NYT SPORT: LeBron James Breaks Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s N.B.A. Scoring Record
By Sopan Deb and Tania Ganguli
Section: Sports
Source: New York Times
James, the Los Angeles Lakers forward, broke Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s career scoring record of 38,387 points on Tuesday. It was a feat that once had seemed impossible for anyone — but James has become known for making the improbable part of his routine.
He broke the record on a fadeaway 2-point shot in the final seconds of the third quarter against the Oklahoma City Thunder. James extended his arms out like he was flying as he jogged back toward the other basket. Then he raised his arms and looked up into the stands at the thousands of people who had come to see him make history.
He paused for a second, bent over, rested his hands on his knees and smiled as his family and friends jumped out of their seats in celebration and joined him on the court. He had tears in his eyes.
“I felt like I was sitting on top of the arena tonight,” James said in his postgame news conference. He sat in front of a backdrop with an image of himself with his arms outstretched above the words “ALL-TIME SCORING LEADER.”
“I probably can count on my hands how many times I have cried in 20 years, either in happiness or in defeat,” James said. “So that moment was one of them when I kind of teared up a little bit. It was a ‘I can’t believe what’s going on’ tears.”
By Sopan Deb and Tania Ganguli
Section: Sports
Source: New York Times
James, the Los Angeles Lakers star, scored the record-breaking 38,388th point that had eluded generations of superstars.
LOS ANGELES — One of the most extraordinary records in N.B.A. history had stood for nearly 39 years, until LeBron James grabbed it for himself.James, the Los Angeles Lakers forward, broke Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s career scoring record of 38,387 points on Tuesday. It was a feat that once had seemed impossible for anyone — but James has become known for making the improbable part of his routine.
He broke the record on a fadeaway 2-point shot in the final seconds of the third quarter against the Oklahoma City Thunder. James extended his arms out like he was flying as he jogged back toward the other basket. Then he raised his arms and looked up into the stands at the thousands of people who had come to see him make history.
He paused for a second, bent over, rested his hands on his knees and smiled as his family and friends jumped out of their seats in celebration and joined him on the court. He had tears in his eyes.
“I felt like I was sitting on top of the arena tonight,” James said in his postgame news conference. He sat in front of a backdrop with an image of himself with his arms outstretched above the words “ALL-TIME SCORING LEADER.”
“I probably can count on my hands how many times I have cried in 20 years, either in happiness or in defeat,” James said. “So that moment was one of them when I kind of teared up a little bit. It was a ‘I can’t believe what’s going on’ tears.”
Published Date: February 7, 2023 at 02:00AM
Read More at: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/07/sports/lebron-james-nba-scoring-record.html
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