It was a very early start for many British NBA fans to see LeBron James become the NBA’s all-time top scorer. James scored 38 points to surpass Kareem Abdul-record Jabbar’s of 38,387 points, which was established in 1989.
The Los Angeles Lakers really lost the game, not that anyone remembers, but their star player is now in first place with 38,390 points.
But would his accomplishment benefit the British basketball team?
Huw Hopkins, a basketball journalist for BBC Newsbeat, predicts that these historic occurrences will have a ripple effect. “It’s fantastic for the game here.
“So it will attract individuals who may have played basketball in school. It is reportedly the second most popular team sport among British adolescents.”
The British Basketball League has witnessed an increase in attendance, with last year’s play-off finals selling out.
“The top team at the moment is the London Lions, both men’s and women’s, and they’ve recently had a cash infusion from new ownership,” Huw explains.
They are also recruiting former NBA players and guys of NBA caliber.
In recent years, the British Basketball League has gotten a boost.
In December of 2021, a Miami-based business group paid £7 million for a 45 percent ownership in the London Lions.
The men’s squad is also led by Ovie Soko, a former contestant on Love Island.
“Hopefully, if this inspires people, they’ll seek out to local groups so they can play outside of school, college, or university,” Huw says.
LeBron James’ influence on the British sporting world is already considerable.
The star of the Lakers owns stock in the English Premier League club Liverpool, which he promotes heavily on social media.
According to Josh Coyne of the YouTube channel House of Bounce, James is typically the “entry point” for people entering the sport in the United Kingdom.
Last year, there was a lot of excitement in the United Kingdom because both of LeBron’s sons (Bronny and Bryce James) played in a collegiate basketball game in London.
“This venue was packed to capacity.
People believed LeBron would be at the game, but he wasn’t there, yet the event was nevertheless a great success.
Also Read: M. Shadows Married His Wife After A 6th-Grade Romance
