LeBron James Breaks All-Time Scoring Record

After nearly 40 years, the NBA finally has a new all-time scoring king. Late in the third quarter of the Los Angeles Lakers' game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, LeBron James passed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the most points of all time on a fade-away jumper.

"The King wears the crown!" pic.twitter.com/k9pqmYeoeT
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) February 8, 2023

James needed 36 points entering last night's game in order to snatch away the long-standing record, and he managed the feat with plenty of time to spare. He ended his night with 38 points, seven rebounds, and three assists in a 133-130 loss, hitting 13 of his 20 field goal attempts. James sets the record having turned 38 years old in late December. Abdul-Jabbar retired at 41.

James' record will likely stand for a very long time. He appears nowhere near the end of his career, and he has more than 10000 points over any other active player. Given his incredible durability and dominance from an early age (20.9 points per game as a 19-year-old rookie), it's difficult to imagine a player ever approaching whatever mark the four-time MVP ends up with. It will likely end up being the single record most synonymous with his greatness.

The incredible achievement is a ray of sunshine in an otherwise disappointing season for the Lakers. The team finds itself 25-30, 13th in the Western Conference, and with a real chance of missing the play-in tournament. As incredible as James remains even at his advanced age, his career may come to an unceremonious and undignified end unless the Lakers can sort themselves out in the coming weeks, months, and years.