In a groundbreaking achievement, LeBron James has officially become the first player in NBA history to accumulate 50,000 combined points across both regular season and post-season games. James reached the monumental milestone on Tuesday night which underscores his longevity and incredible consistency as one of basketball’s greatest players.
LeBron James: a legacy of unmatched performance
At the age of 40, LeBron James has already solidified his place as the NBA's all-time leading scorer in both regular-season and playoff games. Throughout his illustrious career, James has consistently defied expectations, proving time and again that he is capable of maintaining peak performance levels even as he ages. His longevity and durability have set a new benchmark for players across the league.
James achieved the historic 50,000-point mark in his 22nd season, tying Vince Carter for the most seasons played in NBA history. In comparison, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the Lakers legend, amassed 44,149 total points during his 20-season career, securing the second spot in NBA history for total points.
LeBron James: The historic moment of reaching 50,000 points in NBA
The record-breaking moment occurred during the first quarter of the Los Angeles Lakers’ game against the New Orleans Pelicans when James sank a three-point shot.
Leading up to this achievement, James was just one point shy of the milestone, having accumulated 49,999 points during the Lakers’ 108-102 win over the Clippers on Sunday. During that game, James contributed 17 points, helping the Lakers extend their winning streak to six games.
LeBron James: Exceptional form in his 40s
What sets LeBron James apart from many of his peers is his ability to perform at an elite level well into his 40s. While other players' performances tend to decline in their late 30s, James has continued to excel.
His remarkable statistics from February, which earned him NBA Western Conference Player of the Month honors, included an average of 29.3 points, 10.5 rebounds, 6.9 assists, and 1.2 steals per game. His outstanding play helped the Lakers achieve a 9-2 record, lifting them to second place in the Western Conference.
LeBron James: moving up the records
As of Tuesday, James also ranks third in NBA history for regular-season games played, with 1,547 appearances. He trails only Robert Parish (1,611) and Abdul-Jabbar (1,560) on the all-time list. Should James remain in top form and choose to play for a historic 23rd season, he is likely to surpass Parish's record in the near future.
In addition to his regular-season accomplishments, James has set the record for the most playoff games ever played, with 287 appearances. He also became the all-time playoff scoring leader on May 25, 2017, surpassing Michael Jordan’s previous record of 5,987 points. James added another significant achievement on February 7, 2023, when he became the NBA's all-time leading scorer in the regular season, surpassing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s 38,387 points.
LeBron James: a legendary career continues
James’ streak of scoring 10 or more points in consecutive games now stands at an incredible 1,277, an unbroken record since January 6, 2007. Furthermore, his February Player of the Month award marked his 41st such recognition, extending his own NBA record. At 40, he surpassed Karl Malone as the oldest player to ever win this honor, previously held by Malone at age 37 in November 2000.
LeBron James continues to break records and redefine what is possible for an NBA player as he nears the end of his remarkable career. His 50,000-point milestone is just the latest in a long list of achievements that have solidified his status as one of the greatest to ever play the game.
