Basketball player LeBron James has made history, breaking what had seemed an unattainable record. The LA Lakers player has replaced Kareem Abdul Jabbar as the NBA’s top scorer. Jabbar had held the record of 38,387 points since 1984.
In the Lakers’ loss to Oklahoma City Thunder, 38-year-old James scored 38 points, reaching 38,390 points in his career.
The now 75-year-old previous record holder sat in the audience at the historic game. Nike founder Phil Knight was also on hand, watching the shot from behind the rim.
James has a lifetime contract with Nike that amounts to more than a billion dollars and is the first active basketball billionaire.
And, of course, Nike was prepared for the event, posting at exactly the record-breaking moment to both Twitter and Instagram a commercial called “Can I get a witness,” showing its support for LeBron’s 20-year career: “20 years later, we are who we’ve always been – Witnesses to @KingJames never-ending greatness.”
20 years later, we are who we’ve always been – Witnesses to @KingJames never-ending greatness. 👑 #WitnessGreatness pic.twitter.com/QP9nY8RfZD
— Nike (@Nike) February 8, 2023
Fanatics, meanwhile, is already selling Nike LeBron James All-Time Scoring Record T-shirts and hoodies.
James grew up in poverty with his single mother and was the first black athlete to make the cover of Vogue. He has investments in, among other things, the English Premier League club, FC Liverpool and is building his own media house with Uninterrupted.
