Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James has made history once again, becoming the first player in NBA history to score a combined 50,000 points across the regular season and playoffs. The 40-year-old reached the milestone with a dominant performance, recording 34 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 steal, and 2 blocks in the Lakers’ 136-115 win over the New Orleans Pelicans.
James entered the game needing just one point to reach the 50,000-point mark. He hit the milestone on his first shot of the game—a three-pointer from the left wing off a pass from Luka Doncic—giving the Lakers a 13-6 lead with 8:34 left in the first quarter.
Earlier in the day, James was named the Western Conference Player of the Month for February after averaging 29.3 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 6.9 assists while leading the Lakers to a 10-2 record for the month.
Since turning 40, James has maintained an elite level of play, averaging 26.1 points on 54.1% shooting (42.3% from three), 8.2 rebounds, and 8.1 assists in 27 games. His current production is similar to his 2012-13 MVP season, when he averaged 26.8 points on 56.5% shooting (40.6% from three), 8.0 rebounds, and 7.2 assists for the Miami Heat.
James continues to break records, having become the first player in NBA history to reach 40,000 career points in March 2024. He also became the league’s all-time leading scorer in February 2023, surpassing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s long-standing record of 38,387 points. Since then, James has far exceeded Abdul-Jabbar’s total of 44,149 points. The only other player to surpass 40,000 points is Karl Malone, who finished his career with 41,689 points. Among active players, Kevin Durant is the closest to James, currently sitting at 35,191 points—still nearly 15,000 points behind.
At 40 years old, James continues to redefine longevity in the NBA, achieving historic milestones while still producing near-triple-double performances. With no signs of slowing down, he appears poised to extend his legendary career for several more seasons before retirement.
50k for King James 👑
— Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) March 5, 2025
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