Abdul-Jabbar's 38,387-Point NBA Record Falls to James

The Los Angeles Lakers fell to the Oklahoma City Thunder, but the night belonged to history. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar watched from courtside as his record of 38,387 points — a mark he held for 34 years — was finally surpassed by LeBron James.

A fadeaway, not a skyhook

The moment arrived with 10.9 seconds left in the third quarter. James rose from the left elbow and sank a fadeaway jumper, his 36th point of the evening and the 38,388th of his career.

The arena erupted. Officials paused the game, and an emotional James wept as his family embraced him at centre court. Abdul-Jabbar stood, clapped, then raised a basketball aloft before handing it to James — a quiet ceremony witnessed by Denzel Washington, Jay-Z, and Magic Johnson.

A crown held since 1984

Abdul-Jabbar had topped the all-time list since passing Wilt Chamberlain on 5 April 1984. No new name had appeared at the summit in nearly four decades. James was born nine months after Abdul-Jabbar claimed the record.

James finished the night with 38 points on 13-of-20 shooting. The record-breaking shot was not an homage: it was a simple fadeaway, not the skyhook that defined Abdul-Jabbar's own six-title, six-MVP career.

Despite the milestone, the Lakers lost 133-130. Yet the defeat did little to dim the significance of a barrier long considered unattainable finally giving way.

"Records were meant to be broken"

Abdul-Jabbar was gracious afterward. "You can't have everything for too long," he said. "Records were meant to be broken, and more power to LeBron."

Later he wrote that James made him love the game again. James told reporters the experience surpassed anything he could have imagined.

One of basketball's most untouchable numbers had moved. The new name belonged to a player the old king himself rose to salute.