- LeBron James becomes the first player in NBA history to reach 50,000 career points.
- The Lakers superstar extends his all-time scoring record, nearly 6,000 points ahead of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
- James’ milestone comes amid a stellar season, leading the Lakers on a six-game winning streak.
LeBron James made history on Tuesday, becoming the first player in NBA history to surpass 50,000 career points, further cementing his status as the league’s all-time leading scorer.
The Los Angeles Lakers superstar entered the game against the New Orleans Pelicans needing just one point to reach the milestone, having totaled 49,999 regular and postseason points after a 17-point outing in Sunday’s win over the Clippers.
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It took the 40-year-old icon only moments to achieve the feat. Collecting a pass from Luka Doncic, James calmly drained a deep 25-foot three-pointer, sending the Crypto.com Arena crowd into a frenzy.
James had already rewritten the record books in 2023 when he surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s long-standing regular-season scoring mark of 38,387 points—a record that had endured for 39 years. Now, with over 50,000 total points, he stands nearly 6,000 clear of Abdul-Jabbar’s combined tally of 44,149.
Following James on the all-time scoring list are Karl Malone (41,689), the late Kobe Bryant (39,283), and Michael Jordan (38,279). Among active players, only Kevin Durant—who has just over 35,000 points—ranks in the top 10, sitting roughly 15,000 points behind James.
Tributes poured in for the Lakers star, with franchise legend Magic Johnson leading the praise.
“Congratulations to the King, LeBron James, for becoming the only player in NBA history to score 50,000 regular season and playoff points!” Johnson posted on X.
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The milestone capped off an eventful day for James, who also set another NBA record earlier on Tuesday. He was named Western Conference Player of the Month for February, making him the oldest player to ever claim the award.
James was instrumental in the Lakers’ impressive 10-2 run last month, averaging 29.3 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 6.9 assists. His outstanding form has propelled the team on a six-game winning streak, lifting them into second place in the Western Conference standings as they push for their first championship since the pandemic-disrupted 2020 season.
