History was made on March 5th, 2025, when LeBron James became the first NBA player ever to surpass 50,000 combined career points. For those who already consider LeBron the greatest basketball player of all time, this remarkable milestone further solidifies his legendary status. This achievement adds yet another impressive record to his illustrious career.

Given King James’s exceptional skill set, relentless dedication to fitness, and crazy consistency throughout the years, it’s hardly surprising that he’s secured another unprecedented accomplishment. At 40 years old—an age when most players have retired or experienced a significant decline—LeBron continues to dominate on the court, demonstrating unmatched athleticism and basketball IQ, and redefining the standard for longevity and excellence in the NBA.

It’s safe to say that James has a massive following. Many people follow him as a player and some of them who are fans of online betting place bets on him and the matches he takes part in. He’s a pretty safe bet when you think of how exceptional a player he is.

When Did LeBron Pass 50,000 Points?

The historic moment when LeBron went over 50,000 points occurred in a matchup between his Los Angeles Lakers and the New Orleans Pelicans, which the Lakers comfortably won, 136-115. The milestone was reached early in the first quarter when James received a precise assist from teammate Luka Dončić and confidently drained a deep 25-foot three-pointer, sending fans at the Crypto.com Arena into a celebratory frenzy.

Entering the game, James stood tantalizingly close to the landmark, with 49,999 points. Throughout the contest, he contributed a dominant performance, adding 34 points to bring his total to an astounding 50,033—nearly 6,000 points ahead of the second-highest scorer in history, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

Further adding to the significance of this achievement is the fact that James is currently competing in his 22nd NBA season, tying him with Vince Carter for the most seasons played in league history. His impressive longevity and consistent performance are unprecedented; it’s one of the reasons why LeBron has had way more many career highs than career lows.  LeBron’s current contract with the Lakers extends through the conclusion of the 2025-26 season, after which he’ll become a free agent. At that point, he might choose to continue playing with the Lakers on short-term deals or potentially pursue an opportunity with another team.

Given his exceptional durability and skill, James will undoubtedly continue to accumulate points in the coming months and possibly years, further distancing himself from other scoring legends. LeBron remains non-committal about retirement plans; he may even be undecided himself. When he eventually steps away from the court, his extraordinary career total will stand as a monumental achievement, setting a bar that will be incredibly challenging for future generations to surpass.

Who Will Hit 50,000 Points Next?

Surpassing the 50,000-point milestone isn’t even an accomplishment that can be compared as only one player has reached it, and it’s highly unlikely that we’ll see another player achieve this feat anytime soon—perhaps not even in our lifetimes. Below is a look at the current top 10 scoring leaders, each outstanding in their own right, but with considerable distance to cover if they’re to approach LeBron’s unprecedented scoring mark.

Aside from James, the only active player on the list is Kevin Durant, who has 35,372 points. The 36-year-old, who currently plays for the Phoenix Suns, has competed in 18 seasons throughout his career. He hasn’t been scoring points as quickly as James, so if he makes it to 22 seasons, he more than likely won’t make it to 50,000. 

This just goes to show how remarkable it is that James managed to achieve what he did. What’s also worth mentioning is the significant difference between him and Abdul-Jabbar. No one has come close to reaching 50,000 until now, which further cements James’s status as one of the all-time greats.

Others Comment on the Achievement

James has said the following about passing the 50,000 points milestone: ‘I’m not going to sugar-coat it – it’s a hell of a lot of points. 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.’

Magic Johnson, a fellow Los Angeles Lakers and Mount Rushmore member, posted about James’s achievement on social media. He wrote on his X account: “Congratulations to the King LeBron James for becoming the only player in NBA history to score 50,000 regular season and playoff points!”

The official NBA X account also celebrated James’s feat with this post: ‘50K CAREER POINTS for the #ScoringKing in the regular season and playoffs combined! Congrats, LeBron.