Kareem Abdul-Jabbar expresses his feelings as LeBron James inches closer to scoring record

Modified Feb 02, 2023 05:28 GMT

Arizona v UCLA — Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Arizona vs. UCLA

After holding the NBA scoring record for nearly 40 years, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is about to lose one of his most historic titles. In the coming weeks, LA Lakers star LeBron James is set to become the NBA's all-time leading scorer.

Following the Lakers' overtime win over the New York Knicks, LeBron is just 88 points away from tying the record. At the rate he's been scoring this season, he should reach that mark in two or three games.

With history on the horizon, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar opened up on LeBron taking the top spot. While Wilt Chamberlain was not happy when Kareem broke the record, the Hall of Fame center is happy for LeBron and plans to congratulate him for his achievement.

“When I broke Wilt Chamberlain’s scoring record in 1984 -- the year LeBron was born -- it bothered Wilt, who’d had a bit of a one-sided rivalry with me since I’d started doing so well in the NBA,” he added. “I don’t feel that way toward LeBron. Not only will I celebrate his accomplishment, I will sing his praises unequivocally.”

About the author

Kevin McCormick is a basketball writer at Sportskeeda with over four years of experience in journalism and a bachelor's degree in Sports Management Marketing from Holy Family University.

Kevin has worked with various notable outlets throughout his career, including 97.3 ESPN, ClutchPoints, Heavy Sports, and Sports Illustrated/FanNation, before joining Sportskeeda in March 2022.

Specializing in NBA and WNBA coverage, Kevin's passion for basketball stems from his hometown team, the Philadelphia 76ers. Among his favorite players are Kevin Durant, Chet Holmgren, and Steph Curry, while his all-time favorites include Magic Johnson and Larry Bird.

Kevin holds Coach K in high regard for the large input he's had on the game helping mold players across multiple generations. Kevin believes the iconic rivalry between Larry Bird and Magic Johnson helped elevate the league to its current status.

Through his writing, Kevin provides in-depth analysis and insights into player and coach quotes. He prioritizes sourcing information from credible and reliable outlets.

Kevin enjoys reading, aiming to finish at least one book per month, and he is a big fan of music.

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Edited by Kevin McCormick