LeBron James became the first player in NBA history to reach 50,000 career points during a game against the New Orleans Pelicans, achieving the milestone with his first shot, a 3-pointer from Luka Doncic. He finished the game with 34 points, leading the Lakers to a 136-115 victory. In doing so, he solidified his status as the all-time leader in regular-season and postseason scoring with a combined 50,033 points (41,871 regular season, 8,162 playoffs). James, who is averaging 26.4 points since turning 40, expressed gratitude for his career and emphasized the importance of loving the game amidst ongoing challenges.
LOS ANGELES — On Tuesday night, the Lakers’ 40-year-old superstar, LeBron James, made history as the NBA’s first player to score 50,000 points.
Entering the game against the New Orleans Pelicans, James needed just one point to hit the 50,000 mark in total points across regular season and playoffs. He achieved this milestone with his first shot, nailing a 3-pointer from the left wing, assisted by Luka Doncic, to give the Lakers a 13-6 lead with 8:34 left in the first quarter.
During the subsequent timeout, Lakers public address announcer Lawrence Tanter announced the historic achievement, stating to the crowd, “Ladies and gentlemen, we’ve just witnessed history.”
James ended the game with 34 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists, contributing to Los Angeles’ 136-115 victory. The Lakers have now won 17 out of their last 20 games, propelling them into second place in the Western Conference with a record of 39-21.
James stands as the league’s all-time leader in scoring, both in regular-season and playoff games, with 41,871 points recorded in the regular season and 8,162 points in the postseason.
“It’s a tremendous achievement, and I feel incredibly blessed to have accumulated that many points in the best league in the world alongside the greatest players throughout my career,” James remarked during an on-court interview with Spectrum SportsNet after the game. “It feels quite special.”
In 28 games since turning 40, he is averaging 26.4 points on 54.1% shooting (42.3% from 3), alongside 8.2 rebounds and 8.1 assists.
James recently posted a graphic on Instagram highlighting how his current averages are quite comparable to those from his MVP season in 2012-13, where he averaged 26.8 points on 56.5% shooting (40.6% from 3), with 8.0 rebounds and 7.2 assists while playing for the Miami Heat.
“I’ve been fortunate enough to play the game I love, and I’ve always maintained my commitment to it; thus, I will continuously strive to give back,” James shared on Tuesday night.
Shooting 10-of-18 from the floor and 5-of-10 from beyond the arc, James recorded better than 50% shooting for the sixth time in his last seven games. Doncic scored 30 points with a shooting line of 9-of-19 (6-of-13 from 3), adding 15 assists and 8 rebounds, as both he and James became the first duo of Lakers teammates to each score at least 30 points with five or more three-pointers in the same game in franchise history.
“It’s incredible,” Doncic said regarding James’ achievement. “Seeing him perform at this level at his age is just mind-blowing. 50K points is an unfathomable milestone. He could even reach 70K, you never know.”
This 22-year veteran hit the 50,000-point milestone just hours after being honored as the Western Conference Player of the Month for February, where he averaged 29.3 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 6.9 assists, with L.A. going 10-2 during that span.
“We’re in our current position largely due to his level of play,” Lakers coach JJ Redick stated prior to the Pelicans game. “This is true for both his offensive and defensive contributions.”
Redick also noted that the Lakers might not have had the opportunity to celebrate James’ 50,000th point if the league had accurately recorded the points James accumulated in recent seasons with the new schedule adjustments.
In three play-in tournament games (2021, 2023, 2024), James scored a total of 75 points. Those points have not been counted towards his playoff total. Additionally, in the in-season tournament championship game in 2023, he scored 24 points that are also excluded from his regular-season career total.
“I strongly believe that those single-game scenarios in the play-in tournament are indeed playoff games,” Redick stated. “I think those contributions should definitely be recognized in the playoffs.”
While Doncic’s hypothetical 70,000-point benchmark may be ambitious for James, the Lakers’ veteran did reflect on what has enabled him to maintain his competitive edge for so long.
“It’s all about staying in love with the game and the process,” James explained. “Continuing to love the process is the most difficult aspect every single year. You know that the season will be long—82 games, 41 of which are away. It’s a considerable amount of travel. As you age, it affects you differently, especially if you have a family. Thus, staying passionate about the process is the biggest challenge.”