LeBron James is experiencing two disparate realties at once, as he creates history every night while playing for a struggling Lakers team. That experience will come to a head tonight, when James is expected to pass Michael Jordan’s mark of 32,292 on the all-time scoring list. James, at 32,280, only needs 12 points to bypass his basketball hero.
From the very first day LeBron James picked up a basketball, he wanted to be like Mike. James and his closest friends idolized Michael Jordan while they grew up together on Akron’s competitive playgrounds and tough streets. As James grew into a tantalizing basketball prospect capable of jumping from high school to the NBA as the No. 1 draft pick, he studied, imitated and drew profound inspiration from Jordan’s tongue-wagging dunks, that fade away jumper, his competitive fire – even the little details of the way Jordan wore his sneakers and shorts.
James proudly put No. 23 on his back as soon as he could get it as a high school sophomore. When James surpassed Jordan’s career points total Wednesday night, he did it in a pair of Nikes with “Thank You M.J.” written neatly on the side. That tribute doesn’t begin to encompass what Jordan’s radiance meant to a youngster who dreamed of finding a better life through basketball.
“M.J. was an inspiration,” James said. “M.J. was the lightning in a bottle for me, because I wanted to be like him.” James has grown into a 34-year-old man with three championship rings and a redoubtable 16-year NBA career. Yet he is still in awe of Jordan, who has represented the apex of achievement for his entire life.
James moved past Jordan into fourth place on the NBA’s career scoring list with a driving three-point play in the second quarter of the Los Angeles Lakers’ 115-99 loss to the Denver Nuggets. He bettered Jordan’s 32,292 career points with another variation of the brute physical brilliance that defines his playing style – a style that was influenced by Jordan’s combination of grace and aggressiveness.
James finished with 31 points, seven rebounds and seven assists. His struggling Lakers rallied late, but dropped their fourth straight game in a season that appears to be lost.
Every loss eats at James, yet he fidgeted in front of his locker afterward with the anxiousness of a rookie, still buzzing over the enormity of the moment in his life.
🚨 @KingJames moves up to 4th on the NBA’s all-time scoring list with the AND-1! 🚨#LakeShow @ESPNNBA pic.twitter.com/gaJW6Gt1fL— NBA (@NBA) 7 Μαρτίου 2019