LeBron James added another chapter to his historic career Tuesday night, becoming the first player in NBA history to surpass 50,000 combined points across the regular season and playoffs.
The 40-year-old reached the landmark with a three-pointer in the first quarter of the Los Angeles Lakers’ game against the New Orleans Pelicans.
James entered the game just one point shy of the record, having scored 17 in the Lakers’ 108-102 victory over the Clippers on Sunday. Already the NBA’s all-time leading scorer in both the regular season and postseason, James continues to redefine longevity and sustained excellence in professional basketball.
A record built on consistency and dominance
James, now in his 22nd season, has matched Vince Carter for the most seasons played in NBA history. Lakers legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who held the combined scoring record before James, finished his 20-year career with 44,149 total points.
While most players experience a significant decline by their late 30s, James has defied expectations. Earlier Tuesday, he was named the NBA’s Western Conference Player of the Month for February, averaging 29.3 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 6.9 assists while leading the Lakers to a 9-2 record.
He played over 35 minutes per game during that stretch, further solidifying his case as one of the most enduring stars in sports history.
Longevity and postseason dominance
James also holds the record for most playoff games played, with 287 appearances. He became the NBA’s all-time playoff scoring leader in May 2017, surpassing Michael Jordan’s 5,987 points during the Cleveland Cavaliers’ Eastern Conference Finals matchup against the Boston Celtics.
In February 2023, James claimed the regular-season scoring record, surpassing Abdul-Jabbar’s 38,387 points during a game against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
His remarkable consistency has been a defining trait of his career. He has scored at least 10 points in 1,277 consecutive games since January 2007—the longest such streak in NBA history.
Still setting records at 40
James’ Player of the Month honour for February was the 41st of his career, extending his own NBA record. He also became the oldest player to win the award, surpassing Karl Malone, who claimed the accolade at 37 in 2000.
With James still performing at an elite level, the possibility of him extending his career into a record 23rd season remains a strong possibility. If he continues at this pace, more milestones appear inevitable for one of basketball’s greatest players.
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ