LeBron James Sets NBA Record: First Player To Reach 50,000 Career Points

LeBron James has set yet another historic benchmark in basketball, becoming the first player in NBA history to surpass 50,000 combined career points. The Los Angeles Lakers superstar achieved this incredible feat on Tuesday, further solidifying his legacy as the league’s all-time leading scorer.

LeBron James’ Historic Achievement

Heading into the game against the New Orleans Pelicans, James had accumulated 49,999 total points across both regular-season and playoff games. It took just moments for the 40-year-old basketball icon to cross the monumental threshold.

James received a precise pass from Luka Doncic and executed a flawless 25-foot three-pointer, pushing his career tally to 50,002 points. The Crypto.com Arena erupted in thunderous applause as fans celebrated the unparalleled achievement.

Breaking Long-Standing Records

LeBron James had already surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s previous all-time regular-season scoring record of 38,387 points in 2023—a record that had endured for 39 years. With his latest milestone, James now sits nearly 6,000 points ahead of Abdul-Jabbar’s combined career total of 44,149 points.

Other all-time leading scorers in NBA history include:

Karl Malone – 41,689 points
Kobe Bryant – 39,283 points
Michael Jordan – 38,279 points

Among active players, Kevin Durant ranks closest to James, but remains approximately 15,000 points behind with just over 35,000 points.

Reactions from NBA Legends

Lakers icon Earvin Magic Johnson was among the first to congratulate James on social media. “Congratulations to the King, LeBron James, for becoming the only player in NBA history to score 50,000 combined regular season and playoff points!” Johnson posted on X.

This latest record adds to James’ growing list of accolades. Earlier on Tuesday, he was named the Western Conference Player of the Month for February, making him the oldest player in NBA history to receive the award. James led the Lakers to a 10-2 record that month, averaging an impressive 29.3 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 6.9 assists per game.

Lakers’ Championship Aspirations

James’ stellar form has propelled the Lakers on a dominant six-game winning streak, pushing them into second place in the Western Conference standings. The team is now eyeing another NBA championship, their first since the pandemic-disrupted 2020 season.

As James continues to defy age and expectations, basketball fans worldwide are left wondering: How much higher can the King climb?