As LeBron James continues his chase for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's all-time scoring record in the NBA, it is worth noting the comparison between Abdul-Jabbar's record-breaking feat and that of Wilt Chamberlain. Currently, LeBron sits at 38,271 points, needing only 117 more at his current 29.9 points per game scoring clip to surpass Abdul-Jabbar. On April 5, 1984, Abdul-Jabbar scored the 31,420th point of his career, breaking the NBA's all-time scoring record previously held by Chamberlain. This landmark moment in NBA history highlights the competitiveness and longevity of these basketball greats.
In the 1970s, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar dominated the basketball court with exceptional skills and remarkable longevity. His college years at UCLA saw him play in 88 wins and only 2 losses over three seasons. And his high school team recorded an impressive 79 wins and only 2 losses with a 71-game winning streak. His longevity in the game was highlighted by his record-breaking performance on April 5, 1984, when he surpassed Wilt Chamberlain as the NBA's all-time leading scorer. In the book "Becoming Kareem," Abdul-Jabbar recalls feeling small next to the towering Wilt Chamberlain, who was already twice his size in body mass. It was no surprise to Wilt, who in a 1967 interview with Ebony Magazine, predicted that Abdul-Jabbar “has the potential to be the greatest”. When a skeptical reporter asked "Do you mean that Lew Alcindor could become greater than you?" Wilt quickly replied, "I said the greatest…the greatest!". This was a couple of years before Kareem would make his NBA debut.
Wilt Chamberlain was a legendary basketball player who holds 72 NBA records, 68 of which he set by himself. Among his records are several that are considered unbreakable, such as averaging 22.9 rebounds for a career or scoring 50.4 points per game in a season. He also holds records for scoring 100 points or 55 rebounds in a single game, scoring 65 or more points 15 times, and 50 or more points 118 times.
Aside from basketball, Wilt was also an avid track and field athlete. He high jumped 6 feet, 6 inches, ran the 440 yards in 49.0 seconds, the 880 yards in 1:58.3, put the shot 53 feet, 4 inches, and long jumped 22 feet. He was the star player for the Overbrook Panthers basketball team, wearing jersey number 5.
Wilt also made a cameo appearance in the movie "Conan the Destroyer" starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. In 1987, he was quoted saying, "Well, I would say that athletes are really tough people, they have a lot of pride, they're very, very competitive and him and I are natural rivals. Even though we grew up together in one way, we still are rivals." he would ruminate about his relationship with Kareem, who broke his record in ‘84. Wilt also expressed supposed jealousy about the fanfare Kareem received, saying, "If I had received half the fanfare that Kareem's getting at this time, I wouldn't know what to do with myself…It doesn't make sense…If this is so great, well, it's only one of about 90 [records] I held..I must be in a world by myself".
The moment when Kareem Abdul-Jabbar broke Wilt Chamberlain's record on April 5, 1984, was a magical one. Chick Hearn, a famous commentator, summed up the disbelief and awe of the moment with his famous quote, "This man has achieved something that I don't believe, and I mean this sincerely, I don't think this will ever happen again." The achievement was so monumental that the game was paused to celebrate Kareem's 31,420th point of his career. His mother and father came out to embrace him and the media was all over the court, making it a momentous moment not only for sports but also for sports entertainment. Over 18,000 fans gathered at the Thomas and Mack Center at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, to watch the Utah Jazz game and witness this historic moment in sports history. It was truly a once-in-a-lifetime event that will forever be remembered. In response to this historic event, one simple, yet famous Wilt quote was, “Kareem should have retired five years ago.”
The rivalry between Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Wilt Chamberlain was not just limited to their performance on the court, but also spilled over into their personal lives. In one of Abdul-Jabbar's books, he wrote a section called "An Open Letter to Wilt Chumperlame" where he criticized Chamberlain and called him a "whining crybaby and a quitter." Abdul-Jabbar accused Chamberlain of quitting whenever he faced tough challenges and blaming those around him, instead of taking responsibility for his own actions. Abdul-Jabbar went on to say that while people will remember him as a hard worker and team player, Chamberlain will be remembered for his stats as well as for his tendency to quit and complain. The intensity of the rivalry between these two legendary players was palpable and added another layer of excitement and drama to their on-court battles.
LeBron James' pursuit of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's record is not just a mere feat of athleticism, but a testament to his longevity and sustained greatness in the NBA. LeBron, at 36 years old, is already considered one of the greatest players of all time. With his potential to surpass Kareem's record, LeBron solidifies his place among the legends of the game.
However, not everyone is as excited about LeBron's achievement. Abdul-Jabbar, who holds the record that LeBron is chasing, has said in the past that he receives LeBron's [fan’s] claim of being the greatest of all time with skepticism. Abdul-Jabbar stated, "LeBron James was talking about how he’s the best ever, but he never saw Wilt play. If he had, he wouldn’t say that. Whenever he averages 55 points a game, then I might want to listen to what he has to say. I’m not trying to put LeBron down. He’s awesome. He’s the best player in this era at this point."
In conclusion, LeBron James' pursuit of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's record is not just a personal milestone but a significant moment in NBA history. As one of the youngest players to reach 10,000, 20,000, 30,000, and 38,000 points, LeBron has already established himself as a dominant force in the league. Let's hope that this time around, there will be less animosity and more celebration when the torch is passed from one legend to another.