Various variables make it difficult to recognize uniqueness at the moment. Valuing the finite nature of anything, for starters, brings the impermanence of our own life into closer light, and for obvious reasons, we prefer not to dwell on this. Beyond that, life moves at a frenzied pace, and the majority of days are spent only attempting to weather the storm.
The rose-colored glass of the rearview mirror highlights all that was once muddied by the chaos of life, making it easier to recognize the majority of exceptional, meaningful, or significant individuals or events in hindsight.
However, it is a worthwhile mindfulness exercise to take stock of the present. On Tuesday night, LeBron James surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to become the NBA’s all-time top scorer, shattering a long-held belief that such a feat was unachievable. This week, such a chance presents itself as a result.
James has used Tom Brady’s recent “permanent retirement” as inspiration for what his decades-long career may look like in the end. Brady exemplifies the type of athlete who was challenged by Father Time and, for the most part, laughed in his face, breaking records well into his forties.
LeBron James dominated basketball
James has stated that he hopes to continue playing long enough to share the court with his eldest son Bronny, who won’t be available for the NBA draught until 2024, which makes the celebration of this accomplishment all the more special. Rarely are athletes active, much less still dominant, while receiving their roses.
In this, James’s 20th season of domination, the phrase “He’s 38!” has become nearly a cliche among NBA spectators. James’s career has never been equaled in the history of his sport. He has been one of the league’s best (and longest-tenured) players for his entire career.
At the age of 17, he was recruited into the NBA in 2003, straight out of high school, to unprecedented acclaim, making the cover of Sports Illustrated with the banner “The Chosen One.
However, despite all the hype, James managed to surpass expectations. No one has ever entered the league to greater fanfare, yet the Ohio native surpassed even the loftiest expectations of what he would become. Simply put, it is exceptional.
Most believed that Abdul-scoring Jabbar’s record, established in 1984, the same year James was born, would never be surpassed. Even James himself seemed astonished by the accomplishment, telling ESPN’s Dave McMenamin this year. “I’ve always been a pass-first guy, so the scoring record never even crossed my mind.”
Magic Johnson
It’s a fact. In many aspects, James’s game more closely resembles that of a creative like Magic Johnson than that of a scorer’s scorer like his greatest GOAT competitor Michael Jordan. James presently ranks fourth on the list of all-time assists for this reason.
Anthony Davis stressed the NBA’s 20-year span when questioned about James’ impact.
Davis stated in the days preceding Tuesday’s game. “Watching him since I was younger, he’s been a sort of role model, idol, for me.” “When I initially arrived, we had a great talk about how I used to attend his camp and beg for a picture with him, and now we’re teammates and won the championship that [first] year. It all comes full circle.”
And in a humorous incident when the Houston Rockets visited last month, youngster Jabari Smith Jr. humorously reminded James that Smith’s father had played in James’s very first NBA game, poking fun at him and asking, “You feel old, don’t you?”
In actuality, though, breaking the scoring record is inextricably linked to the passage of time. As impressive (sometimes shockingly so) as James has been in his 20th season, and as much as he convinces us (both by his play and in those pervasive commercials with Jason Momoa) that aging doesn’t matter (both by his play in those pervasive commercials with Jason Momoa), we will all eventually age.
Rollercoaster journey
Due to this, the elation of surpassing Abdul-Jabbar has inexorably coupled with melancholy: this “rollercoaster journey,” as James termed it after breaking the record, will come to an end at some point. And that day is rapidly approaching.
Even before warm-ups began on Tuesday, the Crypto.com Arena was pulsating with the excitement that only the expectation of being close to something extraordinary can generate.
James entered the premises dressed for business in a perfectly fitted black suit and black sunglasses. When told he was dressed for a funeral, he immediately thought of Johnny Cash. Cash responded, “Perhaps I am.”
This funeral would be for those who doubted his grandeur. On his lapel was a gold button with the simple inscription “Stay Present.” Presumably, for himself, advice to concentrate on the task at hand, one step at a time. However, it was also instruction for the audience, who were witnesses to history.
I recall a specific instance in which I was fully there and able to appreciate James’ magnificence. In Los Angeles, it was Lakers vs. Celtics, and the Lakers had just completed a double-digit rally to force OT.
A steal led to a James fast break, and the entire audience held its breath in anticipation of the thunderous tomahawk dunk that has become a certainty when James is left alone in transition, even after 20 years.
As the arena erupted, I felt the universe slow to a crawl, and the dunk seemed to occur in slow motion. I was able to take everything in at that time. Its limited nature was shown with blazing clarity. I would tell my children about this.
On Tuesday, James reportedly had his signature moment with a record-breaking fadeaway (one of his hallmark shots).
ESPN
“Every night I write ‘the man in the arena’ on my shoe… “I felt like I was sitting on top of the arena tonight,” he told ESPN following the game. “When that shot was made, the fans erupted… I doubt I will ever be able to experience that emotion again.
“This is comparable to a game-winning [NBA] finals shot. When we stopped playing, everything ceased immediately. It allowed me to take in my surroundings and appreciate them. Seeing my loved ones, my fans, and my friends.
I can probably count on one hand the number of times I’ve sobbed in the past two decades, whether from joy or sorrow, and that was one of them. “I cannot believe what is happening” tears.
Despite the difficulty in valuing what we observe as it occurs, this endeavor is worthwhile. Time marches on inexorably, regardless of whether we’ve taken account of our surroundings or not.
To the NBA’s credit, it appears like everyone involved in Tuesday’s game, whether as a participant or a spectator, took a time to appreciate its historic significance.
Kyrie Irving, James’s former (and nearly current) teammate, summed up the situation succinctly this week: “I don’t believe we should be surprised. I believe we should celebrate and congratulate him as much as possible.
Continue to appreciate the show he performs, for it won’t be around for much longer. I look forward to his performances whenever he decides to perform.
At least for the time being, the performance continues. It is up to us to absorb the information and appreciate our front-row seats.
