LeBron James Makes History with 50,000th Career Point
LeBron James Makes History with 50,000th Career Point: LeBron James has established himself as one of the greatest players in NBA history, and on Tuesday night he added another milestone to his legendary career. During the Los Angeles Lakers’ dominant 136-115 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans at Crypto.com Arena, James became the first player in NBA history to score 50,000 points combined in the regular season and playoffs.
James reached 50,000 points in record time and wasted no time in achieving the historic mark. Midway through the first quarter, he hit a three-pointer from the wing, officially surpassing the 50,000-point mark in his career. The Lakers finished with 49,999 career points in Sunday night’s 106-102 victory over the Clippers. That historic moment unfolded before an electrifying home crowd on Tuesday.
James has been rewriting the NBA record books for years. He broke Michael Jordan’s all-time postseason scoring record in 2017 and surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s all-time regular season scoring record with 38,387 points in 2023. With more than 8,100 playoff points to his name, James is the all-time leading scorer in history.
Miles ahead of the competition, James has put a significant distance between himself and other NBA greats with 50,000 total points. Abdul-Jabbar finished his legendary career with a combined 44,149 points, becoming one of only three players in history to surpass 40,000 points. The only active player in the top 10 on the all-time scoring list is Kevin Durant, who has more than 35,000 points.
Still dominant at age 39, James continues to perform at a high level, even at this late stage of his career. Entering Tuesday, he was averaging 24.8 points, 8.6 assists and eight rebounds while shooting nearly 52% from the field. His ability to maintain this level of production throughout his career is virtually unmatched.
Since turning 40 on Dec. 30, James has recorded multiple games with 40 or more points. Michael Jordan is the only player in NBA history to have a 40-point game after 40 years old, a feat he has only accomplished once.
James finished with 34 points, eight rebounds and six assists on a historic night for the Lakers, leading the Lakers to their 39th win of the season. Luka Doncic also had a memorable night, adding 30 points and 15 assists. That string of stats made him the fourth player in Lakers history to post such numbers, joining James, Magic Johnson and Jerry West.
Jackson Hayes added a solid performance for the Lakers with 19 points and 10 rebounds, while shooting 8-of-8 from the field.
Meanwhile, Zion Williamson led the Pelicans with 37 points and six assists, while Trey Murphy added 19 points. Jordan Hawkins added 17 points off the bench, but it wasn’t enough to stop New Orleans from falling to 17-45 on the season.
The Legacy Continues Now in his 22nd NBA season, LeBron James continues to defy time. Selected as the first overall pick straight out of high school in 2003, he has built a career that will never be equaled. While it’s unclear how long he will continue to play, his scoring record looks nearly untouchable for future generations.
James’ latest milestone is a testament to his longevity, dominance, and impact on the game of basketball that will be remembered for decades to come.