After James overtook Abdul-Jabbar this season to take the top spot on the NBA’s all-time scoring list, the two players will probably always be associated with each other in history.
Abdul-Jabbar claims that although the two scoring icons had a pleasant exchange when James took the lead, they had never spoken for longer than a few minutes. Although he and the Los Angeles Lakers star aren’t particularly close, the Hall of Famer recently discussed their relationship and said that he has “nothing but admiration” for James.
Abdul-Jabbar is probably going to be remembered as one of the best players in Lakers history for eternity. He spent 14 seasons with the team and won three MVP honors in addition to five NBA titles.
Abdul-Jabbar’s record as an all-time Lakers great may be higher than James’, but that’s mostly because the 38-year-old has only played for the team for five years. Naturally, James has made an impact during that time, best demonstrated by the team’s 2020 bubble season championship.
Abdul-Jabbar and James are frequently cited as two of the three greatest players to have ever played in NBA history. They both undoubtedly have the resumes to prove it, and James probably has more to add to his.
It’s fascinating to hear Abdul-Jabbar’s perspective about his relationship with James. Based on his comments, it’s clear that there’s no bad blood between the two. Lakers fans would certainly love to see them become friends, though it’s unclear if that’s in the cards.
