« LeBron said we don’t have a relationship. He’s right—and for that I blame myself, » Abdul-Jabbar wrote.
Los Angeles Lakers legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar shared his thoughts Wednesday on LeBron James iconic NBA regular season scoring record, penning an honest and at times emotional essay on his Substack.
Abdul-Jabbar’s article was published just hours after James became the new all-time regular reason scoring leader on Tuesday night, late in the third quarter of the Lakers’ home game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, when he surpassed Abdul-Jabbar’s 38,387-point mark. Abdul-Jabbar’s record had stood for more than 38 years.
« 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 the 75-year-old Abdul-Jabbar, praising 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.
