LeBron vs. Kareem: LeBron James is closing in on becoming the NBA’s all-time leading scorer. With just 36 points away from surpassing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, James is set to reach a new level of greatness in the league. Abdul-Jabbar has held the record for over 30 years and now, James is poised to overtake him and maintain the top spot for years to come. This latest accomplishment by James serves as a testament to the exceptional careers both he and Abdul-Jabbar have had in the NBA.
The longevity, skill, and dominance displayed by these two players has solidified their positions as some of the greatest in sports history. James’ journey to the top of the scoring list has been a testament to his hard work, talent, and unrelenting drive to succeed. With this new milestone in sight, the basketball world is eagerly awaiting to see James cement his legacy as one of the greatest to ever play the game.
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LeBron vs. Kareem: Their first points
LeBron James and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s first NBA points were remarkably similar. Abdul-Jabbar scored his first point with an off-balance, mid-range bank shot, while James marked his first basket with a pull-up jumper from along the baseline.
Both players started their careers on a strong note, with Abdul-Jabbar scoring 29 points in a Milwaukee Bucks win over the Detroit Pistons, and James scoring 25 points in a Cleveland Cavaliers loss to the Sacramento Kings. These early performances foreshadowed the illustrious careers both players would have, becoming some of the greatest scorers in the history of the sport.
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LeBron vs. Kareem: Their signature shots
Abdul-Jabbar’s skyhook was an unstoppable weapon that made him the highest scorer in NBA history. He credits his success to this shot and its consistent delivery.
James, although he doesn’t have a move as iconic, believes that his tomahawk dunk in transition will become his signature shot. His teammate Lonnie Walker frequently mentions James’ signature tomahawk dunk and James finds it cool.
LeBron vs. Kareem: Season-by-season breakdown
Abdul-Jabbar hit the ground running after being selected by the Bucks with the No. 1 overall pick in the 1969 NBA Draft. He led the league in total points in each of his first three seasons (1969-70, 1970-71 and 1971-72).
Those are also the three highest-scoring seasons of Abdul-Jabbar’s career.
| Season | Points per game | Total points |
| 1969-70 | 28.8 | 2,361 |
| 1970-71 | 31.7 | 2,596 |
| 1971-72 | 34.8 | 2,822 |
| 1972-73 | 30.2 | 2,292 |
| 1973-74 | 27.0 | 2,191 |
| 1974-75 | 30.0 | 1,949 |
| 1975-76 | 27.7 | 2,275 |
| 1976-77 | 26.2 | 2,152 |
| 1977-78 | 25.8 | 1,600 |
| 1978-79 | 23.8 | 1,903 |
| 1979-80 | 24.8 | 2,034 |
| 1980-81 | 26.2 | 2,095 |
| 1981-82 | 23.9 | 1,818 |
| 1982-83 | 21.8 | 1,722 |
| 1983-84 | 21.5 | 1,717 |
| 1984-85 | 22.0 | 1,735 |
| 1985-86 | 23.4 | 1,846 |
| 1986-87 | 17.5 | 1,366 |
| 1987-88 | 14.6 | 1,165 |
| 1988-89 | 10.1 | 748 |
| Career | 24.6 | 38,387 |
After averaging 20.9 points per game as a rookie with the Cavaliers in 2003-04, James has posted at least 25 points per game in every other season of his career.
He won the scoring title in 2007-08 when he averaged 30 points per game.
| Season | Points per game | Total points |
| 2003-04 | 20.9 | 1,654 |
| 2004-05 | 27.2 | 2,175 |
| 2005-06 | 31.4 | 2,478 |
| 2006-07 | 27.3 | 2,132 |
| 2007-08 | 30.0 | 2,250 |
| 2008-09 | 28.4 | 2,304 |
| 2009-10 | 29.7 | 2,258 |
| 2010-11 | 26.7 | 2,111 |
| 2011-12 | 27.1 | 1,683 |
| 2012-13 | 26.8 | 2,036 |
| 2013-14 | 27.1 | 2,089 |
| 2014-15 | 25.3 | 1,743 |
| 2015-16 | 25.3 | 1,920 |
| 2016-17 | 26.4 | 1,954 |
| 2017-18 | 27.5 | 2,251 |
| 2018-19 | 27.4 | 1,505 |
| 2019-20 | 25.3 | 1,698 |
| 2020-21 | 25.0 | 1,126 |
| 2021-22 | 30.3 | 1,695 |
| 2022-23 | 30.0 | 1,290 |
| Career | 27.2 | 38,325 |
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LeBron vs. Kareem: Team-by-team breakdown
James racked up more than 60 percent of his career points during two different stints with the Cavaliers. He was most efficient as a member of the Heat, shooting 54.3 percent from the field and 36.9 percent from 3-point range.
| Team (Seasons) | Points per game | Total points |
| Cavaliers (11) | 27.2 | 23,119 |
| Heat (4) | 26.9 | 7,919 |
| Lakers (5) | 27.5 | 7,314 |
Abdul-Jabbar did most of his damage with the Lakers, pouring in more than 24,000 points in a purple and gold uniform across 14 seasons. His field goal and free throw percentages improved after he was traded from Milwaukee to Los Angeles.
| Team (Seasons) | Points per game | Total points |
| Lakers (14) | 22.1 | 24,176 |
| Bucks (6) | 30.4 | 14,211 |
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LeBron vs. Kareem: When they landed at No. 1
On April 5, 1984, Abdul-Jabbar jumped ahead of Wilt Chamberlain on the all-time scoring list with, of course, a skyhook.
James is closing in on Abdul-Jabbar’s all-time scoring record but it’s unlikely that he’ll use Abdul-Jabbar’s signature move, the skyhook, to pass him. James has experimented with the shot in casual games of HORSE but has never incorporated it into his regular play. He considers his own signature move to be the tomahawk dunk in transition.
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