How many games has LeBron James played in the NBA and how long did it take him to break Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's scoring record?
LeBron James is the NBA's all-time scoring leader. With 38 points against the OKC Thunder on Feb. 7, the LA Lakers forward surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and climbed all the way to the top of the scoring list.
This was James' 1,410th career game, which is very impressive considering the previous record holder appeared in 1,560 career games. However, it's important to note that this is a regular-season record.
LeBron has played in 266 playoff games in the postseason. In total, basketball fans have had a chance to watch the four-time MVP play in 1,676 games combined.
LeBron James needed fewer games than Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to break the record
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is one of the most prolific scorers in the history of the basketball league. Standing at 7-foot-2, the big man used a skyhook to punish his opponents and score easily over them.
The legendary center began his career with the Milwaukee Bucks, appearing in 467 games. During his tenure with the Eastern Conference team, Abdul-Jabbar averaged 30.4 points in six seasons, which was incredible.
The Hall of Famer spent the majority of his career playing for the LA Lakers. This is where he appeared in 1,093 games, averaging 22.1 points. Despite his low scoring average, Abdul-Jabbar won five championship rings and many other accolades in the City of Angels.
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LeBron, on the other hand, has played for three different teams. He's had two tenures with the Cleveland Cavaliers, the team that drafted him, and he's also played for the Miami Heat and the LA Lakers.
Here is the scoring breakdown of LeBron James' impressive career so far:
- Cleveland Cavaliers (849 games) - 23,119 points, 27.2 ppg
- Miami Heat (294 games) - 7,919 points, 26.9 ppg
- LA Lakers (267 games) - 7,352 points, 27.5 ppg
Considering that he has a few more years left in his tank, James may join another NBA team in the future. He will be able to opt out of his contract in the summer of 2024 and could join a team that drafts Bronny James, his son.
LeBron's scoring breakdown in the playoffs
LeBron James has appeared in 10 NBA Finals so far, winning four of them. His most recent championship came in 2020 with the Lakers, when he beat the Miami Heat, his former team.
James has won a championship for each team he's played for. He has won two championships in Miami and has also brought the Cleveland Cavaliers their first-ever NBA title in 2016.
The superstar forward has appeared in 266 playoff games so far:
- Cleveland Cavaliers (152 games) - 4,573 points, 30.1 ppg
- Miami Heat (87 games) - 2,338 points, 26.9 ppg
- LA Lakers (27 games) - 720 points, 26.7 ppg
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While LeBron recently became the NBA's all-time leading scorer in regular-season points, he's been ranked first in playoff points for a few years now. He's also number one in combined points with 46,021.