At some point this season, it’s very likely that NBA megastar LeBron James will surpass Los Angeles Lakers legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to become the NBA’s all-time leading scorer. But even though James will break the Lakers’ legend’s record, that doesn’t mean the two have any sort of relationship.
Following Monday night’s preseason game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Sacramento Kings – a game in which James missed every single shot from the field while he was on the court – James was asked if he had any thoughts on Kareem or to discuss any relationship that he might have with the Lakers Hall of Famer.
James had quite a blunt response to the question.
“Nah, no thoughts. And no relationship,” James said in a video shared by Ball is Life.
It’s a pretty cold response, especially given the fact that James and Kareem will break the Lakers’ legends record as a member of his former team.
Of course he doesn't have a relationship with Kareem. Kareem thinks for himself, and Lebron only surrounds himself with people who agree.
— Justin Termine (@TermineRadio) October 4, 2022
lebron is entitled to act as he wants but to not put him on an all-time lakers team (yet include himself) and not have any thoughts on the man even as he approaches his all-time record is just kind of petty and sad
— russbengtson.eesh (@russbengtson) October 4, 2022
MOODY LEBRON MODE ENGAGED https://t.co/kF94CcWrVa
— Joseph Goodman, Sports Enthusiast
(@JoeGoodmanJr) October 4, 2022
As a Laker fan, this is completely disrespectful. You don’t need to have a relationship but be respectful. I love LBJ, but he will never be respected in Lakers lore like Kareem was. He’s just mad cause Kareem doesn’t kiss up to LBJ like others do. https://t.co/zWNHaKZXzU
— Josh Glen (@joshualglen) October 4, 2022
His old self always starting stuff with young players. Be different if he was just dropping knowledge and giving constructive criticism but he slanders instead without even reaching out to the younger guys https://t.co/FODEiSsw7t
— D$ (@DorienHudson) October 4, 2022
Undisputed gonna be wild in the morning https://t.co/XQEGF0LZFM
— Bjai
(@Will1991_) October 4, 2022
This isn’t the first time James has been asked about potentially passing Kareem’s all-time scoring record. During the Lakers’ media day last month, James was asked a similar question, but was much more positive in his response.
“Obviously, Kareem has had his differences with some of my views and some of the things that I do, but at the end of the day, to be able to be in the same breath as a guy that wore this same uniform,” James said. “A guy that was a staple of this franchise.”
Given James’ current scoring pace, it’s likely he will break Kareem’s scoring record in the first half of the NBA season if he stays healthy.