Los Angeles star forward LeBron James has knocked down many records since he came into the NBA as an 18-year-old in 2003. James is now looking to the future and hoping to play with his son professionally. But due to James’ longevity, he was able to achieve one of the NBA’s longest-standing records last season.

Last February, James topped the scoring record of former Lakers and Milwaukee Bucks great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Black sports news shows that Abdul-Jabbar’s record stood for 38 years before James passed it during a game against the Oklahoma City Thunder in February. He finished with 36 points and had 38,388 points.

Abdul-Jabbar finished his career with 38,387 points when he retired in 1989. When it comes to sports, 2023 was an excellent year with many interesting storylines playing out for Black athletes. Here’s a look at some other top moments.

 

Mahomes Adds Another Ring

 

 

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes has left little doubt as to his status among all-time great NFL signal callers. Mahomes added another strong piece to his resume by helping Kansas City beat Philadelphia 38-35 in Super Bowl LVII. It was a wild game, where Kansas City rallied from a six-point deficit at the end of the third quarter.

Mahomes finished with 182 passing yards and three touchdowns to help Kansas City grab a win. He became the first Black quarterback to win a Super Bowl. Philadelphia also started Jalen Hurts at quarterback, making this the first Super Bowl to have two Black quarterbacks start the game.

Hurts also played well, passing for 304 yards and throwing for a touchdown. Hurts also led the team with 70 yards rushing and scored three times. Mahomes also joined another exclusive club. He became the ninth quarterback to win at least two Super Bowl titles.

 

Deion Sanders Revives Interest in Colorado Football

 

The record isn’t great. The hype is likely a little too much. But there is no denying that Deion Sanders has the charisma to lead a big-time college football program. The only question for Sanders is how long will he stay on as Colorado’s football coach when his sons leave town?

This year, the Buffaloes were able to make a strong turnaround from a 1-11 season by winning its first three games. Colorado was never able to elevate things beyond its hot start. The Buffaloes only won one of their last nine games, as the rigors of the PAC-12 schedule put a lot of pressure on the program.

Sanders raised a lot of eyebrows in the offseason when he essentially turned over his entire roster in the transfer portal. He found success at Jackson State, turning around the program with a 27-6 record in three seasons. However, competing at the major college level is a much different animal.

Sanders has an interesting road ahead. The NCAA football landscape has changed a lot over the past 10 to 15 years. Sanders is willing to try and heavily utilize the transfer portal to find success. A lot of people will be watching to see how he handles the pressure, if he feels any at all.

 

Biles Earns Recognition for Return

 

Simone Biles was America’s sweetheart in 2016 at the Rio Olympics. Biles won four gold medals, including helping lead the U.S. team to the title. However, things went sour when Biles returned for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, which were delayed by the pandemic.

Biles withdrew from the team event, saying she was feeling the pressure of competing and needed a break for her mental health. After the team finished second and Biles only won a bronze medal on the balance beam, many people questioned whether she should have stayed at home. Despite being 26, ancient by competitive gymnastic standards, Biles returned to the World Champions in 2023 at Antwerp.

Biles would return to her former top form. She registered four gold medals, including three individual (all-around, balance beam, and floor exercise) in addition to the team championship. Biles ended up earning honors from the Associated Press for its 2023 Female Athlete of the Year award. Up-to-date sports news shows this was the third time Biles earned the honor.

 

Damar Hamlin Makes Return to Football

 

It is unlikely that life will ever be back to normal for Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin. Hamlin was medically pronounced dead before being revived by medical staff following a collision on the field in Cincinnati last year. Before that hit, Hamlin was having a career year, having finished with 82 tackles, including 1.5 sacks and two passes defended.

Hamlin was able to come back with the Bills this season and make the roster. However, Hamlin’s playing time has been limited. Hamlin has appeared in five games. Buffalo was happy to have him back, and he has been a positive influence around the team.

 

Jon Jones Shows Why He’s One of UFC’s Greatest Fighters

 

 

Ring rust is a term commonly tossed around in combat sports. Time off affects everyone differently. But in Jon Jones’ case, no one seems to find a way to slow him down at any weight class. Following three years away from the sport, Jones returned at UFC 285 to fight Ciryl Gane for the vacant heavyweight championship.

While it’s not a surprise that Jones won the title, he closed as a favorite on the betting line; it was surprising how easily he stopped Gane. Jones took Gane down within the first two minutes of the first round and was able to quickly submit the former interim champion. Jones’ career has been filled with spectacular moments.

Jones made 11 successful defenses of the UFC light heavyweight championship and has a 27-1 career record, with his only loss coming by a controversial disqualification. If not for issues with drugs and domestic abuse outside of the octagon, Jones would be celebrated as one of America’s great sports heroes, according to top sports news today.

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