When I hear the name Keith Hornsby (192-SG-1992, college: LSU), the first thing that comes to mind is his dad Bruce who dazzled the music world with some sweet tunes like Mandolin Rain and the Valley Road, but he will most likely be most remembered with his Billboard chart topping smash ‘The Way it is’ in 1986. But if one does his basketball homework wisely when concerning one’s self with Keith, then one will come across something totally new that amazed the sports world recently where he has a link even if it is marginal, it is a link and a historical record. This year Lebron James replaced NBA hall of famer Kareem Abdul Jabbar as the all-time NBA leading scorer. So how does Keith Hornsby come into the equation with King Lebron’s record? The 4 time NBA champion passed Abdul Jabbar making a fade away jumper over current Oklahoma Thunder forward Kenrich Williams. And this is where Hornsby comes into the equation. He will forever be linked to Lebron and the record even if it’s very minor because of the player Kenrich Williams. ‘Fun fact, I played two games with Kenrich Williams in the G-League. That’s my connection to the record’, smiled Keith Hornsby. Hornsby played his first 3 seasons in the G-League with Texas and never played a single NBA game, but will be forever be linked to Lebron James via Kenrich Williams.

Hornsby who lists current NBA player and ex Texas A& M guard Alex Caruso as his toughest cover when he was balling at Louisiana State (NCAA) is played his seventh professional season and second season in France and first with Nanterre 92 averaging 14.0ppg, 2.1rpg, 2.2apg, FGP: 49.0%, 3PT: 45.0%, FT-8 (93.3%) after playing the season before with Boulogne-Levallois Metropolitans (France-Betclic ELITE ProA). His first 2 seasons overseas were in Poland with Polski Cukier Torun (Poland-EBL) and the season after in Germany with the EWE Baskets Oldenburg. The build up to Lebron James breaking the record was enormous and one could calculate somewhat when he could break the record. Ballers overseas were speculating Monday evening Feb 7th about staying up or not or waiting until the next game. Lebron had to score 36 points against the Thunder to beat the record. Some guys stayed up against Oklahoma and witnessed history while others fell asleep. ‘I didn’t stay up to watch it. I need my good night’s sleep, and I caught endless replays in the morning when I woke up’, said Keith Hornsby. Lebron could of gotten the record on so many kinds of shots with the three, mid range, lay up or dunk. One could say take your pick. A dunk could have been that extra icing on the cake, but instead it was a mid range shot, one he can make in his sleep. ‘Lebron has proven himself capable of scoring from all over the court. Although his amazing dunks will probably remain his most memorable highlights, I like that the shot ended up being what it was. A little fade away mid ranger. Just one shot of many that Lebron keeps in his bag’, stressed Keith Hornsby. It was only fitting that one legend in the making with Russell Westbrook make the pass for Lebron’s record breaking feat, but it was just a normal pass and nothing spectacular about it. One has to wonder what will be remembered most in 20 years the pass for the record or his incredible amount of triple doubles he has amassed. ‘Ever since Russ became a Laker, people already seemed to forget about his triple doubles and were unfortunately committed to giving him endless hate for his shooting and overall sloppy play. I doubt the pass will be remembered because it ended up being an iso bucket for Lebron anyways’, stated Keith Hornsby. One has to also wonder what would have happened on social media had Lebron pulled a sky hook out of his arsenal on the record shot? ‘I think social media would’ve been an absolute frenzy. Now I wish the bucket was a sky hook. That would’ve been even more historic’, expressed Keith Hornsby. After 48 minutes he had scored 38 points in 26 minutes. Nobody will remember that the Lakers lost 133-130. Was his 38 points another normal day at the office? ’38 points in 26 minutes at 38 years old!! Another day at the office. I’d say that’s not a normal day though. That game is in the upper echelon of what you can expect from him these days, especially in the limited number of minutes. Just add it to the ever increasing points total’, said Keith Hornsby. One has to wonder how much the ball will be worth? ‘ There’s going to be some mega rich knucklehead who will probably pay millions for the ball, although I hope Lebron holds on to it as a keepsake’, smiled Keith Hornsby.

The sniper who lists Josh Gray (LSU) Chris Wright (Toru) Jameel Warney (Legends) JJ Avila (Legends) and Aaron Cel (Toru) as his 5 best teammates of all-time goes into deep thought when asked the question how one can put Lebron James NBA all-time scoring record into perspective when it lasted almost 40 years. ‘To imagine the reality of scoring that many points seems almost impossible (which it isalmost). One bucket at a time reaching almost 40,000 points. Only someone who is lucky enough to have a near twenty year career and enjoy consistent, never ending success could sniff at such a number. I just reached 2k points in Europe and I thought that was an accomplishment. To see Lebron surpass 38,387 is otherworldly’, commented Keith Hornsby. It is always interesting to see how well the younger generation is basketball educated about the greats from back in the day when listing guys like Russell, Chamberlain, Robertson or Havlicek. Some did their home work while others are clueless. There are still way too many of the younger generation that don’t know how influential Kareem Abdul Jabbar was on and off the court. ‘. Some of these youngsters out here playing today didn’t even grow up with Jordan. Shoot, I came up at the tail end of his career. With Kareem, that’s a tough one. You’ve heard about his greatness as that becomes general knowledge to any basketball fan, but I don’t think the gravity of his legacy holds enough weight nowadays. Time moves on. He will never and should never be forgotten or ignored, but his greatness may be a bit out of sight out of mind’, added Keith Hornsby.

The ex teammate of EWE Baskets legend Rickey Paulding who lists LeBron James – George Washington Michael Jordan – Thomas Jefferson JJ Redick – Teddy Roosevelt and Steph Curry – Abe Lincoln on his personal NBA Mount Rushmore isn’t sure if this record will ever be broken? ‘I don’t know who could possibly break it. I don’t think there will ever be someone like Lebron again. At least in the foreseeable future’, warned Keith Hornsby. But what about the NBA’s little darling Luka Doncic? He is a versatile player like Lebron James and one has to consider him more of a scorer at heart than Lebron. But will Doncic play that long? He already played at a very high level with Real Madrid at a very young age. ‘I LOVE Luka, but I still don’t think it’s possible. I don’t think Luka will be able to sustain such a level into his mid to late thirties. Lebron as a whole package is simply a unique almost immortal specimen. Luka will probably get on the lists, but I don’t see him overtaking this ‘untouchable’ record’, stressed Keith Hornsby. Back in 2020 when he arrived in Oldenburg, I had to ask him the standard question of who his GOAT is Jordan or Lebron? ‘Although everybody’s opinion seemed to shift towards MJ during the airing of the Last Dance, I’m still going to go with Lebron James. It’ll forever be a difficult debate, but I just think what LeBron has done on and off the court is unrivaled’, stated Keith Hornsby. Nothing has changed in 2023 with his opinion as it seems to have been strengthened with the NBA scoring record. ‘I love Jordan. I love Lebron. Jordan has more championships, yes, but I think Lebron is undeniably the GOAT’, warned Keith Hornsby. If he ever gets bored on a future road trip on the bus through some countryside in Europe, he could visit every player on the bus and trade favorite Lebron moments. He has one moment he will never forget. ‘His championship with Cleveland. He wasn’t even human it seemed that series’, remembered Keith Hornsby. But if he ever does tire about talking about incredible Lebron moments, he could always tell his link to Lebron’s scoring record with Kenrich Williams. That will definitely get some of those young kids wide awake in the wee mornings when traveling back home.

Tags : KEITH HORNSBY, NANTERRE 92, GERMAN BASKETBALL