WATCH: LeBron James drops F-bomb on live TV after becoming the NBA's all-time leading scorer
To be fair to LeBron James, he really probably captured the what he was feeling in the moment, even if it might cost someone for a hefty FCC violation. But you also only become the NBA all-time leading scorer once in your life.
After surpassing a mark set by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 40 years ago, James was given a moment to take a curtain call in front of the friendly home fans. And after getting plaudits from commissioner Adam Silver and Abdul-Jabbar himself, James was given the mic.
At the end of his remarks, he let it fly: “So… f*ck, man. Thank you guys.”
WATCH: LeBron James becomes NBA’s all-time points leader, passes Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on Tuesday
LeBron James has yet another accolade to add to his illustrious collection: All-time NBA regular-season scoring leader. With his 35th and 36th points on a smooth free throw line step back, James tied and then surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and his 38387 points scored in the regular season.
James entered Tuesday night needing 36 points to pass Abdul-Jabbar in the record books. Averaging 30 points per game entering the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, James outscored his average to become the all-time scoring king — all before the third quarter ended.
A fitting spot for King James to end up, all things considered. And in attendance to cheer him on: Abdul-Jabbar himself.
James also entered the game on Tuesday with a questionable designation, but gutted through an ankle injury. He had said prior that he intended to play on Tuesday.
“I’m tired as hell but I’ll be ready to go on Tuesday,” James said after the Lakers most recent game.
Despite only leading the league in scoring average once during his nearly 20 year career, James ascended the all-time scoring ranks with a combo of relentless scoring and career longevity. His worst season, by scoring average, was when he put up 20.9 points per game as a rookie in 2003-04. Beyond that, his worst points per game mark was 25 in 2020-21.
On top of the mind-numbing scoring throughout his career, James has turned up his scoring the last two seasons. In 2021-22, he averaged 30.3 points per game, the best mark of his entire career. And this year, he’s averaging 30 points per game. Not bad for a 38 year old.
As it became apparent that James was closing in on the record, and his rise to the top of the NBA scoring leaderboard was going to end with him at the top, he simply kept churning out points. He scored 28 against the New York Knicks, 26 against the Indiana Pacers and 27 against the New Orleans Pelicans.
And now with 36 — and counting — against the Thunder, James has somehow made his mark on the the NBA even more indelible.