LeBron James vows to ‘play a couple more years’ after becoming NBA’s all-time leading scorer
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LeBron James has no plans to step away from the court any time soon, even though he eventually surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to become the NBA’s all-time leading points scorer.
The 38-year-old Lakers forward entered the matchup with Oklahoma City needing 36 points for the scoring record, and finished with 38 points in a 133-130 loss.
But it was a smile, rather than a scowl, on James’ face as the buzzer rang on his historic night and he was asked if he still had the motivation to keep playing now that he’s at the top of the all-time scoring pile. time.
“I know I can play a couple more years, the way I’m feeling, the way my body has been reacting throughout the season, I know I can play a couple more years,” he told TNT.
“I feel like for any group of guys, for any franchise, I can go out there and help win multiple championships or win a championship, so that’s my thinking.”
LeBron James is convinced he has “multiple championships” left after claiming the NBA’s all-time scoring record Tuesday night against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was on hand in Los Angeles to see his record broken
He added: “It’s so surreal because it’s something I never set out to do.”
James entered the game against OKC needing 36 points to surpass the record of 38,387, set by Abdul-Jabbar in 1989.
He claimed the record with 10.9 seconds remaining in the third quarter with a trademark jumper.
The crowd, which had paid thousands of dollars to be in the arena on such a historic night, erupted as he pointed to the sky and then to his family.
After the record-breaking shot, James walked away with his hands up before he was mobbed by his teammates and eventually his sons, Bronny and Bryce, along with his wife, Savannah.
The likes of Rihanna, Drake, Kendrick Lamar, Snopp Dogg, as well as basketball legends Stephen Curry and Shaquille O’Neal, paid tribute to James for accomplishing the feat in a series of video messages.
And it was O’Neal, one of the TNT panelists, who asked James directly if he was now the undisputed greatest of all time (GOAT).
He laughed, initially trying to divert attention from others to have their say and make their own decisions, before ‘big dude’ O’Neal pressed him into responding.
Sealed the scoring record with a two-point faded dagger late in the third quarter
James celebrated the achievement with his sons Bronny (left) and Bryce (right) on Tuesday night.
“I’ll take on anyone who’s played this game,” James said.
“I always feel like I’m the best at playing this game, but there are so many great ones out there and I’m happy to be a part of their journey.”
This was a historic night with Abdul-Jabbar taking the court to pass the torch with his record finally toppled.
After James hit the faded dagger at the end of the third quarter, the game was stopped, and he addressed the crowd on the ground.
“I just want to thank the Lakers faithful, you guys are one of a kind,” James said.
“To be in the presence of such a great legend as Kareem means a lot to me, it’s very humbling. Please give the captain a standing ovation, please.
James now sits alone atop the NBA scoring list, adding another element to his growing legend.
‘To my beautiful wife, my daughter, my two sons, my friends, my children, my family, my mother. Man, everyone that’s been a part of this run with me these last 20 plus years. I just want to say thank you so much because it wouldn’t be me without you.
‘All of your help, all of your passion, all of your sacrifice has helped me get to this point. And to the NBA, to Adam Silver, to the late, great David Stern, I thank you so much for allowing me to be a part of something I’ve always dreamed of.
‘Never, never in a million years did I dream this better than it is tonight. F*** man, thanks guys,’ she concluded.
James, who joined the Lakers from the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2018, is the Highest earning player in NBA history.
He signed a two-year extension with the Lakers worth $97.1m (£80.6m) in August.