LeBron James made NBA history Tuesday night, becoming the first player to reach 50,000 combined points across the regular season and playoffs.
The milestone came with a first-quarter three-pointer in the Lakers’ game against the Pelicans, after reaching 49,999 points in Sunday’s win over the Clippers.
At 40, James continues to redefine basketball longevity, becoming the first player to surpass 50,000 combined points in the regular season and playoffs.
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Already the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, James reached the milestone in his 22nd season, tying Vince Carter for the most seasons played, as reported by the New York Post.
Lakers legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who played 20 seasons, ranks second with 44,149 total points.
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Unlike most NBA veterans, James continues to dominate well into his 40s. Showing no signs of decline, he was named the Western Conference Player of the Month after averaging 29.3 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 6.9 assists in February.
Playing over 35 minutes per game, James led the Lakers to a 9-2 record, propelling them to second place in the West.
James continues to climb the NBA’s all-time ranks, starting Tuesday third in career regular-season games played (1,547), behind only Robert Parish (1,611) and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1,560).
If he returns for a record 23rd season, he could surpass Parish next winter. James already holds the record for most postseason games played (287) and became the NBA’s all-time playoff scoring leader in 2017, passing Michael Jordan.
He later claimed the regular-season scoring title on February 7, 2023, when he broke Abdul-Jabbar’s record of 38,387 points. His relentless consistency has fueled his historic scoring legacy.
James continues to set records with unmatched consistency. With his performance against the Clippers, he extended his streak of scoring at least 10 points to 1,277 consecutive games, the longest in NBA history.
His latest Western Conference Player of the Month award—his 41st—further cements his dominance, making him the oldest player to win the honor, surpassing 37-year-old Karl Malone in 2000.
