LeBron James breaks Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's NBA career scoring record

The NBA has a new scoring leader in LeBron James after he broke Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's nearly four decade-old record on Tuesday night.

The Los Angeles Lakers forward nailed a 21-foot step-back jump shot with 10.9 seconds left in the third quarter against the Oklahoma City Thunder to take his career total to 38,388 points.

Television coverage at the Staples Center in Los Angeles showed James outstretch his arms, throw both hands in the air and smile, with the game stopped so the forward’s family could join an on-court ceremony to mark the moment.

Abdul-Jabar, who became the league’s leading scorer on 5 April 1984 before retiring five years later with 38,387 points, rose from his seat at the game to applaud his successor and fellow Laker.

EVERY ANGLE of the bucket that made LeBron James the NBA's all-time leading scorer