LeBron James has officially cemented his name in the NBA record books once again, becoming the league’s all-time leader in regular-season minutes played. The Los Angeles Lakers star celebrated the monumental achievement on Instagram with a nod to NBA legend Wilt Chamberlain. In the post, James recreated Chamberlain’s iconic “100-point game” photo, holding up a handwritten sign featuring his record-breaking total of 57,471 minutes.
The milestone sees James surpass Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s previous record of 57,446 minutes. At 39 years old, James continues to defy expectations, showcasing durability and dominance in his 22nd NBA season.
A career defined by longevity and excellence
LeBron James’ record-breaking achievement is just the latest in a career filled with unparalleled success. He remains the NBA’s all-time scoring leader with 41,040 points and is the only player to surpass 40,000 career points. This season, James is averaging 22.6 points, 9.0 assists, and 7.9 rebounds per game, with an impressive 35.0 minutes per game for the Lakers, who hold a 15-12 record and are seventh in the Western Conference standings.
James is also making his way up the list of most games played in NBA history. Currently fifth with 1,517 games, he has a realistic chance of climbing to second place by the end of the season. The Lakers’ 55 remaining games could allow him to surpass Abdul-Jabbar (1,560 games) and approach the all-time leader, Robert Parrish, who played 1,611 games.
Eyes on the future
While the minutes played accolade adds to James‘ illustrious legacy, his focus remains on team success. The Lakers have been gaining momentum, winning three of their last four games as they aim for a strong playoff push. Up next, they face the Sacramento Kings in a crucial road game on Saturday.
LeBron James continues to captivate the basketball world with his incredible longevity and impact. As he celebrates another historic milestone, fans and analysts alike can only marvel at his ongoing greatness and wonder what new records he might set next.