Kareem Abdul-Jabbar wanted to honor LeBron James ‘the right way’

Lakers forward LeBron James speaks during a ceremony honoring him as the NBA’s all-time leading scorer before their game against the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena. James surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to take over the record during Tuesday’s game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Lakers great James Worthy, right, introduces current Lakers forward LeBron James during a ceremony honoring him as the NBA’s all-time leading scorer before their game against the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena. James surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to take over the record during Tuesday’s game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Lakers forward LeBron James, left, watches a video with his family during a ceremony honoring him as the NBA’s all-time leading scorer before their game against the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena. James surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to take over the record during Tuesday’s game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Lakers legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar reacts during a ceremony to honor current Lakers forward LeBron James as the NBA’s all-time leading scorer before a game against the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena. James surpassed Abdul-Jabbar for the record during Tuesday’s game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

From left, Bronny James, Bryce James, and Savannah James applaud during a ceremony honoring Lakers forward LeBron James as the NBA’s all-time leading scorer before their game against the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena. James surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to take over the record during Tuesday’s game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Lakers forward LeBron James speaks as his family looks on during a ceremony honoring him as the NBA’s all-time leading scorer before their game against the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena. James surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to take over the record during Tuesday’s game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

A purple and gold crown is placed on a basketball ahead of a ceremony honoring Lakers forward LeBron James as the NBA’s all-time leading scorer before their game against the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena. James surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to take over the record during Tuesday’s game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Lakers forward LeBron James poses for a picture with his wife, mother and children during a ceremony honoring him as the NBA’s all-time leading scorer before their game against the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena. James surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to take over the record during Tuesday’s game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Lakers forward LeBron James poses for a picture with his family during a ceremony honoring him as the NBA’s all-time leading scorer before their game against the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena. James surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to take over the record during Tuesday’s game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Lakers forward LeBron James waves to fans during a ceremony honoring him as the NBA’s all-time leading scorer before their game against the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena. James surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to take over the record during Tuesday’s game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Lakers legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar speaks during a press conference prior to their game against the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Lakers legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar speaks during a press conference prior to their game against the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Lakers legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar speaks during a press conference prior to their game against the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

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LOS ANGELES — It had been two days since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar took a short step down to second place in the record book. But he seems to have long ago made his peace with the idea that he would be eclipsed.

As a reporter mentioned in passing that Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo had passed his franchise scoring record last year, the 75-year-old quipped: “Geez, I’m fading fast.”

But while Abdul-Jabbar is now seeing younger men strive further than he once did in basketball, he remains very much alive, writing new articles three times per week, keeping up with his grandchildren, and well, maybe even looking back at the past with a little chagrin. He stood tall in his days at New York’s Power Memorial High, at UCLA, in Milwaukee and for 14 memorable seasons in a Laker uniform, but he’s not so proud as to worry about LeBron James taking his spot as the NBA’s all-time leading scorer.

Asked about what nearly 39 years as the league’s leading scorer meant to him on Thursday night shortly before the Lakers and Bucks tipped off, Abdul-Jabbar was almost dismissive.

“I think it’s something people will know that I did along the way,” he said. “But those days are over. It’s no big deal.”

With his presence on Tuesday and Thursday, including presenting a ceremonial ball to James at midcourt of Crypto.com Arena during the third quarter on the night James passed his 38,387-point mark, Abdul-Jabbar meant to mend fences with the younger man. They only met for the first time “five or six years ago” when Abdul-Jabbar attended a Cleveland Cavaliers playoff game, and James introduced him to his mother. They also chatted last Halloween at a Lakers party when Abdul-Jabbar brought his grandkids.

In between, Abdul-Jabbar has played commentator to James’ legacy. He wrote an essay when James was named Sports Illustrated’s 2020 Sportsman of the Year, lauding his social activism. He also had praise for James on Thursday night: “He’s sending an entire school district to college to pay their tuition. This is awesome.”

But Abdul-Jabbar has also chided James for apparent vaccine hesitancy, which he recently wrote “in my mind was the kind of nudging one teammate does with another.”

But noting that Wilt Chamberlain did not come to Las Vegas when he broke the big man’s record in 1984, Abdul-Jabbar said he wanted to set a new precedent and show James the depth of his respect.

“Wilt wasn’t able to be in Las Vegas when I broke his record, and to me, I feel like I did it the right way and made sure LeBron knew I supported what he was doing,” Abdul-Jabbar said. “And that this is something very special, and I’m happy to help him celebrate it.”

The Lakers continued celebrating Thursday, bringing James out for a pregame ceremony with his immediate family – mother Gloria, wife Savannah, children Bronny, Bryce and Zhuri – who he called “my starting five.” He talked about how his love of basketball started from a $20 plastic hoop set that Gloria James bought when he was 3: “Someone said on social media that that was the biggest investment in the history of mankind. (Who knew) a $20 Little Tikes hoop could turn into what it’s turned into today?”

James also described his desire to improve his game, wanting to no-look pass like Magic Johnson, shoot fadeaways like Michael Jordan, cross over defenders like Allen Iverson and “have an afro and jump in the dunk contest like Kobe Bryant.” He cited a number of people who helped him throughout his childhood and career, all the way up through his Lakers tenure.

“You guys, over the last five years, have become family to me as well,” he said addressing the fans. “So thank you to the Laker faithful. You guys are unbelievable. And every night I step on the floor, I understand and I truly have a huge responsibility and understand what it means to represent the Los Angeles Lakers when I step on this floor. So thank you.”

Abdul-Jabbar noted with surprise that the last three all-time leading scorers – Chamberlain, himself and James – were all Lakers, and marveled at the franchise’s good fortune: “I could have ended up in Phoenix,” he said about being traded from Milwaukee in 1975, then wrinkled his nose at the thought.

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If there’s one thing Abdul-Jabbar could change, he might have played more like Antetokounmpo, the 6-foot-11 forward who handles the ball in addition to dunking it. Abdul-Jabbar moaned at being overcoached in his career and allowed himself to consider what might have been if he had been regarded as the “unicorn” that tall shot-makers are now seen as in the modern game.

“You get the rebound, you better not try to take it down to the other end of the court if you’re a front-line player,” he said. “That was like gospel when I played. Giannis has blown through all of that, opened the game up. So I’m happy he’s done that. But I’m annoyed it wasn’t in time for me to try to get in on the fun.”

Still, he’ll always have something of his own: the sky hook. In his postgame comments Tuesday, James marveled that the shot was something that no player has mastered before or since. Abdul-Jabbar, with a shrug, said he never thought the shot was all that hard to do – maybe a sign of his gifts to make the superhuman look natural and graceful as anything.

Despite its old-school style, he said, it probably would have its place in his game if he played today.

“Now, I’d get the ball as close to the basket and shoot high-percentage shots,” he said with an innocent look. “That’s the way to win the game, as far as I know.”

“This is my starting five right here.” pic.twitter.com/hJgzGcTa6e

— Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) February 10, 2023

“You came right out of high school with a mission. Your discipline, your sacrifice, your dedication to your craft and to the game is second to none.” @JamesWorthy42 with the tribute to LeBron. pic.twitter.com/WmHcGH5kwN

— Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) February 10, 2023

Wilt wasn’t able to be in Las Vegas when I broke his record. To me I feel like I did it the right way and made sure that LeBron knew that I supported what he was doing and that this is something very special.” @kaj33 on LeBron. pic.twitter.com/kX5yQnjvcS

— Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) February 10, 2023

Kareem on Giannis breaking his franchise scoring record last year — “geez, I’m fading fast” — and how Giannis has broken the mold of a big man in the NBA: “I’m happy that he’s done that, but I’m annoyed it wasn’t in time for me to try to get in on the fun.” pic.twitter.com/lvBZ89TL7N

— Kyle Goon (@kylegoon) February 10, 2023

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on February 10, 2023

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar wanted to honor LeBron James ‘the right way’

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