On Tuesday night, LeBron James, who is already the NBA’s all-time top scorer, achieved yet another remarkable milestone that solidified his legendary position. James became the first player in league history to reach 50,000 points in both the regular season and the playoffs, in front of a roaring home crowd at Crypto.com Arena.
James had the night, even though the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the New Orleans Pelicans 136-115. Having already scored 41,837 points in the regular season and 8,162 points in the playoffs, the four-time NBA MVP and future Hall of Famer needed only one more point to reach the milestone going into the game. The audience erupted in celebration as he created history early in the first quarter with a three-pointer.
James Reflects on His Historic Achievement
James was open about the importance of hitting 50,000 points after the game.
“I’m not going to sit here and sugarcoat it – that’s a hell of a lot of points,” James told Spectrum SportsNet. “I feel incredibly blessed to have been able to score that many in the best league in the world, against the best players. It’s something truly special.”
With 34 points at the end of the game, James now has 50,033 points overall. This mark has never been reached by any other player in NBA history.
Where Does LeBron Stand Among the NBA’s All-Time Scorers?
James is unique because of his achievements. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who concluded his career with 44,149 points, almost 6,000 points behind LeBron, held the previous combined scoring record.
Kevin Durant is the closest challenger among active players, although he is still far from the mark. Durant had a significant lead over James going into Tuesday’s Phoenix Suns game against the Clippers, with a total of 35,191 points.
LeBron James, who is 40 years old and in his 22nd NBA season, is still one of the league’s most powerful players. He averages about 25 points, eight rebounds, and more than eight assists per game for the Los Angeles Lakers, despite approaching the end of his career.
James received the Western Conference Player of the Month award for February earlier on Tuesday, adding yet another honor to his illustrious resume. Throughout the month, the four-time NBA champion averaged 29.3 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 6.9 assists per game, collecting the award for the 41st time in history, becoming him the oldest player to do so.
Breaking Records and Making History
James spent his career to changing the definition of NBA longevity. Not only did he beat Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s regular-season scoring record in 2023, but he also left his rivals far behind. He cemented his position as the league’s all-time top scorer last season by becoming the first player to ever surpass 40,000 career points.
His impact goes beyond his own successes. In a historic father-son event earlier this season, James shared the court with his son, Bronny James, something that has never been done in the NBA before. The two added another remarkable chapter to LeBron’s illustrious career by becoming the first family to play together in an official game.
LeBron’s outstanding play and the Lakers’ historic midseason signing of Luka Dončić have made them the NBA’s most exciting team for the past month and a half. Los Angeles has a 17-3 record since Dončić arrived in February, including a 7-game winning streak that is their longest since 2021.
Following Tuesday’s victory, the Lakers jumped to the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference, positioning themselves as one of the league’s top title contenders. With James continuing to dominate and the team surging, the Lakers look poised for a deep playoff run.
LeBron James continues to defy expectations, rewriting history and guiding his team to victory even after 20 years in the league.
