LeBron James was expected to break Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s record and become the NBA’s all-time leading scorer on February 7th. However, due to pain in his left ankle, the Lakers forward has been listed as “questionable” and may have to push back his attempt at the record.
With only 36 points remaining to surpass Abdul-Jabbar’s 38,387 points, speculation has already started about when James will make the milestone. Some believe it would be better for him to delay the accomplishment until the next game against the Bucks, as it would be a more media-friendly event. The game against Milwaukee is significant as it was the first team Abdul-Jabbar played for and it would also showcase a showdown between James and 2021 Finals MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, which would be broadcast on national television.
However, there is also the concern that the approaching trade deadline could take focus away from James’ record-breaking achievement. It’s possible that a major trade could steal the spotlight and detract from James’ accomplishments. In that case, it may be better for James to break the record before the deadline or wait until any major stories have settled after Thursday.
Throughout his career, James has scored 36 points or more in 197 of the 1,409 games he has played in, which is approximately 13.98% of his games. This season, at the age of 38, he has achieved this feat in 9 of the 43 games he has participated in, a 20.93% rate.
In conclusion, LeBron James’ attempt at breaking Abdul-Jabbar’s record has generated a great deal of excitement and speculation. While the Lakers have listed James as questionable due to his ankle pain, it remains to be seen whether he will break the record on February 7th or push back his attempt. Regardless of when it happens, James’ pursuit of the all-time scoring record promises to be a historic moment in the NBA.
