Kareem Abdul Jabar held the scoring record for almost 40 years. It did not seem possible for it to be broken. Longevity is not a trait of professional athletes. Their bodies suffer injuries, wear and tear, and their mental health seems to have limited resilience. As LeBron James' career unfolded, despite team hopping at an amazing pace, the super star began to take on what appeared to be a quest, that wasn't a quest, but an effort to maintain a high standard of performance.
LeBron started out at a very young age, barely old enough to vote(18). His play was magnificent and a cause for wonder. He was a 'different' type of player: he was a little bit of everything desired in a top level player: aggressive, determined, unflappable, consistent, and remarkably healthy throughout the years. He had a winners' heart: he wanted victory and played hard to achieve those goals for himself and the team he played with, wherever that was at the time.
Now he plays for the LA Lakers, the same team that Jabar played with when he set the scoring record all those many years ago. During the record beating game Tuesday night at home, the Lakers were up against the Oklahoma Thunder, a worthy opponent. LeBron needed 38 points to set the new record. He started fast, then slowed. As the second half began, James played his game: rebounding, moving up and down the court with aggressive steps and keen awareness for the ball. Late in the 3rd quarter, it now became almost a given: the record would be broken in minutes. Before the quarter ended, LeBron did break the old record and become the highest scoring player in league history. Time was stopped so LeBron, the Lakers, and all the Laker fans present could enjoy the historic moment. 38, 388 points. Not too B A D.
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| LeBron James: Scoring Leader |
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