LeBron James passes

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as NBA’s all-time

Leading Scorer

LeBron James long ago earned the nickname “King James.”

Today the crown fits better than ever.

On Feb. 7, James became the NBA’s all-time scorer, passing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

The Los Angeles Lakers star of stars broke the record with a fall-away jumper in the late going of a loss to Oklahoma City at the Crypto.com Arena in L.A.

In defeat, James was brilliant, scoring 38 points (13 for 20 from floor, 4-for-6 beyond the arc, 8 for 10 at foul line) and snagging seven rebounds in 34 minutes.

James, standing 6-foot-8 and built like a contender for World’s Strongest Man, passed the 7-foot-1 Jabbar while playing 150 fewer games, representing about two seasons.

King James’ total came in 1,410 games while Jabbar needed 1,560 to reach his milestone.

James has averaged 27.2 points per game in a career that started in 2003 and continues today. Jabbar averaged 24.6 per game between 1969 and 1989.

The legends took different paths on their way to NBA stardom. Jabbar (then known as Lew Alcindor) played four seasons at UCLA.

Had he gone straight to the NBA, he might have four more seasons to pad his totals.

By contrast, James leapfrogged college and went straight to the NBA out of the Akron, Ohio, high school ranks.

At age 38, James would seem to have at least several more productive seasons ahead. Plus, he has stated he wants to play with his eldest son, Bronny.

Bronny James is currently a high school senior who could be eligible for the NBA in two seasons.

Look out: Fourteenth on the all-time list is 34-year-old Kevin Durant, now with Phoenix. Durant has 26,684 career points and shows no sign of slowing down.

Durant is averaging nearly 30 points this season and could play for years to come. He’s scored as many as 2,593 points in a season (2014).

While it’s a long shot, with a fistful of more healthy seasons, Durant could be wearing a crown.

In the meantime, “King James” sits on the throne.

Under first-year football Coach Henry Frazier III, Virginia State University doubled its win total in 2022, posting a 6-4 record after going 3-6 the season before. This upcoming season, VSU hopes to continue the upgrade, but it won’t be easy.

The NCAA Division II Trojans will open Sept. 2 at Norfolk State in the onepeg higher NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (FCS).

Following the trip to Dick Price Stadium, VSU will return home to face Tusculum, Tenn., in the home opener at 2 p.m. at Rogers Stadium. Tusculum (non HBCU) was 8-3 last season and in strong contention for the Division II playoffs.

VUU nets 76-65 win over Bowie

Just when you think Robert Osborne has hit full stride, he shifts into an even higher gear.

The Virginia Union University senior forward has entered the final week of the regular season with his foot to the pedal.

They don’t call him “The Wizard of Os” for nothing.

In front of BCSBN cameras, Osborne had 33 points (14-for-24 from the field), nine rebounds, four assists and four steals in VUU’s 76-65 Feb. 11 home win over Bowie State.

The victory clinched VUU’s second straight Northern Division title under Coach Jay Butler.

Individually, it marked perhaps the top performance of Osborne’s career in Maroon & Steel and among the elite outings by any Panther in recent seasons.

Osborne has been sensational throughout his senior campaign. The smooth, 6-foot-5 southpaw out of Hermitage High leads the CIAA in scoring (20.6), is second in rebounds (8.9), second in shooting percentage (.545) and third in assists (3.2).

Next up is the “Downtown Showdown,” the regular season finale Saturday, Feb. 18, against invading Virginia State at Barco-Stevens Hall. The Trojans have lost their last two, most recently at Bowie State 75-55 on BCSBN.

VSU has three of the CIAA’s top performers in Terrence Hunter-Whitfield (second in league with 18.1 scoring average), B.J. Fitzgerald (first with .444 shooting from beyond the arc) and Zach Newkirk (first in assists with 99).

After Saturday, all CIAA teams head to Baltimore for the men’s and women’s CIAA tournaments taking place Feb. 20-25.

Note: Through games of Feb. 11. VUU was to play at Shaw and Bowie State was to visit VSU on Wednesday. Saturday, Feb. 18: “The Downtown Showdown.” Virginia State at Virginia Union’s Barco-Stevens Hall at about 4 following women’s game set for 2.

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BY