The NBA GOAT argument continues. But here’s one thing we know: LeBron James is poised to make NBA history, standing just one point away from an extraordinary milestone: 50,000 career points combined across regular-season and playoff games. The Los Angeles Lakers superstar moved closer to this unprecedented achievement after scoring 17 points in Sunday night’s 108-102 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers.
The Lakers’ next game, set for Tuesday against the New Orleans Pelicans, will likely see James etch his name in the record books again. While he fell just short of the 18 points needed to reach the milestone on Sunday, his performance still played a crucial role in securing the win.
Despite shooting 6-of-17 from the field, James delivered a clutch three-pointer in the fourth quarter after the Clippers narrowed the Lakers’ lead to 93-88. The shot capped off a sequence where James missed three attempts but benefited from offensive rebounds that kept the possession alive. This marked his final basket of the night, as teammates Luka Dončić (29 points) and Dalton Knecht (19 points) took over to seal the victory.
James, already the NBA’s all-time leading scorer in regular-season points with 41,837, surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s long-standing record two years ago. He also holds the record for the most playoff points in league history, having eclipsed Michael Jordan’s mark in 2017 with 8,162 points and counting.
As the basketball world eagerly awaits Tuesday’s game, James’ pursuit of 50,000 career points underscores his unparalleled longevity and dominance. Once achieved, this milestone will further cement his legacy as one of the greatest players to ever step on the court.