LeBron James becomes first NBA player to score 50,000 career points

Basketball star, LeBron James, made history once again Tuesday night, becoming the first player in NBA history to reach 50,000 career points across both the regular season and playoffs.

The milestone came during the Los Angeles Lakers’ dominant 136-115 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans at Crypto.com Arena.

The four-time NBA champion entered the game needing just one point to reach the unprecedented mark. He achieved it early in the first quarter with a three-pointer, sending the home crowd into celebration.

With 41,837 points in the regular season and 8,162 in the playoffs prior to tipoff, James reached the game sitting at 49,999 combined career points.

After the game, the Lakers star reflected on the accomplishment.

“I’m not going to sit here and sugarcoat it – it’s a hell of a lot of points,” James told Spectrum SportsNet. “And I’m super blessed to be able to put that many points up in the best league in the world with the best players in the world over my career, so it’s pretty special.”

James led all scorers with 34 points on the night, bringing his career total to 50,033. No other player in league history is within 5,000 points of the mark. Hall of Fame center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the previous record-holder, finished his career with 44,149 combined points. Among active players, Phoenix Suns star Kevin Durant is the closest with 35,225 points after his team’s victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday.

Now in his 22nd season, James continues to defy expectations, averaging nearly 25 points, eight rebounds, and more than eight assists per game.

Earlier in the day, he was named Western Conference Player of the Month for February, making him the oldest player to ever win the award. His dominance at age 40 further extends his record to 41 career monthly honors.

This latest achievement adds to James’ unparalleled legacy. In 2023, he surpassed Abdul-Jabbar’s regular season scoring record before becoming the first player to reach 40,000 career points later that season. Earlier this year, he and his son, Bronny James, became the first father-son duo to share an NBA court.

The Lakers, meanwhile, have surged to second place in the Western Conference after winning 17 of their last 20 games. Their recent success has been fueled by James’ exceptional form and the midseason acquisition of Luka Dončić. The team is currently riding a seven-game winning streak, its longest since 2021.