It's done, LeBron James has surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (38,387 points) as the all-time leading scorer in NBA history!
LeBron James
Credit: USA Today/IMAGN
James has been considered the best player in the NBA for many years. No one would argue with that!
LeBron James
Credit: USA Today/IMAGN
That said, it should be noted that James has surpassed some big names when it comes to stepping up to the plate as one of the all-time leading scorers.
LeBron James
Credit: USA Today/IMAGN
Mailman Karl Malone has scored 36,928 points in his career. The rate at which he has amassed those points, however, is less than James'.
LeBron James
Credit: USA Today/IMAGN
The fourth highest scorer is Kobe Bryant with 33,643 points.
LeBron James
Credit: USA Today/IMAGN
Like Malone, Bryant also put up his points at a lower rate than LeBron James.
LeBron James
Credit: USA Today/IMAGN
Let's end the list at #5 with a statistical error, but easily explained. Much like Mario Lemieux in hockey, Michael Jordan dominated basketball like no other.
LeBron James
Credit: USA Today/IMAGN
If LeBron James is one of the top two or three players in the history of his sport, Jordan is also part of the discussion, and tops the charts for many.
LeBron James
Credit: USA Today/IMAGN
Jordan, however, took a break from basketball for a few years to try his hand at baseball. He has 32,292 points and is 400 games behind James.
LeBron James
Credit: USA Today/IMAGN
But when it comes down to it, top 1 or top 2, what's the difference? LeBron James is one of the greatest athletes of all time, one of the most dominant in his sport.
LeBron James
Credit: USA Today/IMAGN
Born on December 30, 1984, LeBron James was the first pick in the 2003 draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers, with whom he played until 2010.
LeBron James
Credit: USA Today/IMAGN
Eager to win a championship, LeBron James left the Cavaliers for the Miami Heat in 2011. A special was even aired to announce his new team choice.
LeBron James
Credit: USA Today/IMAGN
In Miami, he joined Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosch. The trio was nicknamed The Big Three.
LeBron James
Credit: USA Today/IMAGN
Seen as an uneven competition by many, the Heat actually realized their hopes by winning league championships in 2012 and 2013.
LeBron James
Credit: USA Today/IMAGN
Perhaps also anxious to prove to everyone that he was capable of single-handedly winning a team, LeBron James returned to Cleveland in 2014 through 2018.
LeBron James
Credit: USA Today/IMAGN
The result? A championship in 2016!
LeBron James
Credit: USA Today/IMAGN
Since 2018, LeBron James has been experiencing Los Angeles with the Lakers. And you know what?
LeBron James
Credit: USA Today/IMAGN
His team won the 2020 NBA championship!
LeBron James
Credit: USA Today/IMAGN
So in addition to his four NBA MVP awards, LeBron James has four championship titles to his name with his various teams.
LeBron James
Credit: USA Today/IMAGN
Oh yeah... every time LeBron James' teams have won the NBA championship, this exceptional player has won the Finals MVP award!
LeBron James
Credit: USA Today/IMAGN
LeBron James will always be known as one of the greatest athletes of all time, and rightfully so, as he just became the all-time leading scorer in the history of his sport. Still!
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