LeBron James made NBA history by becoming the first player to surpass 50,000 combined points in regular-season and playoff games. The 40-year-old forward achieved this milestone early in the first quarter of the Los Angeles Lakers’ 136-115 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans, sinking a 25-foot three-pointer off a pass from Luka Doncic.
James, already the league’s all-time leading scorer, finished the game with 34 points, elevating his career total to 50,033 points—nearly 6,000 points ahead of second-place Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. His cumulative score comprises a record 41,837 regular-season points and 8,162 postseason points, making him the top scorer in both categories.
Reflecting on his achievement, James commented, “I’m super blessed to be able to put up that many points in my career in the best league in the world and against the best players in the world—it’s pretty special.”
In his 22nd season—tying him with Vince Carter for the most seasons played in NBA history—James continues to excel. He was recently named the NBA’s Western Conference Player of the Month, averaging 29.3 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 6.9 assists in February, becoming the oldest player to earn the award.
Teammate Luka Doncic contributed significantly to the win over the Pelicans, recording 30 points, 15 assists, and eight rebounds. This victory marked the Lakers’ seventh consecutive win, propelling them to second place in the Western Conference standings.
Following the game, Lakers legend Earvin “Magic” Johnson congratulated James on social media, writing, “Congratulations to the King LeBron James for becoming the only player in NBA history to score 50,000 regular season and playoff points!”