LeBron James has become the NBA’s all-time scoring leader, hitting a fade-away jump shot to break a nearly 40-year-old record.
The King reached the 36 points he needed to take his career tally to 38,388 with a jumper late in the third quarter of the Los Angeles Lakers’ clash with the Oklahoma City Thunder.



Abdul-Jabbar had held the record for a staggering 38 years, 10 months and two days, since he passed Wilt Chamberlain on 5 April 1984. The Lakers legend was on hand to celebrate his successor’s accomplishment, as the game paused to honour James.
“I’ve been carrying the torch as record holder for 38 years,” he said. “I’m excited and relieved to pass it along to the next worthy recipient. LeBron earned it and I hope he carries it even longer than I did.”
With his family among the crowd, James came into Tuesday night’s game a±gainst the Oklahoma City Thunder ready to make history.
The fans were ready, too. When James caught the ball, they buzzed. When he missed, they groaned. When he scored, they roared. Abdul-Jabbar, sitting courtside, smiled and clapped as he watched his record fall.
He is one of the most decorated players in the history of the sport, having won four NBA championships, four MVP awards, four finals MVP awards, three All-Star MVP awards, two Olympic gold medals, while being named an All-Star for a record 19 times and being selected to the All-NBA team a record 18 times.
James is contracted through another two years and said he would like to stay in the league until his eldest son, LeBron James Jr, could enter the league