LeBron James becomes first to score
50,000 combined points in NBA regular season and playoffs
[March 05, 2025]
By GREG BEACHAM
LOS ANGELES (AP) — LeBron James is well on his way to rewriting
every previous definition of basketball longevity, and the
40-year-old star is now racking up numbers the NBA has never seen
before.
James became the first player to score 50,000 combined points in the
regular season and postseason on Tuesday night, surpassing the mark
with a 3-pointer early in the first quarter of the Los Angeles
Lakers' 136-115 win over New Orleans.
James finished with 34 points against the Pelicans after toppling
another milestone in his unprecedented career.
“I mean, that's a lot of points,” James said afterward, rubbing his
beard in wonder. “Obviously, the first thing that comes to mind is
where I'm from. Picking up the game when I was a little kid and
having a love for the sport, and hoping that someday I'd be able to
play at the highest level. I've been able to do that and really
enjoy my career. So it's definitely an honor. It's pretty cool to
see that.”
James already is the top scorer in NBA history in both the regular
season and the playoffs. Maintaining a spectacular level of play
midway through his record-tying 22nd season, he is pulling away from
the other greats of the game: Lakers great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who
played 20 seasons, is a now-distant second with 44,149 combined
points.
James got his milestone 3-pointer off an assist by Luka Doncic, a
trivia tidbit that pleased both superstars. Doncic's arrival in last
month's seismic trade with the Dallas Mavericks has invigorated both
James and the Lakers, who look like championship contenders with a
seven-game winning streak and 17 victories in their last 20 games.
“It’s amazing, watching him do this stuff at this age,” said Doncic,
who had 30 points, 15 assists and eight rebounds against New
Orleans. “It’s just unbelievable, that 50K points. I can’t even
explain how insane that is. He might get to 70K. You never know.”
The Lakers recognized the milestone at the next timeout, with public
address announcer Lawrence Tanter saying: “Ladies and gentlemen, we
all have just witnessed history.” James acknowledged the standing
ovation with several waves from the bench.
James is tied with Vince Carter for the most seasons played in NBA
history. But while nearly every other NBA player who lasted to his
late 30s finished at a fraction of his peak powers, James’ game
shows no signs of decline in his 40s.
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Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James throws chalk in the air
before an NBA basketball game against the New Orleans Pelicans,
Tuesday, March 4, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
He was named the NBA’s Western Conference player of
the month earlier Tuesday after he averaged 29.3 points, 10.5
rebounds, 6.9 assists and 1.2 steals in February while playing more
than 35 minutes per game for the Lakers, who went 9-2 to surge into
second place in the West.
With their victory over the Pelicans, the Lakers improved to 11-2
since acquiring Doncic.
James has played in 1,548 regular-season games, trailing only Robert
Parish (1,611) and Abdul-Jabbar (1,560). If he stays healthy and
elects to return for a record 23rd season, he will likely surpass
Parish next winter.
James has also played in 287 postseason games, the most in NBA
history. He became the league's career playoff scoring leader on May
25, 2017, when he surpassed Michael Jordan's total of 5,987 during
the Cleveland Cavaliers' Eastern Conference finals game at Boston.
James then became the top scorer in regular-season history on Feb.
7, 2023, when he topped Abdul-Jabbar's record of 38,387 points
during the Lakers' game against Oklahoma City.
James' prolific scoring is due in large part to his metronomic
consistency. With his performance against the Pelicans, he has
scored at least 10 points in 1,278 consecutive games since Jan. 6,
2007 — by far the longest such streak in NBA history.
James' player of the month award for February was his 41st,
extending his own league record. He is also the oldest player to win
the award, surpassing a 37-year-old Karl Malone in November 2000.
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