LeBron James vows to keep playing after ‘surreal’ NBA all-time points scoring record
- James finally eclipses Abdul-Jabbar as most prolific scorer in NBA history on Tuesday, breaking 39-year-old record
- Lakers star, playing in 20th season, passes long-standing total of 38,387 points after nailing 21-foot shot late in third quarter
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LeBron James said on Tuesday that he expected to extend his NBA career by at least two more years as he basked in the “surreal” achievement of becoming the league’s all-time leading points scorer.
The 38-year-old Los Angeles Laker finally passed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the top NBA scorer with a 38-point haul in his team’s 133-130 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
James finished the night with 38,390 career regular season points, three more than Abdul-Jabbar’s tally of 38,387, a record that had stood since 1984.
The only question now is how much James will increase his record tally before he finally calls time on his career.
Playing in his 20th NBA season, James said after his record-breaking night that he was in no mood to exit the stage just yet.
“I know I can play a couple more years,” James told TNT television. “The way I’m feeling, the way my body’s been reacting to me through this season.
“I know I can play a couple more years -- it’s all about my mind. If my mind is still into it, if I’m still motivated to go out and try to compete for championships, I feel like I can still do that.
“If my mind is sharp and I feel motivated to prepare myself every single day then I can continue to play this game.”
James, meanwhile, admitted he was still struggling to come to terms with finally eclipsing Abdul-Jabbar’s longstanding record.
“It’s so surreal,” he said. “Because it’s something I never made a goal of mine or set out to do, so I’m just happy.
“Longevity, being able to be out on the floor for three multiple franchises, trying to be the greatest I can be every single night, and having great teammates and coaches who allowed me to be me.
“I don’t know if it’s hit me. It hit me a little bit on the floor with my family after it happened. But it hasn’t quite sunk in yet.
“To be able to play at this level 20 years in, to be at the apex of my game, it’s a pretty surreal feeling.
“Hopefully I can continue it, but at the end of the day it’s just been a pleasure to be in this league for 20 years.
“And for however long I’m able to go, it’s been a hell of a ride.”
Asked by television pundit and NBA great Shaquille O’Neal whether Tuesday’s record meant he was now the greatest player in NBA history, James replied: “I’ll let everybody else decide who that is.
“But it’s great barber shop talk.”
James had flung his arms aloft in relief the oment he broke the 39-year-old record, as the Crypto.com Arena erupted in wild celebration at his new mark of 38,388 points.
Abdul-Jabbar, sitting court-side, was among the first to congratulate James as play was interrupted to salute an iconic moment in NBA history.
“To be able to be in the presence of a legend and great as Kareem it means so much to me,” James told the crowd before thanking family, friends and fans.
“Everybody that’s ever been part of this run with me these last 20 years, I just want to say I thank you so much because I wouldn’t be me without all your help, all your passion and all your sacrifices to help me get to this point.”
James also paid tribute to NBA commissioner Adam Silver and his predecessor, the late David Stern.
“Thank you guys so much for allowing me to be a part of something I’ve always dreamed about, and I would never ever in a million years have dreamt this even better than what it is tonight,” James added before signing off with an F-bomb.
