LeBron James cemented his legacy in basketball history on Tuesday by becoming the first NBA player to reach 50,000 career points, further solidifying his position as the league’s all-time leading scorer.
The Los Angeles Lakers icon entered the game against the New Orleans Pelicans with 49,999 combined regular-season and playoff points, just one shy of the historic milestone. It took mere moments for the 40-year-old veteran to make history, sinking a 25-foot three-pointer off a pass from Luka Doncic to thunderous applause at Crypto.com Arena.
James, now in his 22nd NBA season, had already shattered Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s longstanding regular-season scoring record of 38,387 points in 2023—a feat once thought nearly insurmountable. With this latest milestone, James extends his lead over Abdul-Jabbar’s total career tally of 44,149 points, placing himself nearly 6,000 points ahead.
Trailing far behind him on the all-time list are Karl Malone (41,689 points), the late Kobe Bryant (39,283), and Michael Jordan (38,279). Among active players, only Kevin Durant has surpassed the 35,000-point mark—still a staggering 15,000 points behind James.
With no signs of slowing down, James continues to redefine the limits of longevity and excellence in professional basketball, setting a benchmark that may never be eclipsed.
