LeBron James continues to redefine NBA history. Already the league’s all-time leading scorer, the Los Angeles Lakers superstar achieved another monumental feat on Tuesday night, becoming the first player in NBA history to surpass 50,000 combined career points across the regular season and playoffs.
James hit the milestone early in the Lakers’ commanding 136-115 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans at Crypto.com Arena. Midway through the first quarter, he buried a three-pointer from the wing, sealing his place in the record books. This achievement comes just two days after he fell a point short of the mark in the Lakers’ win over the Clippers, finishing Sunday night at 49,999 points.
The 50,000-point club is an exclusive one—so exclusive that James is its only member. He surpassed Michael Jordan’s all-time playoff scoring record in 2017 and has amassed over 8,100 postseason points. In 2023, he overtook Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s regular-season record of 38,387 points, further cementing his legacy.
To put his scoring dominance into perspective, Abdul-Jabbar finished his career with 44,149 points, and only three players in history have ever reached the 40,000 mark. Kevin Durant is the closest among active players, but with just over 35,000 combined points, he remains far from James’ orbit.
Despite entering the twilight of his illustrious career, James shows no signs of slowing down. The 39-year-old has been on a tear this season, averaging 24.8 points, 8.6 assists, and eight rebounds per game while shooting nearly 52% from the field. Since turning 40 on December 30, he has registered multiple 40-point performances—something only Michael Jordan had done at that age, though Jordan accomplished it just once.
James delivered another masterful performance against the Pelicans, finishing with 34 points, eight rebounds, and six assists. The Lakers’ dominant victory pushed them to a 39-21 record on the season. Luka Dončić also played a key role in the historic night, dishing the assist on James’ milestone basket while recording an impressive 30-point, 15-assist stat line.
He joined an elite club of Lakers legends—Magic Johnson, Jerry West, and James himself—who have achieved that feat. Jaxson Hayes contributed 19 points and 10 rebounds on a flawless 8-for-8 shooting performance.
Conversely, Zion Williamson led the Pelicans with 37 points and six assists, but his efforts weren’t enough to prevent New Orleans from slipping to 17-45 on the season. Trey Murphy added 19 points, while Jordan Hawkins provided a spark off the bench with 17.
As James embarks on his 22nd season, speculation looms over how long he will continue playing. However, one thing is sure—his scoring record may stand for generations to come, with no active player even remotely close to challenging his unprecedented mark.