By: Vivek Nair Image credit: NBA
LeBron James became the all-time leading scorer in the NBA, surpassing a record held by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar since 1984.
Abdul-Jabbar held the game ball aloft then handed it to James, the ceremonial passing of the torch.
Later on, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar shared his thoughts on LeBron James breaking his iconic NBA all-time scoring record.
"It takes unbelievable drive, dedication, and talent to survive in the NBA long enough to rack up that number of points when the average NBA career lasts only 4.5 years," wrote Abdul-Jabbar, raising James' grit, and saying he is "thrilled" for the new-record holder.
"It's not just about putting the ball through the hoop, it's about staying healthy and skilled enough to climb the steep mountain in ever-thinning oxygen over many years when most other players have tapped out," Abdul-Jabbar added.
However, LeBron and Kareem don't have a very friendly relationship. In October, James told reporters that he had "no thoughts, and no relationship" with Abdul-Jabbar.
"LeBron said we don't have a relationship. He's right—and for that I blame myself. Not for anything I did, but perhaps for not making more of an effort to reach out to him," said Abdul-Jabbar.
Finally Jabbar admitted that he is happy to see LeBron break the record and wrote "LeBron makes me love the game again. And he makes me proud to be part of an ever-widening group of athletes who actively care about their community."
Shaquille O’Neal Forces LeBron James to Make Bold Admission