Sofia Sterlacci ‘25
The Los Angeles Lakers’ most valuable player Lebron James has set a world record making basketball enthusiasts and Lakers fans feel extremely excited. James, a two-time Olympic medallist has won accolades like NBA Rookie of the Year, four-time MVP, the only player in NBA history to have at least 10,000 rebounds and 10,000 assists, and the only player in NBA history to score 10 points or more in 1,000 consecutive games - just to name a few.
At the impressive age of 38 years old, Lebron James has set a new record for all-time top scorer. On February 7, 2023, the Los Angeles Lakers played against the Oklahoma City Thunder in which Lebron scored 38 points, bringing him to a total of 38,390 career points, beating Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s 38,387 points. Abdul-Jabbar’s record was set in April of 1984, allowing this record to remain unbroken for 38 consecutive years.
Some may argue that basketball games before the 80s cannot and should not be compared to present-day basketball. Starting in 1979, the NBA implemented three-point shots. Therefore, Abdul-Jabbar played the first 10 years of his career at a disadvantage.
When speaking to my basketball teammate, Catrina Mullaly, she stated that Lebron James’s record does not hold as much value as Kareem’s for that reason alone. In contrast, the argument can be made that Abdul-Jabbar was not an outside shooter, so it would not have made much of a difference.
Another point to consider is that Lebron James' career is 20 years long and still continuing, while Kareem had a 16-year career which included many injuries due to the game being a lot more physical in past times. Fewer fouls were called, not allowing many opportunities for extra points.
Regardless of what you believe, and whether you look at details or not, there is a new record holder for the NBA’s all-time career points and that is Lebron James.
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