After completing a five-game road trip in New Orleans on Saturday night, Lakers forward LeBron James returns to Los Angeles on the verge of being the NBA’s all-time top scorer after wrapping up a five-game road trip. ‘King James’ now needs just 36 points to pass fellow Lakers great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s record 38,387 career points after scoring 27 points in the Lakers’ 131-126 loss to the Pelicans.
James, 38, shows no signs of slowing down in his 20th season, averaging more than 30 points per game and making his 19th All-Star appearance. He’ll have two chances to break “one of the greatest records in sports” on his home court next week when the Lakers visit the Thunder on Tuesday and the Bucks on Thursday.
Meanwhile, ticket costs for those games have risen predictably, and Hollywood’s top stars are expected to sit courtside. Fans across the world are looking forward to the milestone, and the league has stated that any game in which he has a reasonable chance of breaking the record would be aired nationwide. The only uncertainty at this moment is what kind of shot he will take to win the title.
In recent games, James has been observed practicing the skyhook, a shot popularized by Abdul-Jabbar, so a tribute to the Hall of Famer may be in the works. However, a dunk, mid-range jumper or three-pointer, or even a free throw will cause the game to pause as an epic celebration takes place at Crypto.com Arena.
Breaking Abdul Jabbar’s record will further four-time champion James
Breaking Abdul Jabbar’s four-decade-old mark, which he took from Wilt Chamberlain on April 5, 1984, will further four-time champion James’ case for being hailed as the best of all time.
When he was taken first overall as a teenager in the 2003 NBA Draft amid a media frenzy, the Akron, Ohio native had an instant impact on the ailing Cleveland Cavaliers club. Since then, he has more than lived up to the lofty expectations placed on his large shoulders, rapidly rising up the scoring list.
James has governed the NBA for two decades, winning four championships with three different teams, being nominated to a record-tying 19 All-Star games last month, and being a constant MVP candidate.