LeBron James expects to extend his NBA career by at least two more years as he basked in the "surreal" achievement of becoming the league's all-time leading points scorer.
The 38-year-old Los Angeles Lakers' star finally passed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the top NBA scorer with a 38-point haul in a 133-130 loss at home to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
James finished the night with 38,390 career regular-season points, three more than Abdul-Jabbar's tally of 38,387 - a record that had stood since 1984.
The only question now is how much James will increase his record tally before he finally calls time on his career. James said that he was in no mood to exit the stage just yet.
"I know I can play a couple more years - it's all about my mind," the four-time league Most Valuable Player said. "If my mind is still into it, if I'm still motivated to go out and try to compete for championships, I feel like I can still do that."
James admitted he was still struggling to come to terms with finally eclipsing Abdul-Jabbar's record. "It's so surreal," he said. "Because it's something I never made a goal of mine or set out to do, so I'm just happy."
He credited longevity, being part of three title-winning franchises and having great coaches and teammates as keys his success in 20 seasons in the NBA. "It's been a hell of a ride," he added.
Asked by television pundit and NBA great Shaquille O'Neal whether the record meant he was now the greatest player in league history, James replied: "I'll let everybody else decide who that is. But it's great barber shop talk."
James broke the record by nailing a 21-foot shot late in the third quarter. He flung his arms aloft in relief as the Crypto.com Arena erupted in wild celebration.
Abdul-Jabbar, sitting courtside, was among the first to congratulate James as play was interrupted to salute an iconic moment.
James went into game needing just 36 points to surpass Abdul-Jabbar. He took his time before surging towards his magic number, missing his first two attempts before finally nailing a three-pointer midway through the first quarter.
"Most of us back then thought that record would never be broken," Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr said of Abdul-Jabbar's record. "So to see LeBron do it over 20 years is pretty remarkable and a testament to not only his ability but his durability.
"He's just a machine ... a physical force night after night."
Tyronn Lue, James' former coach at the Cleveland Cavaliers, believes the scoring record is the crowning achievement of his career. "This has to be No 1, seeing how long Kareem has held this record. I know LeBron has his championships and MVPs. But to be the all-time leading scorer in NBA history, considering all the great players that have come through this game? That's a big-time accomplishment," Lue said.
LeBron James celebrates after making the shot that pushed him to the top of the scoring charts. AP
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar acknowledges LeBron James' achievement. AP
