LeBron James has eclipsed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the most prolific scorer in NBA history, breaking a 39-year record that many believed would never be beaten.

 

The Los Angeles Lakers star, playing in his 20th season in the NBA, passed Abdul-Jabbar’s total of 38,387 points after nailing a 21-foot shot late in the third quarter against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday.

 

James flung his arms aloft as the Crypto com Arena erupted in wild celebration at his new record of 38,388 points.

 

Officials paused the game to honor him on the court, where his mother, wife and children met and embraced him. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver congratulated him, and Abdul-Jabbar — in attendance and clapping as James neared the record — raised a basketball aloft before handing it to James as if relinquishing the scoring crown itself.

 

After the game, TNT’s Shaquille O’Neal asked James about whether he was the greatest player of all time.

 

“I am going to let everybody else decide who that is or just talk about it. It’s great barbershop talk,” James responded at first.