On Tuesday (Feb. 8), LeBron James passed NBA legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to become the all-time scoring leader in the league. Reaching 38,388 points at home in front of Lakers fans was no small feat. Doing it in front of his family, made it all the more sweet for the King.
“I had a moment obviously when it happened, embracing that moment, seeing my family, my friends, people that’s been around me since I started this journey even before the NBA. I definitely had a moment there, very emotional,” he said in a post-game press conference. “Being out there on the floor with my wife, my kids, my mom, it’s a really cool feeling.”
When asked by press what it means for him to accomplish something like that in front of his sons, who are star basketball prospects in their own right, James gushed over what a blessing it’s been for him to be a father to them.
“It ain’t about basketball to me when it comes to being a father. It’s about setting an example, being a role model every day,” he said. “It’s a 24 hour, seven day a week thing. Basketball has given me a lot, taken me all over the world and inspired a lot of people. But for me, being a father is something way more dynamic, way more driven than the game. I try to set an example by how I treat their mother on a day-to-day basis, how I treat their grandmothers, how I treat their little sister, how I treat others.”
He continued, “Hopefully I can just instill life skills in them so when they walk into the real world, they’ll be able to handle themselves like men, which they’ve been able to do thus far in the early stages of their life. Basketball is just extra credit.”
Yes, the NBA star certainly is passionate about basketball, but he takes nothing more serious than being a dad, a great husband to wife Savannah, and a good son to his mother, Gloria, and his in-laws. As so many celebrate James for what he just accomplished on the court, we are also tipping our hats to the NBA great for what he’s doing off the court as a family man. Check out a few sweet photos of James, NBA leading scorer, as the leading man of his clan.
Lebron James and Mom (Photo by Johnny Nunez/WireImage)
MIAMI, FL – JUNE 21: LeBron James #6 of the Miami Heat celebrates his wife Savannah Brinson and family after they Heat won 121-106 against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game Five of the 2012 NBA Finals on June 21, 2012 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
Basketball: NBA Finals: Cleveland Cavaliers LeBron James with daughter Zhuri during press conference after winning series vs Golden State Warriors at Oracle Arena. Game 7. Oakland, CA 6/19/2016 CREDIT: John W. McDonough (Photo by John W. McDonough /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images) (Set Number: SI146 TK1 )
LeBron James watches his son, LeBron Jr.’s team during youth tournament action at the Charlotte Convention Center in Charlotte, N.C., on Friday, July 21, 2017, as son, Bryce James, right, gives him a hug from behind. (Jeff Siner/Charlotte Observer/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – FEBRUARY 18: (L-R) LeBron James Jr., LeBron James, Zhuri James, and Bryce Maximus James attend the 67th NBA All-Star Game: Team LeBron Vs. Team Stephen at Staples Center on February 18, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage)
AKRON, OH – JULY 30: LeBron James plays with his daughter Zhuri during the opening ceremonies of the I Promise School on July 30, 2018 in Akron, Ohio. The School is a partnership between the LeBron James Family foundation and the Akron Public School and is designed to serve Akron’s most challenged students. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
WESTWOOD, CA – SEPTEMBER 22: LeBron James, Savannah James, LeBron James Jr., Bryce Maximus James and Zhuri James attend the premiere of Warner Bros. Pictures’ ‘Smallfoot’ at Regency Village Theatre on September 22, 2018 in Westwood, California. (Photo by Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic)
COLUMBUS, OH – DECEMBER 14: LeBron ‘Bronny’ James Jr. #0 of Sierra Canyon High School with his father LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers following the Ohio Scholastic Play-By-Play Classic against St. Vincent-St. Mary High School at Nationwide Arena on December 14, 2019 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
Basketball: Portrait of Los Angeles Lakers LeBron James (6) and his two sons Bronny James and Bryce James at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School. Akron, OH 7/1/2022 CREDIT: Jeffery A. Salter (Photo by Jeffery Salter/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images) (Set Number: X164111 TK1)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – JULY 12: (L-R) LeBron James, Zhuri Nova James, and Savannah Brinson attend the premiere of Warner Bros “Space Jam: A New Legacy” at Regal LA Live on July 12, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – DECEMBER 04: LeBron James #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers speaks to his son Bronny James #0 of Sierra Canyon during the game against St. Vincent – St. Mary during The Chosen-1’s Invitational at Staples Center on December 04, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
CHATSWORTH, CALIFORNIA – NOVEMBER 16: Bryce James hugs his dad, LeBron James, after the Sierra Canyon vs King Drew boys basketball game at Sierra Canyon High School on November 16, 2022 in Chatsworth, California. (Photo by Cassy Athena/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 07: LeBron James #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers poses for a picture with his family at the end of the game, (L-R) Bronny James, Bryce James, Zhuri James Savannah James and Gloria James, passing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to become the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, surpassing Abdul-Jabbar’s career total of 38,387 points against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Crypto.com Arena on February 07, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
