Kareem Abdul-Jabbar says he’s “thrilled” LeBron James broke his all-time NBA scoring record — and that his former teammate Magic Johnson was wrong to suggest otherwise.
James set the new high mark of 38,390 career points Tuesday night, surpassing a record Abdul-Jabbar held for more than 38 years.
“Whenever a sports record is broken — including mine — it’s a time for celebration,” Abdul-Jabbar wrote in a Substack essay published Wednesday. “It means someone has pushed the boundaries of what we thought was possible to a whole new level. And when one person climbs higher than the last person, we all feel like we are capable of being more.”
James, 38, is in his fifth year with the Lakers, with whom Abdul-Jabbar spent 14 seasons. Abdul-Jabbar was seated courtside Tuesday at Los Angeles’ Cypto.com Arena when James broke the record against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Last year, Johnson speculated on the “Club Shay Shay” podcast that Abdul-Jabbar would have trouble watching James pass his career point total.
Abdul-Jabbar wrote in Wednesday’s piece that his longtime friend “got it wrong.”
“The only time I ever think of the record is when someone brings it up,” Abdul-Jabbar wrote.
“For the past 20 years, I’ve occupied myself with social activism, my writing career, and my family — especially my three grandchildren. If I had a choice of having my scoring record remain intact for another hundred years or spend one afternoon with my grandchildren, I’d be on the floor in seconds stacking Legos and eating Uncrustables.”
Abdul-Jabbar praised James for his devotion to winning and passion for social justice. He confirmed James’ past comments that they don’t have a relationship but attributed it largely to their age difference.
“He’s right — and for that I blame myself,” Abdul-Jabbar wrote. “Not for anything I did, but perhaps for not making more of an effort to reach out to him. By nature I have never been a chummy, reaching-out kind of guy.”
James, a four-time NBA Finals champion, is in his 20th season. He and Abdul-Jabbar are tied for the most All-Star Game selections ever with 19.
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