LeBron James Becomes the First Player in NBA History to Reach 50,000 Career Points

LeBron James, already the NBA's all-time leading scorer, just added another incredible milestone to his legendary career. On Tuesday night, during the Lakers' 136-115 win over the New Orleans Pelicans at Crypto.com Arena, James became the first player in NBA history to score 50,000 career points, combining both regular season and playoffs.

A Historic Moment in the First Quarter

After coming up just one point short in the Lakers’ previous game against the Clippers, James wasted no time on Tuesday. Midway through the first quarter, he knocked down a three-pointer from the wing, officially crossing the 50,000-point threshold. The crowd erupted as history was made once again.

James had 49,999 career points entering the night after scoring 17 points against the Clippers on Sunday. While that game ended with a clutch block from James to seal the win, it meant his 50,000-point moment had to wait just a little longer.

The Only Member of the 50,000-Point Club

James continues to separate himself from the rest of the NBA’s greatest scorers. He broke Michael Jordan’s all-time playoff scoring record in 2017 and then surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s regular-season scoring record in 2023. Now, his 50,000 career points put him far ahead of everyone else on the all-time combined scoring list.

For comparison, Abdul-Jabbar finished his career with 44,149 total points. He remains one of just three players to surpass 40,000 points, alongside Karl Malone (41,689 points). Kevin Durant, the only other active player in the top 10, currently sits at just over 35,000 points—still far from James’ remarkable total.

LeBron’s Dominance at Age 39

Despite being in his 22nd NBA season, James is still playing at an elite level. Entering Tuesday's game, he was averaging 24.8 points, 8.6 assists, and 8 rebounds per game while shooting nearly 52% from the field. Since turning 40 on December 30, James has recorded multiple 40-point games. The only other player in NBA history to achieve that after turning 40? Michael Jordan—who did it just once.

James finished the historic night with 34 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists in the dominant win. Luka Dončić, who assisted on James’ milestone shot, also had a huge game with 30 points and 15 assists—joining Magic Johnson, Jerry West, and James himself as the only Lakers to ever post that statline.

How Long Will LeBron Keep Going?

With his 50,000-point milestone now secured, the question remains: How much longer will LeBron play? While he has shown no signs of slowing down, retirement will eventually come. However, one thing is certain—his scoring record may never be broken.

For now, King James continues to make history, rewriting the record books with every game.