Kareem Abdul-Jabbar surpasses Wilt Chamberlain's NBA scoring record

The Lakers legend broke the long-standing record in 1984 against the Jazz

Mar. 17, 2026 at 11:20am

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Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, in his 17th NBA season, surpassed Wilt Chamberlain's long-standing career scoring record of 31,419 points on April 5, 1984 in a game against the Utah Jazz. Abdul-Jabbar, who finished his career with 38,387 points, hit a trademark sky hook shot over the outstretched arm of Jazz center Mark Eaton to claim the record in front of a roaring home crowd at the Forum in Los Angeles.

Why it matters

Wilt Chamberlain's scoring record had stood for over a decade when Abdul-Jabbar finally broke it, cementing his legacy as one of the greatest players in NBA history. The moment was a significant milestone not just for Abdul-Jabbar, but for the league as a whole, as it marked the passing of the torch from one iconic big man to another.

The details

Abdul-Jabbar entered the game against the Jazz needing just 22 points to surpass Chamberlain's record. He faced a tough challenge from Jazz center Mark Eaton, who led the league in blocks that season. But in the fourth quarter, Abdul-Jabbar received a pass in the post from Magic Johnson, took a dribble, and launched his signature sky hook shot over the outstretched hand of Eaton to claim the record. His teammates swarmed him in celebration, and the game had to be paused to honor the historic moment.

  • On April 5, 1984, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar broke Wilt Chamberlain's NBA scoring record.
  • Chamberlain had set the previous record of 31,419 points when he retired in 1973.

The players

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

A legendary NBA center who played 20 seasons in the league, winning 6 championships and 6 MVP awards. He finished his career with 38,387 points, the most in NBA history until LeBron James broke the record in 2023.

Wilt Chamberlain

One of the most dominant players in NBA history, Chamberlain held the league's career scoring record of 31,419 points for over a decade before Abdul-Jabbar surpassed him in 1984.

Mark Eaton

A 7-foot-4 center for the Utah Jazz who was one of the best rim protectors in the league, leading the NBA in blocks per game the season Abdul-Jabbar broke the scoring record.

Magic Johnson

The legendary Lakers point guard who assisted on the record-breaking sky hook shot by Abdul-Jabbar against the Jazz.

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What’s next

The record stood for nearly 40 years until LeBron James finally broke it in 2023.

The takeaway

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's record-breaking performance cemented his legacy as one of the greatest players in NBA history, surpassing the previous mark set by the iconic Wilt Chamberlain. The moment was a significant milestone for the league, as the torch was passed from one legendary big man to another.