LeBron James scored his 50,000th point last night in the Los Angeles Lakers demolition of the New Orleans Pelicans 136-113. He needed only one point to eclipse 50,000 and hit a three-pointer from the left wing off a feed from Luka Doncic.
That score put the Lakers up 13-6 with 8:34 remaining in the first quarter. The Lakers, led by Doncic and James, are currently in second place in the Western Conference. They are 7-2 since acquiring the Serbian star. Do you think the Lakers will win the Western Conference?
LeBron James Scores 50,000 Points
Last night, James became the first player in the history of the National Basketball Association to score 50,000 points. He needed just one point to eclipse the mark, which encompasses both the regular and postseason. James finished with 34 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists in the win. They have won 17 of their last 20 to move into second place in the Western Conference at 39-21.
The record is a big deal, though James did not seem to care. He said, “It’s a hell of a lot of points, and I’m super blessed to be able to put that many points up in the best league in the world with the best players in the world over my career,” James told Spectrum SportsNet in an on-court interview after the game. “It’s pretty special.” It was an underwhelming reaction to eclipsing the 50,000-point mark.
Career Statistics
James has probably had the best career ever. His career has been even more impressive than all-time greats Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Michael Jordan. James has averaged 27.0 points per game in his 22 seasons. His statistics are transformational. He has nearly averaged a triple-double over his career with 7.5 rebounds and 7.4 assists as his career averages. That is impressive. The only player that rivals him for all-around greatness is Oscar Robertson.
James has played for three teams in his career. His moves between teams have been major network news. He started his career with the Cleveland Cavaliers before he “Took his talents to South Beach” before the 2010-2011 season. He played in Miami for four seasons before returning to Cleveland for four seasons. He has played in Los Angeles for the last seven years.
Lebron and Lakers Forecast
The Los Angeles Lakers are on fire since acquiring Doncic. They have risen to second place in the Western Conference. Considering the Lakers are 7-2 since acquiring Doncic and have risen like a rocket in the Western Conference standings, they may take over first place and become the top seed in the West. If that happens, they will be the favorites to win the NBA title because the Western Conference is so strong.
If that happens, or anything close, James may keep on playing. Why not win more championships? He seems revitalized like he has found the fountain of youth. He is 40 years old, an unprecedented age for a professional basketball player. Since he is not suffering from any serious or degenerative injuries, he could keep going. It is his choice.
Conclusion
James scored his 50,000th point last night. Though he may score 70,000 points as Doncic said after the game. We will see. One thing is for certain though. James’ career will end at some point. They always do. When it is over, it will have been the greatest basketball career ever.
