LeBron James has made history by becoming the first NBA player to reach 50,000 total career points.
The Los Angeles Lakers star achieved the unprecedented milestone during Tuesday's game against the New Orleans Pelicans.
James hit a three-pointer in the first quarter to reach the landmark figure, which combines his regular season and playoff scoring.
The 40-year-old's achievement adds another remarkable chapter to his storied career as he continues to redefine excellence in his 22nd NBA season.
LeBron James needed just one more point to break the milestone
Reuters
James entered the contest with 49,999 combined regular season and playoff points.
He wasted little time in reaching the milestone, draining a shot from deep midway through the first quarter.
The three-pointer came off a pass from teammate Luka Doncic on the left wing.
James had narrowly missed achieving the feat on Sunday, finishing the Lakers' 106-102 win over the Los Angeles Clippers with exactly 49,999 career points.
The 'King James' already holds the NBA's all-time regular season scoring record, which he claimed in February 2023.
That achievement broke Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's long-standing mark that had stood for 39 years.
The Akron, Ohio native is also the all-time playoff scoring leader with more than 8,100 points.
He took that title from Michael Jordan in May 2017.
James sits well ahead of his nearest competitors on the all-time combined scoring list, with Abdul-Jabbar finishing his career with 44,149 total points.
Despite being in the twilight of his career, James has shown no sign of slowing down.
LeBron James is still going strong at age 40
Reuters
He was named Western Conference Player of the Month for February, extending his league record to 41 monthly awards.
This makes him the oldest player to win the award, surpassing Karl Malone who was 37 when he achieved the feat with Utah Jazz in November 2000.
James is currently averaging 25.7 points, 9.1 assists and 8.1 rebounds per game this season.
He has even recorded multiple 40-point games since turning 40 in December.
LeBron James had already beaten Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's record in 2023
Reuters
The four-time NBA champion has helped transform the Lakers' fortunes in recent weeks.
Los Angeles has been on a tear since acquiring Luka Doncic from the Dallas Mavericks last month.
The team entered Tuesday's contest riding a six-game winning streak.
This impressive run has propelled the Lakers to second place in the Western Conference, where they are now tied with the Denver Nuggets.
The stunning trade, which saw Anthony Davis move to Dallas, has revitalised the team's championship aspirations.
