- LeBron James became the first player to reach 50,000 combined points in the NBA, Tuesday, March 4. He hit the milestone on his first shot, a three-pointer, against the New Orleans Pelicans.
- The record is a combination of points scored in the regular season and playoffs. James was already the career leader in both categories.
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is second on the list, more than 5,000 points behind James.
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Add another entry into the record books for Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James. On his first shot Tuesday night, March 4, against the New Orleans Pelicans James sank a three-pointer becoming the first player in NBA history to reach 50,000 combined points.
He finished the game with 34 points in the 136-115 win. The Lakers have won seven straight games and have moved into second place in the Western Conference.
What is the combined points milestone?
The record is a combination of points scored in the regular season and the post season. James is already the all-time leader in both with 41,871 scored in the regular season and 8,126 in the playoffs.
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“I mean, that’s a lot of points,” James said during his post-game media session. “Obviously, the first thing that comes to mind is where I’m from. Picking up the game when I was a little kid and having a love for the sport and hoping that someday I’d be able to play at the highest level. I’ve been able to do that and really enjoy my career. So, it’s definitely an honor. It’s pretty cool to see that.”
When will Father Time catch James?
In his 22nd season the 40-year-old shows no signs of slowing down. Just hours earlier he was named the league’s Western Conference player of the month. In February, he averaged 29.3 points, 10. 5 rebounds and 6.9 assists to lead the Lakers to a 9-2 record. He also played more than 35 minutes per game during that stretch.
His new superstar running mate Luka Doncic, acquired in a blockbuster deal with Dallas Feb. 1, was in awe of a player 14 years his senior.
“It’s amazing, watching him do this stuff at this age,” Doncic said. “It’s just unbelievable, that 50,000 points. I can’t even explain how insane that is. He might get to 70,000. You never know.”
All-time combined points leaders
- LeBron James: 50,033.
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: 44,149.
- Karl Malone: 41,689.
- Kobe Bryant: 39,283.
- Michael Jordan: 38,279.
- Kevin Durant: 35,225.
The next closest player on the list is Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who retired in 1989 after 20 years in the league. He’s more than 5,000 points behind James. The top active player closest to James is 17-year-veteran Kevin Durant, who has 35,225 points.
What keeps James going?
When asked what has allowed him to play at such a high level for so long, James said it’s more than just a love for the game.
“Just not falling out of love with the process,” James said. “Continuing to fall in love with the process, that’s the hardest thing, every single year. You know it’s going to be a long season. It’s 82 games, 41 of them are on the road. It’s a lot of travel. And as you get older, it affects you even differently. If you have a family, it affects you even differently. So, the process. Trying not to fall out of love with the process is the hardest thing.”
