Kareem Abdul-jabbar Admits To A Strained Relationship With Lebron James

The NBA legend added that LeBron made him fall in love with the game again and that he was proud when James surpassed his NBA scoring record.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar explained how he feels about LeBron James breaking the NBA record he previously held for 38 years. Where they stand currently is also noteworthy.

Abdul-Jabbar, 75, rendered his "complex thoughts and ideas" in an essay after his 38,388th point broke the world record for a total number of issues.

Why Is The Relationship Of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar And Lebron James Strained

The former NBA player praised James, 38, for "the unbelievable determination, dedication, and skill required to survive in today's NBA for such a long period of time in order to rack up that many points." Statistics show the average career is 4.5 years in the NBA. James has been playing for twenty years.

The former NBA goalscorer says that breaking the record isn't just about getting the ball over the hoop; it's about staying healthy and skilled enough to climb steep mountains in the increasingly dilute oxygen environment over the years like most athletes that other players have exploited.

Abdul-Jabbar also said he broke the record in 1984 as a team player. "Records mean nothing if you use the careers of other players as a springboard to promote yourself," he wrote. He believes James shares his team-first basketball philosophy.

I had to laugh at everyone who wondered how I felt when James finally broke the record.

Abdul-Jabbar likens his situation to James winning the lottery. "It's like I won a billion dollars in the lottery, and 39 years later, someone won two billion dollars. How would I feel? Grateful that I won and glad that the next person also won. His winning has nothing to do with my victory."

The NBA legend later addressed Magic Johnson's comments, alleging that Abdul-Jabbar thought he would have forever.

Double wrote to Abdul-Jabbar, who explained that he loved Johnson, 63, after 40 years of friendship, but in this case, he was wrong. Abdul-Jabbar continued: "I don't blame him for thinking I might mind because he knows how competitive I used to be. And, if someone breaks my record in the ten years since I set it, that person may be right.

Subsequently, Abdul-Jabbar explained, But that isn't me today. I'm 75. I only think of the record when someone brings it up. Instead, the former NBA star said he's thrilled that LeBron broke the record because anytime a sports record is broken, a time for celebration.

"It means that someone has pushed the limits of what we believed was possible to new heights." Abdul-Jabbar wrote.

James and Abdul-Jabbar "have no relationship," according to both athletes. Abdul-Jabbar is correct for this as well because he blames himself.

"I'm quiet, shy, and such a homebody that people would think I have agoraphobia." Abdul-Jabbar penned these words in the questionnaire I sent him.

Abdul-Jabbar also cites his differences with James as the main reason the two did not form a friendship. "James made a name for himself when I started my career in the NBA," he said.

"That disconnect is on me." He admitted it.

Abdul-Jabbar said the bottom line about him and James is that LeBron makes basketball fun again.