LeBron James first player in NBA history to score 50,000 points

LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers shoots a 3-point basket to score his 50,002 NBA regular season and playoff career points during the first half against Zion Williamson #1 of the New Orleans Pelicans at Crypto.com Arena on March 04, 2025 in Los Angeles, California, US. — AFP

LeBron James became the first player in NBA history to score 50,000 career points on Tuesday, extending his lead as the league’s all-time record scorer by reaching a milestone tally that may never be surpassed.

The Los Angeles Lakers superstar went into the game against the New Orleans Pelicans with 49,999 regular and postseason points after a 17-point performance in Sunday’s win over the Los Angeles Clippers.

It did not take long for the 40-year-old NBA icon to get the solitary point needed to reach the 50,000-point barrier.

Video board displaying 50,000 career point milestone for Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) after scoring a three point basket against the against the New Orleans Pelicans during the first half at Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, California, USA, March 4, 2025. — Reuters

James, who is in dazzling form in the 22nd season of a glittering career, gathered a pass from Luka Doncic and unfurled a sublime 25-foot three-pointer to move to 50,002 points with the Crypto.com Arena crowd roaring their acclaim.

James had passed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s previous all-time regular-season scoring record of 38,387 points in 2023 — itself a record that had stood for 39 years.

James is now nearly 6,000 points clear of Abdul-Jabbar’s total career points tally of 44,149, with Karl Malone third (41,689 points) and the late Kobe Bryant fourth with 39,283 points.

Michael Jordan is fifth on the all-time scoring list with 38,279.

Among active NBA players, only Kevin Durant with just over 35,000 points — roughly 15,000 points behind James — makes the top 10.