Getty Image
LeBron James entered Wednesday night’s game versus the Denver Nuggets needing just 13 points to move past The G.O.A.T. Michael Jordan on the NBA’s all-time scoring list.
He did it before the second quarter was even over.
As the Staples Center played a video honoring James for his milestone, LeBron was visibly emotional as he sat on the bench.
During the game, James paid tribute to the man he passed, Michael Jordan, with a special pair of LeBron 16 shoes that honored His Airness with a little Air Jordan 3 flair, complete with LeBron’s own version of the Jumpman silhouette.
James also added his own personal touch with a handwritten message to Jordan that read, “Thank you M.J. 23.”
On the night he passed Michael Jordan on the all-time scoring list, LeBron thanked MJ on his shoes 👑 pic.twitter.com/OoHSfDJbKE
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) March 7, 2019
Thank You MJ – @KingJames pic.twitter.com/iAAzc8ZQDl
— NBA (@NBA) March 7, 2019
4th. pic.twitter.com/QwoFhGpkaI
— NBA (@NBA) March 7, 2019
Later, two of James’ ex-teammates, Channing Frye and Richard Jefferson, congratulated him with a comical video, calling him a ballhog, telling him to pass more, and harassing him for how long it took him to finally pass Jordan.
From the visitors locker room at Barclays Center, Richard Jefferson and Channing Frye mockingly congratulated ex-teammate LeBron James tonight on passing Michael Jordan on the all-time scoring list: pic.twitter.com/EV3TSELx0n
— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) March 7, 2019
Now that there is how true bros congrulate a buddy on an achievement. Wonder how much LeBron is missing those guys right about now?
After the game, when asked what it was like to pass one of his idols, here’s some of what James had to say…
“I was watching from afar. I wanted to be like MJ. I wanted to shoot fadeaways like MJ. I wanted to stick out my tongue on dunks like MJ, wear my sneakers like MJ. I wanted kids to look up at me someday like MJ. It’s crazy.”
“I mean, me and my friends, this is all we talked about, MJ. All we talked about was MJ. …We used to play outdoor ball, in the snow, and we all wanted to be MJ, every last one of us. It’s crazy.”
Did he mention how crazy it is? Okay, good.
“He was everything. I mean, name it, he was everything. Obviously, we all saw how unbelievable he was on the floor. But his swag, the way he wore his shoes, the way he wore his shorts, you know, with the tights hanging out, with the 23 on the tights.”
“I always tell you guys, when you’re like an inner-city kid from Akron, Ohio, like myself and my guys growing up, you look for anything, any lightning in a bottle that can help inspire you because you’re just always put up against the numbers of failing. The percentages of guys like myself, single-parent households, only child, underprivileged. Making it out, it’s not high, it’s not high at all. And MJ had a lot to do with me making it out.”
Very cool.