LeBron James, the Los Angeles Lakers forward, etched his name in the annals of NBA history by becoming the first player to score 50,000 combined points in regular season and playoff games. This remarkable achievement unfolded on Tuesday night during the Lakers' game against the New Orleans Pelicans, where James needed just a single point to reach this milestone.
James accomplished this feat with his first shot of the game, sinking a 3-pointer from the left wing off a Luka Doncic assist. This historic moment came shortly after he was named the NBA's Player of the Month for the Western Conference for February, further cementing his status as one of the greatest players in the league.
"Ladies and gentlemen, we all have just witnessed history."
Originates from: Lakers public address announcer Lawrence Tanter
James, a 22-year veteran, is the league's all-time leader in both regular-season and playoff points. Before facing the Pelicans, he had amassed 41,837 points in regular-season play and 8,162 points in the playoffs. The scoring prowess of James continues to shine, as evidenced by his recent Instagram post comparing his current averages to those of his last MVP season in 2012-13. During that season with the Miami Heat, he averaged 26.8 points on a shooting percentage of 56.5% (40.6% from 3-point range), along with 8.0 rebounds and 7.2 assists.
In contrast, coming into Tuesday's game, James had been averaging 26.1 points on 54.1% shooting (42.3% from 3-point range), with 8.2 rebounds and 8.1 assists in 27 games since turning 40. These statistics underscore his continued dominance on both ends of the court.
"We wouldn't be in the position we're in without him playing at the level he's been playing at, And that's offensively and defensively."
Originates from: Lakers coach JJ Redick
Throughout his career, James has consistently delivered stellar performances in crucial games. In the in-season tournament championship game in 2023, he scored 24 points, and in three play-in tournament games played by 2021, 2023, and 2024, he scored a combined total of 75 points. These accomplishments have not only contributed to his scoring totals but have also solidified his reputation as a clutch performer.
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