KING LeBron James shows longevity and creativity over two decades to become THE GREATEST in NBA history

To think someone, someday, will breach Jabbar's record, is like smoking grass and fantasizing!


KING LeBron James shows longevity and creativity over two decades to become THE GREATEST in NBA history

(Image via Mark J. Terrill/AP)

LeBron James added a new chapter in the history of the NBA on Tuesday night in LA, almost his own, and a glittering one, as the Los Angeles Lakers star scored his 38,388th point. In the rich history of the NBA, Tuesday night in the United States of America (West Coast time) was truly historic as LeBron broke the record of Kareem Abdul Jabbar (38,387), which fans thought was impossible.

The night match against Oklahoma City Thunder was LeBron’s thunder, literally, as he rocked with seconds remaining for the third quarter. They say records are meant to be broken in sports. Each sport has its share of records, be it traditional US sport or what’s more global, like football. If you talk of swimming, track and field, cricket, and any other sport, records set by icons were eclipsed at some stage or the other.

Yet, this one, in the name of Kareem Abdul Jabbar, stood as tall as the Himalayas. It needed someone of similar stature to go for the record, which LeBron James did. Unthinkable, unbeatable, that “Oh My God” feeling, that’s what NBA fans are now experiencing as LeBron took them on a trip which gives such an incredible high.

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In the history of American basketball, there have been many magical moments. None can beat this one for sheer longevity, for sheer variety and sheer tenacity. This is not like swimming or athletics or shooting, where you are pushing yourself. This is a team sport. You have to mesh with the boys. At his age, 38 years and one month standing tall at six feet and nine inches and weighing 113kg (250 pounds), for LeBron to be bounding on his feet and all his joints holding up and to be part of the NBA circus for so long is monumental.

Call it adrenaline flow, call it bounce, call it spring in his heels, for LeBron to be part of a team and continue with youngsters as well is not easy. There is a way of playing and competing at a young age. Yet, to be rubbing shoulders with younger stars is teamwork. This is not a mere individual effort, for basketball is teamwork and how fast you are. Had it been any other superstar, he may have been decoded. No, LeBron has been unstoppable, literally, which is why he has reached this gigantic record. Despite all the modern ways of tracking how a basketball player performs, what is his strategy, and so on, LeBron has been unstoppable.

That fans bought tickets in black to watch this moment is justified as there is nothing like watching it live. It’s once in a lifetime, and this record of LeBron will be set in stone. To think someone, someday, will breach it, is like smoking grass and fantasizing!

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King LeBron James stands alone now

King James (Image via Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
King James (Image via Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Magic Johnson, you can reel off names of legends in NBA, but what LeBron has gone on to create as a record makes him King. In the good old days, Muhammad Ali was pompous and called himself the greatest boxer in heavyweight. He was. Likewise, if the word “Greatest” will be used in NBA, LeBron will wear that tag. The rest will be greats. Sorry, that’s the reality.

There could have been no bigger cheer, no bigger emotion for LeBron than to see Jabbar on the sidelines, smiling and clapping. It’s to Jabbar’s greatness, he was there in person.’
For those interested in NBA history, Jabbar has set his record with the Lakers in 1984, when he got past Wilt Chamberlain’s record. That was at 31,419 points. Jabbar went on to add over 7,000 points in the span of the next five years. Comparing champions and ages and eras is wrong, but LeBron started his own journey in 2003. His game was awesome, passing, visualizing the field, speed, and how he would torment people in the paint. That was the beginning. To build brick by brick is testimony over the next two decades.

For sheer longevity and creativity, LeBron James will remain the biggest the sport has ever witnessed. His game has not been a constant. Those who have witnessed his game from a young age have seen the metamorphosis. Perhaps it is that willingness to adapt, adopt, and keep moving ahead which has made him the GIANT today. For millions of Black Americans in the United States of America, this is a big moment. Congratulations and best wishes have come from all, led by President Joe Biden.

This is the connect LeBron has with the commoner as well as the most powerful President in the world. Tuesday night in LA and Wednesday in the rest of Europe and Asia, LeBron is the flavor. This is going to rage for a long time and take the media and social media by storm for a week at least. Moments like this have to be saved for posterity, even if you are not a hardcore NBA fan.

Thanks, LeBron James.

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