LeBron James has scored the 50,000th point in his NBA career. He entered the Lakers’ Tuesday game against the Pelicans needing just one point, and he didn’t need much time to get it.
The 40-year-old star was already the all-time regular-season points leader in NBA history. His first basket Tuesday moved him past 50,000 for his career, regular season and postseason combined, making him the first player to reach that mark.
James entered Los Angeles’ Sunday game needing 18 points to hit the milestone but scored just 17. That kept NBA fans waiting a few extra days, but as James has never gone scoreless in a game, it was all but assured James would break through the next time he took the court.
And he did.
Here are the best reactions to James becoming the first player in NBA history to clinch this milestone.
SN’s NBA HQ: Live NBA scores | Updated NBA standings | Full NBA schedule
LeBron James eclipses 50,000 points
Here is the score that helped James get past 50,000 points.
He entered the game needing just one point to hit the career mark. Fans in attendance were clamoring for James to get the ball, but the Lakers didn’t force it to him. Instead, they played their normal game plan with James assisting an alley-oop before even attempting a shot. Los Angles held a 10-6 lead before James even attempted his first shot.
When James did shoot, he found himself covered beyond the arc, but he still swished the contested 3-pointer.
LEBRON JAMES STARTS THE 50,000 POINTS CLUB 🚨👑
Counting regular season & playoffs…
Another spectacular feat for @KingJames! 👏 pic.twitter.com/7IP9MeQ0lz
— NBA (@NBA) March 5, 2025
Reactions to LeBron James reaching 50,000 points
Mr. 50k pic.twitter.com/xcKRNcZnKX
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) March 5, 2025
LeBron James tribute during the timeout for reaching 50,000 points (reg season and playoffs). No other player has done so. pic.twitter.com/pIlKCwVLVj
— David Mendez-Yapkowitz (@Dave_Yapkowitz) March 5, 2025
IN A LEAGUE OF HIS OWN 👑👑
LeBron James becomes the first player to reach 50,000 career points (combined regular season & playoffs)! https://t.co/ZWTt7aYuwy pic.twitter.com/oa8Vxg99ac
— NBA (@NBA) March 5, 2025
50,000 AND COUNTING FOR THE KING 👑
LeBron James becomes the first player in NBA history to reach 50K career points 🔥 pic.twitter.com/0lw05czMTg
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) March 5, 2025
A lot of years, a lot of buckets 👑
LeBron James becomes the first player in NBA history to reach 50k points (regular season & playoffs) pic.twitter.com/1gFL1J0Lbq
— The Sporting News (@sportingnews) March 5, 2025
No athlete has ever lived up to the seemingly impossible expectations set for them quite like LeBron James has.
— Chris Castellani (@Castellani2014) March 5, 2025
Think about how lucky are we to exist at the same time as LeBron James 🥹 pic.twitter.com/L1KzQy79TT
— betr (@betr) March 5, 2025
50K CAREER POINTS for the #ScoringKing in the regular season and playoffs combined!
Congrats, LeBron 👑 pic.twitter.com/jseDpQwucc
— NBA (@NBA) March 5, 2025
1 of 1 🐐 pic.twitter.com/sY4C9J3Crn
— betr (@betr) March 5, 2025
Father-son duos with 50,000+ points:
LeBron & Bronny James
End of listpic.twitter.com/ji7rwXiGv3
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) March 5, 2025
“Dad, how good was LeBron James?” pic.twitter.com/KtpY0c97AR
— LeBron History 🏀 (@bronhistory) March 5, 2025
