(Reuters) – Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to become the NBA’s all-time leading scorer on Tuesday, scoring 38 points in their 133-130 home loss to Oklahoma City Thunder to set a record of 38,390.
Following are the reactions:
KAREEM ABDUL-JABBAR, LOS ANGELES LAKERS GREAT
“I thought it had every chance of being broken. It just had to have someone that the offense focused on continually.
“LeBron’s career is one of someone who planned to dominate this game. And it’s gone for almost 20 years now. You have to give him credit for just the way he played and for the way he’s lasted and dominated.”
U.S. PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN
“LeBron, congratulations. With your whole heart and soul you broke a hell of a record. You elevated the game. More than that, like Kareem, Bill Russell and others who came before you, you challenged and inspired the nation to be better, do better and live up to our full promise.”
MAGIC JOHNSON, LOS ANGELES LAKERS GREAT
“I never thought that Kareem’s scoring record would be broken by anybody. It means more to myself and to our fans because you’re wearing that purple and gold and broke it as a Laker.
“This historic moment is so special because we will never see another LeBron James.”
ADAM SILVER, NBA COMMISSIONER
“Congratulations to LeBron on breaking one of the most hallowed records in all of sports by becoming the NBA’s all-time scoring leader.
“It’s a towering achievement that speaks to his sustained excellence over 20 seasons in the league. And quite amazingly, LeBron continues to play at an elite level and his basketball history is still being written.”
STEPHEN CURRY, GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS GUARD
“Your sustained level of play for 20 years, reaching this pinnacle of scoring in basketball, it is unbelievable.
“Way down the road, when we’re reflecting back on our careers, we’ll be able to be at that level knowing what it was like to battle at the highest level.”
KEVIN DURANT, BROOKLYN NETS FORWARD
“It’s even funny to just even say that, you know coming from where you have come from, how hard you grinded for this long. It’s been an inspiration since day one.
“Much love and keep setting the bar high.”
DRAYMOND GREEN, GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS FORWARD
“Such an incredible, incredible feat. Just speaks to who you are as a person and obviously who you are as a player.
“To have an opportunity to play against you in some epic battles … it’s been an honour to witness what you’ve done.”
KEVIN LOVE, FORMER CLEVELAND CAVALIERS TEAM MATE
“True Greatness. Incredibly grateful to have witnessed and been a part of your journey. History made.”
(Reporting by Hritika Sharma and Manasi Pathak in Bengaluru; Editing by Peter Rutherford)
