LeBron James took the microphone at center court under a spotlight Thursday night, and all the fans who guessed wrong rose to unleash a mighty roar. Know more:
LOS ANGELES—LeBron James took the microphone at center court under a spotlight Thursday night, and all the fans who guessed wrong rose to unleash a mighty roar.
“As I sit up here and look at this thing going around right now, it’s just so surreal to me,” James said. “But the one thing I know for sure is that I’ve never cheated the game of basketball. And I would never cheat the game of basketball, because it’s given so much to myself. It’s given so much to my family.”
Moments before James took the court, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar offered his thoughts on James’ place in the game’s history after breaking Abdul-Jabbar’s record of 38,387 points, a mark that had stood for nearly 39 years. “How many people in here saw Sweetwater Clifton play? I didn’t. Most of us didn’t,” Abdul-Jabbar said. “He was awesome, but that was back in the early ’50s, without the 24-second clock. … I think the reason they have sports bars with all those TVs is so people can go in there and argue like this, because we’re not going to find out.”
“From that moment on, I knew that orange sphere was something that I always wanted to be a part of my journey,” James said. “Who would have known? Someone said on social media that that was the biggest investment in the history of mankind. A $20 Little Tikes hoop could turn into what it’s turned into today. Mom, thank you so much.”
James then addressed the Lakers’ fans, who have embraced a longtime rival ever since he arrived in 2018. He assumed an exemplary public leadership role for the franchise in the wake of Kobe Bryant’s death in 2020—and later in the year, he led Los Angeles to its 17th championship.
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Abdul-Jabbar blames himself for lack of relationship with LeBron“LeBron said we don’t have a relationship. He’s right – and for that I blame myself.” NBA icons Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and LeBron James put aside their frosty past for a special moment after having not always seen eye to eye on certain issues. NBA LakeShow
Read more »
LeBron sets NBA career scoring mark in Lakers’ loss to OKC | Associated PressLOS ANGELES—LeBron James became the National Basketball Association’s (NBA) career scoring leader on a step-back jumper late in the third quarter, passing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s record during his 38-point performance in the Los Angeles Lakers’ 133-130 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday night. James surpassed the mark held since…
Read more »
LeBron has defied odds, with no drop-off in sight | Tim Reynolds / The Associated PressLEBRON JAMES is 38 years old. He is in Season 20 of his National Basketball Association career. He is, by conventional basketball-playing standards, ancient. History says his decline should have started already. Except it hasn't. Not even close. And count that as just another example of what sets James apart…
Read more »
LeBron’s off-court legacy complements his basketball success | The Associated PressMYA SMILEY is a student at the University of Akron thanks to an assist from LeBron James, and she is determined upon graduation to become a social worker that helps foster kids. Her education and career path would not have been possible, the sophomore says, were it not for a…
Read more »
Bucks roll to win over LeBron-less LakersGiannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks match their longest winning streak of the season as LeBron James sits outs for the Lakers after setting the NBA's all-time scoring record. NBA
Read more »
12 players with best chance of dethroning LeBron’s all-time NBA scoring recordAfter LeBron James surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for No. 1 on the NBA’s all-time scoring list, here’s a look at 12 players who at the very least have an outside chance of threatening James’ all-time scoring record, wherever it ends up. NBA
Read more »