 7, 2023 at 11:39 pm ET · Jasmyn Wimbish]

LeBron getting it done with free throws...14 points to the record

The start to the third quarter was a sloppy one for LeBron, filled with a couple turnovers and a missed jumper, but he still can't be stopped getting to the free-throw line, where he's now 8 of 10. He needs just 14 points for the record, and by the way he's getting his points it looks like it'll come at the free-throw line.