LeBron James is on the brink of achieving a seemingly unimaginable feat: scoring 50,000 points.
Already celebrated as the leading scorer in NBA history for both the regular season and playoffs, LeBron has racked up an astonishing 49,999 combined points during his NBA tenure.
Tuesday night promises to be historic as LeBron is poised to hit this 50,000-point milestone, a figure so grand that no other player stands within 5,000 points of it. This achievement will undoubtedly cement his legendary status even further. Let’s take a closer look at what this milestone means for LeBron.
LeBron James’ Career Points
In the domain of regular-season scoring, LeBron reigns supreme with a breathtaking 41,837 points. This makes him the sole player in NBA history to surpass 40,000 regular-season points. Adding another accolade to his impressive career, he boasts 8,162 playoff points, outscoring anyone else who has set foot on the court in postseason games.
In total, that’s an impressive 49,999 points.
When Will LeBron James Reach 50,000 Career Points?
He’s likely to hit this incredible benchmark early in Tuesday night’s game against the New Orleans Pelicans. Averaging 24.8 points per game this season, LeBron needs just one more point to surpass the 50,000 mark. You can bet that Luka Doncic and the rest of the Lakers squad are fully aware of this and will be making sure LeBron gets plenty of opportunities to score early on.
LeBron James vs. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: Career Points
Any discussion about the greatest of all time (GOAT) in NBA history is incomplete without mentioning Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who once held what seemed like an unbreakable record with 38,387 regular-season points.
But on February 7, 2023, in an unforgettable moment with Abdul-Jabbar watching, LeBron overtook him with a classic fadeaway jumper to claim the top spot in NBA history. Reaching 50,000 combined regular-season and playoff points further bolsters his GOAT argument, solidifying his standing as a long-lasting staple in high-level play throughout NBA history.
NBA All-Time Scoring List (Regular Season and Playoffs)
Here’s a look at the NBA all-time scoring list, which includes both regular season and playoff games:
- LeBron James 49,999
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 44,149
- Karl Malone 41,689
- Kobe Bryant 39,283
- Michael Jordan 38,279
- Dirk Nowitzki 35,223
- Kevin Durant 35,191
- Wilt Chamberlain 35,026
- Julius Erving 34,606
- Shaquille O’Neal 33,846
- Moses Malone 31,793
- Tim Duncan 31,668
- James Harden 30,879
- Hakeem Olajuwon 30,701
- Dan Issel 30,416
LeBron James’ Career Stats, Awards, and Records
LeBron’s career is nothing short of extraordinary:
- Four-time NBA champion
- Four-time MVP
- 20-time All-NBA team member (soon to be 21)
- 21-time All-Star
- Six-time All-Defensive team honoree
- 2008 league scoring champion
Over 22 seasons, LeBron has maintained impressive averages of 27 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 7.4 assists per game with a shooting percentage of 50.7% (including 35% from beyond the arc). Not to forget, he has also clinched three Olympic gold medals with Team USA, the latest victory coming last summer in the Paris Olympics.
What Other Records Can LeBron Challenge?
While 50,000 points is awe-inspiring, LeBron has his sights on a few more records before his illustrious career concludes.
He’s currently third in the number of regular-season games played, clocking in at 1,547 games, just 13 games shy of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s second-place rank of 1,560. Robert Parish, Celtic’s legend, holds the all-time record with 1,611 games—a tally LeBron could potentially surpass if he decides to continue playing through next season and stays in good health.
Additionally, he is just two 30-point games away from tying with Michael Jordan, who holds the record for having the most games with 30 or more points at 562.
