In the summer of 2003, the collective eyes of the basketball world were fixated on LeBron James. The 19-year-old rookie was warming up in Sacramento before his NBA debut against the Kings, just moments away from his first basket as a pro. The chosen one. The prince king that was promised.
Now, the collective eyes of the basketball world are fixated on LeBron once again. The 38-year-old superstar is 36 points away from becoming the NBA’s all time leader in points. He might pass the great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar tonight vs. the Thunder, he might do it on Thursday against the Bucks. Both games are televised around the globe, the world is watching.
In its essence, basketball is about … well … getting the ball in the basket. The team that succeeds at this fundamental task more often than its opponent, wins the game. Of course, this uber-simplified principle needs to be adjusted for free throws and threes. [Kareem still has roughly 1800 more FGs than Bron.] But tonight, or two days ago, LeBron James will become the most successful player at the game’s most essential task in the history of the sport.
The player who has arguably had to deal with more expectations than anyone after he was dubbed the chosen one as a teenager and his basketball games were broadcast before he could legally drive has actually come through and become the most successful scorer that the game has ever seen on the highest level of the sport. It’s a feat of incredible talent paired with unique durability and fierce determination.
LeBron has already secured his spot on the NBA’s Mt. Rushmore. In fact, the chisels have been put away a while ago. In an era of 24h news cycles and non-stop hot takes, let’s leave the G.O.A.T. debate for another time. That’s not what this moment is about.
This is an all time great on the verge of an all time achievement. That kid from Akron, on the verge of scoring more points than anyone else in basketball history. This one is for the books. And we’re all witnesses.
