Lakers fans wearing LeBron James jerseys posed for photos at the statue of Lakers great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar outside Crypto.com Arena on Tuesday.
It was fitting, considering James was coming into the Lakers’ game against the Oklahoma City Thunder needing just 36 points to tie Abdul-Jabbar’s NBA record of 38,387 points. Eventually, the small talk among Lakers fans led to heated debate over the question: Without Abdul-Jabbar, James would get a statue like Magic Johnson, Shaquille O’Neal, Jerry West, Elgin Baylor and Chick Hearn.
“He deserves it,” said Mike Ballard, who wears No. 33, Abdul-Jabbar’s uniform, on his Lakers jersey. “You can’t take anything away from him because he’s only been here five years.”
James led the Laker to the NBA Championship in the 2020 season, which was cut short by the Covid-19 pandemic. Now, wearing a Lakers jersey, he will break a scoring record that was thought to be unbeatable. Justin Pickett, who flew in from Columbus, Ohio, said he didn’t think the statue was that clear.
Lakers Fans
“He’s got to win at least one more championship (with the Lakers),” Pickett said. “But he’s going to get a statue in Cleveland.”
James attended the game in a black outfit and a gold and black “Stay Present” pin. James wears a “Forged by Black History” T-shirt and his usual headband as he warms up. His sons Brownie and Bryce looked on.
international flavor
Fans from China, Australia and Argentina arrived at the Cypto.com Arena about two hours before the game.
One of the three Chinese businessmen said he chose the English name James as a tribute to LeBron. Juan Yellin, his wife and two sons unfurled an Argentine flag with black marker with handwritten words aimed directly at LeBron.
“My grandfather brought me to you from Argentina.”
Ye Lin explained that the children’s grandfather was too ill to travel. Skyhook and screen
Not everyone is too familiar with the Hall of Fame center and his famous skyhook. Dan Kosmala says he knows Abdul Jabbar more from movies than basketball. “Isn’t he ‘on the plane’?” asked Kosmara.
Yes. On Tuesday, he also watched from the sidelines as James chased his blessed record that has stood for more than 30 years.
He was named “The Chosen One” long ago. He continued to be “king”. He is now the leading scorer in NBA history.
LeBron James scored one of the most historic goals in league history on Tuesday, ending Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s streak while sitting on the sidelines. Holy career scoring record 38,387. Needing 36 points to score in the third quarter of the Los Angeles Lakers-Oklahoma City Thunder game at Crypto.com Arena, James scored with 10.9 seconds left.
the stars are out
Among those in attendance were Jay-Z; Denzel Washington; Shannon Sharpe; John McEnroe, LL Cool J; Floyd Mayweather; Bad Bunny; Phil Knight; Jenny Buss; Dwyane Wade; Magic Johnson; NBA Commissioner Adam Silver. ticket price
Tickets for the games each Tuesday afternoon are just $125. But two courtside seats — Jack Nicholson’s domain — are listed on Ticketmaster for $75,000 each.
On October 29, 2003, James, an 18-year-old rookie, hit a 16-foot jumper past Rich Davis for his first career point against the Sacramento Kings. Between that bucket and the nearly 40,000 points James has scored since then, he has won Rookie of the Year, four NBA championships, four MVPs, four Finals MVPs, three All-Star Game MVPs and two Olympic gold medals.
James averaged 20.9 points per game. game in his rookie season and is averaging over 25 points per game. played in every season since, including more than 30 points in each game three times. He has scored 10 or more points in every game since January 5, 2007, an NBA record 1,139 consecutive games (ending Michael Jordan’s streak of 867 in 2018).
James scored 23,119 points in two seasons and 11 seasons with the Cavaliers. He scored 7,919 points in four seasons with the Heat. In five seasons with the Lakers, he now has 7,350 points and counting.
He entered Tuesday’s game averaging 30.0 points in his 20th NBA season and needed 36 points against the Thunder to set his record 1,410th career game. James scored 25 points in his 2003 debut, the most by any player in his first NBA game since entering the league straight out of high school. He averaged 20.9 points per game in his rookie season, becoming the youngest player to reach 1,000 career points. It was the start of the NBA trend of scoring a goal every game. round.
In 2006, at age 21, James surpassed Kobe Bryant to become the youngest player to reach 5,000 career points. In 2008, the third child reached 10,000. And so he continues until he becomes the first player to reach 40,000 points, barring an injury that will happen the following season.
