LeBron James made history simply by stepping on the court Thursday. Then, as he so often does, he took over late to seal another milestone. The Lakers’ 110-102 win over the Trail Blazers was yet another reminder of his unparalleled longevity and dominance.
With his start in Portland, James moved past Vince Carter into third place on the NBA’s all-time games played list. He now stands at 1,542 appearances, trailing only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1,560) and Robert Parish (1,611). If he stays healthy, James could surpass Abdul-Jabbar later this season and potentially become the all-time leader in 2025-26 which will be his 23rd season in the league.
James has already played more playoff games (287) than anyone in NBA history. But at 40 years old, he’s proving he’s far from just a veteran presence. He dominated the fourth quarter in Portland, scoring eight straight points when the game was still in the balance. With 5.2 seconds left, he iced the win at the free-throw line, capping off a 40-point performance.
It was the second time James has scored 40 or more since turning 40 on December 30, making him the only player in NBA history to achieve that feat multiple times. His first came on February 6 against the Warriors. The only other player to drop 40 past 40? Michael Jordan, who scored 43 for the Wizards in 2003.
James continues to defy age, setting records while still being the difference-maker for the Lakers. With more milestones on the horizon, his story is far from over.
