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LeBron James wins Best Record-Breaking Performance at 2023 ESPYS

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Updated18 mins ago on April 26, 2024

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Los Angeles Lakers LeBron James wins Best Record-Breaking Performance at 2023 ESPYS

LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers won the award for Best Record-Breaking Performance during Wednesday night’s 2023 ESPYS. The four-time MVP broke Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s all-time scoring record in the Lakers’ 133-130 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Feb. 7.

This record stood for 39 years. James finished the 2022-23 season with 38,652 points. The Lakers superstar set the all-time scoring record on a step-back jumper with 10.9 seconds left during the third quarter.

Abdul-Jabbar (38,387 points) watched the four-time NBA champ break his scoring record from the courtside. The Hall of Famer set the previous all-time scoring record on Apr. 5, 1984, against the Utah Jazz.

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“I don’t care how many more points I score or what I can or cannot do on the floor,” James said after accepting the ESPY award for Best Record-Breaking Performance. “The real question for me is: Can I play without cheating this game? The day I can’t give everything on the floor is the day I’ll be done. Lucky for you guys, that day is not today.

“… Listen, you can love me — and I know some of you hate me as well — but the one thing you will always do is respect me and appreciate the way I approach the game and what I’ve given to this game. … So, yeah, I still got something left. A lot left. I love you all, and thank you so much for watching this journey so far.”

Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James wins Best Record-Breaking Performance at 2023 ESPYS for breaking Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s all-time scoring record, has no retirement plans

LeBron James broke the record at 38 years old in his 1,410th career game. In April 1984, Abdul-Jabbar passed Wilt Chamberlain on the all-time scoring list in his 15th season at the age of 36. The Lakers forward also passed the six-time NBA champ for most 1,000-point seasons with 20 this season.

“I didn’t set this as a goal, so that’s probably why it’s so surreal and so weird to me,” LeBron James said in February. “I never talked about being the all-time scorer in NBA history until my numbers started getting closer and closer, and I was like, ‘Oh wow, this is crazy. This is weird, but I guess I’m doing it.'”

The 19-time All-Star ended his record-breaking night with 38 points, seven rebounds, three assists, and three steals in 34 minutes of action. James finished 13-of-20 (65%) shooting from the floor, 4-of-6 (66.7%) beyond the arc, and 8-of-10 (80%) at the foul line.


James made 55 appearances with the Lakers in the 2022-23 season. The 20-year veteran averaged 28.9 points, 8.3 rebounds, 6.8 assists, and 35.5 minutes per game while shooting 50% from the field and 32.1% beyond the arc.

Nuggets superstar Nikola Jokic was named Best NBA Player at the 2023 ESPYS as well. The 6-foot-11 center won Finals MVP in June after averaging 30.2 points, 14 rebounds, 7.2 assists, 1.4 blocks, and 41.1 minutes per game against the Miami Heat.

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