LOS ANGELES — LeBron James is on the verge of making NBA history as he is set to become the first player ever to score a remarkable 50,000 combined points across both the regular season and the playoffs. If James steps onto the court this Tuesday night, he will need only a single point to achieve this record while the Los Angeles Lakers face off against the New Orleans Pelicans.
James came into the game with a total of 49,999 points following a Sunday night performance where he contributed 17 points in the Lakers’ victory over the Clippers with a score of 108-102, marking their sixth consecutive win. At 40 years old, James has already become the highest-scoring player in the history of NBA for both regular and postseason games, rewriting the history books with his longevity and unmatched skills on the court.
As James approaches his 50,000-point milestone, he does so deep into his 22nd season, equaling Vince Carter’s record for most seasons played in the NBA. Meanwhile, Lakers legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who participated in 20 seasons, remains second in combined points with a total of 44,149.
While nearly all NBA players see a significant decrease in performance upon reaching their late 30s, James defies expectations by maintaining his effectiveness into his 40s. He was honored as the NBA’s Western Conference player of the month earlier Tuesday, following an impressive February in which he averaged 29.3 points, 10.5 rebounds, 6.9 assists, and 1.2 steals. He also played more than 35 minutes per game, leading the Lakers to a 9-2 record and propelling them to second place in the Western Conference.
James embarked on Tuesday ranking third in NBA history with 1,547 regular-season games, surpassed only by Robert Parish (1,611) and Abdul-Jabbar (1,560). Should he remain injury-free and choose to return for an unprecedented 23rd season, he stands a good chance of surpassing Parish’s tally by next winter.
Additionally, James holds the record for most postseason games with 287 appearances. He ascended to the top of the league’s career playoff scoring list on May 25, 2017, surpassing Michael Jordan’s tally of 5,987 points during an Eastern Conference finals game with the Cleveland Cavaliers against Boston.
James then clinched the top spot for all-time regular-season scoring on February 7, 2023, surpassing Abdul-Jabbar’s record of 38,387 points during a game against Oklahoma City. His success in scoring consistently is a testament to his incredible reliability; James has scored at least 10 points in 1,277 consecutive games since January 6, 2007, a record streak unparalleled in NBA history.
Winning the player of the month award for February became James’ 41st such recognition, breaking his own league record. Additionally, this accolade makes him the oldest recipient of the award, outranking the previous record held by a 37-year-old Karl Malone in November 2000.
