Denzel Washington to Jay-Z: Star-filled night in LA as LeBron James makes NBA history

LeBron James went after Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's NBA career scoring record Tuesday night in an arena filled with stars and rocked by er fans anticipating a crowning moment in his 20-year career.

James chased 36 points necessary to surpass Abdul-Jabbar's record 38,387 points with determination, scoring 20 in first half in front of a crowd urging him forward.

fans roared with every point while he rolled toward mark held since April 1984 by Abdul-Jabbar, who watched game from a baseline seat near Lakers’ bench. James’ mor, wife and three children also watched from courtside amid thousands who rose in waves of anticipation nearly every time James touched ball.

With four championship rings and nearly every or hor available to a basketball player, 38-year-old James closed in on this next moment in history with confidence of a player who has been even better than anyone could have expected two decades ago when kid from Akron, Ohio, reached NBA.

“ expectations were all way out to Pluto, and he went ahead and created his own galaxy,” Lakers coach Darvin Ham said before game.

crowd was in its seats far earlier than rmal in Los Angeles, and James got numerous ovations before Lakers and Oklahoma City Thunder got rolling. fans n stood when he touched ball on Lakers’ opening possession, and y groaned when he missed his first two shots and elected to pass.

Each Lakers possession seemed weighted with anticipation, and James has always thrived under such pressure: He hit a 3-pointer with 7:06 left in first quarter for his first bucket, and he kept playing after getting hit in face by an inadvertent elbow moments later.

Lakers fans are strangers to witnessing historic moments, and y turned out ferociously for chance to see a once-in-a-generation achievement.

moment was irresistible to fans like Aaron Sanchez, one of hundreds of jersey-clad Lakers faithful patiently taking turns posing in front of statue of Abdul-Jabbar that stands on plaza in front of Lakers' downtown arena.

Sanchez shares a set of two season tickets with a few friends and family, and he already had seats for Tuesday's game months before anyone could predict magic day. He turned down a friend's offer of $200 to swap Thunder seats, but he's out of luck if James waits until Thursday to break record, since those tickets belong to a different friend.

“It's basketball history, and that's what Lakers are all about,” Sanchez said. “LeBron is already one of greatest Lakers ever, and getting this record in a Lakers uniform just makes it more certain. He was our leader after Kobe (Bryant) died, and he's our leader w.”

Indeed, James has already earned a special place in Lakers fans' hearts over his five seasons in purple and gold. Several months before he won franchise's 17th championship in Florida bubble, he truly became a part of Lakers lore with his inspirational words and steady leadership in wake of Bryant's death in a helicopter crash.

Inside building, dozens of celebrities gared to witness history: Denzel Washington, Jay-Z, Bad Bunny, LL Cool J, Usher, Andy Garcia and countless ors. Dozens of basketball greats also turned out, including Lakers heroes James Worthy and Bob McAdoo along with Dwyane Wade.

biggest star in crowd was Abdul-Jabbar, who has verbally sparred with James in public over issues t directly related to basketball. Lakers legend kwn to all as Cap wasn't about to miss history.