MJ should be there when LeBron passes Kareem
AP Photo/Charles Krupa
LeBron James is closing in on passing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the most points scored in NBA history, and there’s one person who should be there in addition to the Hall of Fame center when he finally breaks the record: Michael Jordan.
In March 2019, when James passed Jordan to move to fourth on the all-time leading scoring list in a game against the Denver Nuggets, Jordan was not in attendance at the then-Staples Center.
The Charlotte Hornets owner, however, did issue a brief statement, and I mean a brief statement on the accomplishment: “I want to congratulate LeBron on achieving another great milestone during his amazing career.”
James, who was 34 years old at the time, reflected on the moment, equating the first time he met Jordan when he was a teenager, to meeting Jesus. James has always gone out of his way to show a healthy level of respect and admiration for the man many consider to be the greatest basketball player in NBA history.
The same can’t be said for Jordan about LeBron.
Now is the chance for His Airness to “do right” by James, by showing up to his games until he passes Abdul-Jabbar’s scoring record. James, 38, is now only 63 points away from eclipsing Abdul-Jabbar’s mark of 38,387 career points, a record that’s stood the test of time since 1984 — the year James was born — spanning almost four decades.
It seems unrealistic to ask an NBA executive for another team to follow James in pursuit of history from city to city. But, this isn’t just any executive we’re talking about. This is Michael Jeffrey Jordan! 6x NBA Champion. Six NBA Finals MVPs. Undefeated in the NBA Finals. The G.O.A.T.! The man who helped elevate the NBA into the global brand it is today.
Considering what Jordan has meant to the landscape and culture of the NBA and the impact he’s had on James’ life and basketball career, the Chicago Bulls legend should be there to congratulate James in person when he becomes the NBA’s all-time leading scorer. Not on social media or through some PR team. Or from the comfort of his office at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. But rather in person. On the court. With the entire sports world watching.
James, in his 20th NBA season, is currently averaging 30.1 points per game, meaning theoretically speaking, he should break the record in his next two or three games, assuming he doesn’t miss a game or have an off-night scoring. The Lakers’ next two games are against the Pelicans in New Orleans on Saturday and the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday in Los Angeles.
If James were to somehow not score the 64 points needed to surpass Abdul-Jabbar by Tuesday, he’ll be positioned perfectly to break the record on Thursday against Abdul-Jabbar’s former team, the Milwaukee Bucks.
Whenever, wherever, Jordan should be there.
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