LeBron James made history by setting the record for the most regular-season games played in the NBA. His 1,612th appearance coincided with the Los Angeles Lakers’ dramatic 105-104 victory over the Orlando Magic.
James, now 41, surpassed Robert Parish’s 1997 record of 1,611 appearances. Luke Kennard’s three-pointer with just 0.6 seconds remaining sealed the win for the Lakers.
James Reflects on Milestone
“It just kind of happened. It was not on the list of things that I wanted to accomplish,” James said. The four-time NBA champion added, “I wanted to be the best player in this league at some point. I wanted to be one of the greatest, if not the greatest, to ever play this game. I wanted to be an NBA champion.”
James also stated his goals included winning rookie of the year, making All-Star appearances, winning a gold medal and MVP awards. He added, “But some of the stuff that’s just been happening over the course of the last few years has been super-duper cool.”
James, who is playing in his 23rd NBA season, contributed 12 points, six rebounds, four assists and three steals. He is also the NBA’s record points scorer.
“Availability, I’ve always wanted to be available to my team-mates,” added James. “It’s a mental toll, trying to play a lot and being out there. I just give a lot of praise to the man above and [it’s about] just loving the game and appreciating the game.”
Durant Surpasses Jordan in Scoring
Kevin Durant also achieved a milestone, moving past Michael Jordan to take fifth place on the NBA’s all-time scoring list in regular-season games. Durant’s 27-point display for the Houston Rockets saw him reach 32,294 points, two ahead of Jordan.
The Rockets secured a narrow 123-122 win against the Miami Heat. “It means a lot,” said Durant, who passed Jordan with a three-pointer in the fourth quarter. “I’m grateful to be here and for this incredible journey it’s been. I’m looking forward to continuing.”
Thunder’s Fiery Win Over Wizards
Elsewhere, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 40 points for the Oklahoma City Thunder in their 132-111 win against the Washington Wizards. Four players were ejected following a mass brawl near the end of the second quarter.
The Thunder’s Ajay Mitchell, Jaylin Williams and Cason Wallace were ejected, along with Washington’s Justin Champagnie. The Thunder remain top of the Western Conference.
The Lakers are third in the Western Conference. The Magic are eighth in the Eastern Conference. The Rockets are fourth in the Western Conference, while the Heat are ninth in the Eastern Conference. The Wizards are one place off the bottom in 14th place.