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LeBron James has once again etched his name in the annals of NBA history, becoming the first player to accumulate over 50,000 combined points in both the regular season and playoffs.
This milestone was achieved during the early moments of the Los Angeles Lakers’ game against the New Orleans Pelicans, where James converted a three-pointer. Over his illustrious career, which spans 22 years, he has recorded 41,840 points in regular-season games and an additional 8,162 points in postseason play.
In 2023, James overtook the legendary Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to take hold of the all-time regular-season scoring record, which stood at 38,387 points. Just a year later, he became the first player ever to surpass 40,000 points in regular-season play.
James’ scoring prowess sets him apart significantly; the next active player on the all-time list, Kevin Durant, has achieved 35,191 points when combining his regular-season and playoff totals. This gives James a lead of nearly 15,000 points over Durant, highlighting his remarkable scoring consistency throughout his career.
As a member of the Lakers, James joins an elite group of players among the franchise’s all-time scoring leaders. This list includes Abdul-Jabbar, Karl Malone, Kobe Bryant, Wilt Chamberlain, and Jerry West, all of whom rank prominently in the league’s scoring history.
James’ achievements enhance his legacy, which already includes four NBA Championships, four MVP Awards, and 13 selections to the All-NBA First Team. He also holds the record for the most All-Star Game selections at 21.
In addition to being the NBA’s top scorer, James ranks among the top 10 in several other categories, including:
- Games Played (No. 3 with 1,547)
- Assists (No. 4 with 11,481)
- Steals (No. 6 with 2,326)
- Defensive Rebounds (No. 7 with 9,845)
- Field Goals Made (No. 2 with 15,360)
- Three-Pointers Made (No. 7 with 2,535)
- Free Throws Made (No. 2 with 8,582)
James’ career began on October 30, 2003, marking his first NBA game where he set a rookie record by scoring 25 points in his debut.
Since then, he has continued to amaze fans and live up to his titles of “King James” and “The Chosen One.” His journey has taken him from the Cleveland Cavaliers, where he spent his first seven seasons, to the Miami Heat, where he claimed his first two NBA Championships. In a triumphant return to the Cavaliers, he led the team to its first-ever NBA Championship in 2016.
After a successful four seasons in Cleveland, James transitioned to the Los Angeles Lakers in 2018. Notably, he became the first player in NBA history to claim championships with three different franchises, achieving this when the Lakers defeated the Heat in the 2020 NBA Finals.
Now, in his 22nd season, a record-tying tenure in the league, James is currently averaging 24.8 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 8.6 assists per game, solidifying his status as one of the all-time greats in basketball history.
Source
www.cbsnews.com