Los Angeles Lakers icon Kareem Abdul-Jabbar recently wrote a touching tribute to LeBron James who was recently named as Sports Illustrated‘s Sportsperson of the Year. Having won the Muhammad Ali Legacy Award, the 35-year-old superstar has only magnified his already enormous impact off the court.

The Lakers legend mentioned how there was no questioning regarding LeBron James' talent and abilities on the floor. On top of his athleticism and basketball skills, the world saw his relentless determination as he willed his teams to a Finals appearance year in and year out.

Abdul-Jabbar also touched on the topic of James potentially breaking his All-Time record for the most career points scored in league history with 38,387. James is only trailing by 4,000 points and could officially break the record in a couple of years.

However, it wasn't his mere achievements as a basketball star that comprise his great legacy as an NBA player. His initiatives and efforts for society and care for the people who are in need the most highlighted James beyond the court and more as a human being.

The establishment of his I Promise School in Akron, Ohio which was built to help impoverished children gain access to education was seen as one of his greatest achievements as a philanthropist. The LeBron James Family Foundation also continues to help societal causes while his drive to encourage people to vote eventually paid dividends for the nation as seen in the results of the most recent U.S. Presidential Elections.

Truly, LeBron James was the right person to be named as the winner of the award and his achievements will trail blaze the path for the athletes of the next generation to do more and go beyond their means to positively serve their respective communities in the years to come.