LeBron James added yet another historic achievement to his unmatched NBA career on Tuesday night, becoming the first player in league history to score 50,000 combined regular season and playoff points. The milestone came in the first quarter of the Los Angeles Lakers’ home game against the New Orleans Pelicans, when James sank a three-pointer, sending the crowd at Crypto.com Arena into a frenzy.
The 40-year-old entered the game sitting at 49,999 career points — a combination of his regular season and playoff totals. With his signature deep shot, he pushed past the monumental 50,000-point mark, further solidifying his legacy as one of the greatest players in NBA history.
This latest feat is just one in a long line of records for James, who already owns the all-time regular season scoring record, surpassing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s 39-year mark in February 2023. On top of that, James has held the all-time playoff scoring record since May 2017, when he surpassed Michael Jordan.
What’s remarkable is how James continues to dominate well into his 22nd NBA season. Named the Western Conference Player of the Month for February, James extended his league-record tally to 41 monthly awards — three of which have come with the Lakers. He also set a new benchmark by becoming the oldest player ever to win the honor at 40, surpassing the previous record held by Karl Malone, who won the award at age 37 while playing for the Utah Jazz in November 2000.
LeBron’s brilliance has been a key driver behind the Lakers’ recent resurgence. The team has been in red-hot form since acquiring superstar guard Luka Doncic from the Dallas Mavericks in a blockbuster trade that sent Anthony Davis to Dallas. The new-look Lakers have gelled quickly, riding a six-game winning streak into Tuesday’s clash with New Orleans.
The surge has propelled the Lakers to second place in the highly competitive Western Conference, with LeBron seamlessly blending his veteran leadership with Doncic’s youthful creativity.
For James, the 50,000-point milestone is a testament to his remarkable longevity, consistency, and ability to evolve his game over more than two decades. As the NBA legend continues to rewrite the history books, his focus now turns to helping the Lakers chase another championship — one that could further cement his already unparalleled legacy.
