LeBron James thanks Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant as he ponders path to setting NBA career record

LeBron James set the all-time NBA scoring record in Tuesday’s Los Angeles Lakers loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, but he did so late in the third quarter of a tight game. The NBA paused the game to celebrate the success, but they just couldn’t breathe the moment when basketball could still be played. So the Lakers held a pregame ceremony Thursday to honor James, and he ended up speaking. He thanked his family and named wife Savannah, sons Bronny and Bryce, daughter Zhuri and mother Gloria his “from five‘ but he also took the time to acknowledge some of the NBA legends who came before him.

“I dreamed of playing in the NBA every day,” James said. “I dreamed every day of being an inspiration to so many people. I dreamed of one day being able to throw no-look passes like Magic Johnson. Being able to shoot fadeaways like Michael Jordan. Being able to have a crossover like Allen Iverson. Being able to have an afro and jump in dunk competition like Kobe Bryant. I have looked up to so many athletes and so many people on my journey and they have inspired me and they have allowed my dreams not to die. “

James was recruited to Los Angeles by Johnson. He spent his entire career being compared to Jordan. He played against Iverson. He succeeded Bryant as the face of the Lakers. Each played a significant role in their journey to the top NBA all-time leading scorer list, even if they didn’t hit all the milestones they dreamed of.

He can make the same passes that Johnson made. It has evolved into an outstanding fadeaway jump shooter like Jordan. His crossover has not matched Iverson’s level of dominance. And his hairline receded at such a young age that he unfortunately never grew an afro like Bryant, despite jumping just as high as the former Laker legend. In the end, James became a mix of all of them. He is Johnson’s peer as a passer and Jordan’s rival as a goalscorer. He lifted bad teams like Iverson and won it all with the Lakers like Bryant did and every one of them helped James become the legend he is today.