LeBron James has etched his name deeper into basketball history by becoming the first player in NBA history to score 50,000 career points. The Los Angeles Lakers superstar achieved the milestone during Tuesday’s game against the New Orleans Pelicans, further solidifying his status as the league’s all-time leading scorer.
The 40-year-old NBA icon entered the game with 49,999 points after a 17-point performance in Sunday’s win over the Los Angeles Clippers. It took him just moments to reach the historic mark, as he drained a 25-foot three-pointer off a pass from Luka Doncic, sending the Crypto.com Arena crowd into a frenzy.
James, who is in the 22nd season of his illustrious career, continues to defy age with his exceptional performances. He previously surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s all-time regular-season scoring record of 38,387 points in 2023, a record that had stood for 39 years.
With 50,002 points, James now holds a commanding lead over other NBA legends. He is nearly 6,000 points ahead of Abdul-Jabbar’s total career points tally of 44,149. Karl Malone sits in third place with 41,689 points, followed by the late Kobe Bryant with 39,283 points. Michael Jordan rounds out the top five with 38,279 points.
Among active NBA players, only Kevin Durant, with just over 35,000 points, makes the top 10, trailing James by approximately 15,000 points.
LeBron’s latest milestone is a testament to his longevity, skill, and dedication to the game, further cementing his legacy as one of the greatest basketball players of all time.
