Lakers star LeBron James broke the NBA record for career regular-season points during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles Tuesday night.
After James drained a fadeaway jump-shot with 10.9 seconds left in the third quarter, officials hit pause on the game clock to celebrate.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who previously held the record with a career total of 38,387 points, stepped onto the hardwood to commemorate the major milestone.
James started his speech by paying tribute to Abdul-Jabbar and the crowd responded with a standing ovation for the Laker great, nicknamed “The Captain.”
In addition to thanking the Laker faithful, James took a moment to thank his family. James’ immediate family — his wife Savannah, his children Bronny, Bryce and Zhuri and his mother Gloria — sat courtside, and so did other key figures in James’ life, including Nike founder Phil Knight, business partner Maverick Carter and agent Rich Paul.
“I just want to say thank you so much because I wouldn’t be me without y’all,” James said.
Former Lakers and NBA veterans were everywhere: James Worthy, Dwyane Wade, Michael Cooper, Bob McAdoo, A.C. Green and Richard Jefferson.
A number of VIPs from the Grammy Awards, held two nights earlier in the same building, came back for the game: Jay-Z, Bad Bunny, Usher and LL Cool J.
In what might be the ultimate sports blooper, James dropped an F-Bomb on live TV before finishing his speech and returning to the game.
Fans took to Twitter to share their reactions:
You get one F bomb for breaking the scoring record
— AFunkyDiabetic (@FunkyDiabetic1) February 8, 2023
The FCC watching LeBron James drop the f-bomb pic.twitter.com/Gj8DhZpNcP
— Sean Wagner-McGough (@seanjwagner) February 8, 2023
Great acceptance speech by LeBron … but could’ve done without the concluding f-bomb, even though it summed up his overwhelmed emotion.
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) February 8, 2023
LeBron James hardcore paused a basketball game and dropped an F-bomb. Let’s go
— Jessica Kleinschmidt (@KleinschmidtJD) February 8, 2023
LeBron and Biden were winners tonight and fans of the f-bomb too apparently
— Karen Thee Russell (@Karen_Russell) February 8, 2023
Before y’all say anything, I thought the f-bomb was a nice touch. https://t.co/t6t2jN5hgN
— Gabe Kuhn (@G_Kuhn71) February 8, 2023
Here come the people complaining about an f-bomb who preach free speech and “straight talk”. Lol.
— Rex Chapman (@RexChapman) February 8, 2023
While the mic-drop moment created quite the buzz on social media, many fans remained focused on James’ achievement.
He did it. pic.twitter.com/GytnLvN2d0
— DJ Heat (@DJHeatDC) February 8, 2023
HE DID IT!!!! NBA’s ALL TIME LEADING SCORER. #LakeShow #LeBronJames pic.twitter.com/Lx3XyTvFrR
— Lorraine Rivera (@roxygirl7985) February 8, 2023
NEVER EVER say this man didn’t live up to the hype. NO ONE EVER THOUGHT THIS WAS POSSIBLE AND HE DID IT! Respect greatness! Appreciate greatness!
— Joe Knows (@JoeKnowsYT) February 8, 2023
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said the City of Angels was honoring James and Abdul-Jabbar, who help to make Los Angeles a “city of champions.”
City Hall is lit up tonight in honor of two @Lakers – @KingJames who just became the @NBA‘s all-time leading scorer and @kaj33 who held that record for decades on behalf of our city.
You both make us so proud. Los Angeles is, and always will be, a city of champions. pic.twitter.com/MMqIqe4euq
— Mayor Karen Bass (@MayorOfLA) February 8, 2023
NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal and Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry shared their congratulations.
Congratulations @KingJames job well done. My boy @IamBlackway had this waiting for you pic.twitter.com/y8ju7fFHeM
— SHAQ (@SHAQ) February 8, 2023
Congrats @KingJames …legendary stuff right there #38388
— Stephen Curry (@StephenCurry30) February 8, 2023
For those who were lucky enough to attend the game, they’re likely just as grateful to have seen the historic moment as they are that they won’t have to pay big bucks for Thursday’s game.
the days of flashbulbs, long gone…. pic.twitter.com/RQkCXSDb5e
— Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) February 8, 2023
Noted LeBron fan Shannon Sharpe tells LeBron: “You saved me a lot of money. I was coming back Thursday.” pic.twitter.com/10s2cofSIF
— Kyle Goon (@kylegoon) February 8, 2023