LOS ANGELES (AP) — On Tuesday night, LeBron James made history by becoming the first player in NBA history to achieve a remarkable milestone of scoring 50,000 combined points in both the regular season and the post-season. This milestone was surpassed with a three-pointer early in the first quarter during the Los Angeles Lakers' game against the New Orleans Pelicans.

James reached the impressive figure of 49,999 points just two nights earlier on Sunday when he contributed 17 points in the Lakers' 108-102 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers, marking the team's sixth consecutive victory. As of now, the 40-year-old James holds the record for the most points scored in NBA history during both regular season and playoff games, showcasing an unprecedented level of longevity in basketball.

LeBron James entered this achievement deep into his 22nd season, tying him with Vince Carter for the most seasons played in NBA history. Notably, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the former Lakers superstar, who played for 20 seasons, is second on the all-time scoring list with a total of 44,149 combined points. Despite being in his 40s, James shows no significant signs of decline, maintaining an impressive performance level that has become characteristic of his career. Just prior to achieving this landmark, he was awarded the NBA's Western Conference player of the month for February, during which he averaged 29.3 points, 10.5 rebounds, 6.9 assists, and 1.2 steals per game.

As of that night, James stood third in NBA history for regular-season games played, with 1,547 games, trailing only Robert Parish and Abdul-Jabbar. If James continues to maintain his health and opts to return for a historic 23rd season, he is anticipated to surpass Parish's record next winter. Additionally, he has competed in 287 post-season games, the highest number in NBA history, having become the playoff scoring leader back on May 25, 2017, when he outscored Michael Jordan's retired total of 5,987 points during the Eastern Conference finals.

Continuing his remarkable journey, LeBron became the all-time leading scorer in regular-season history on February 7, 2023, breaking Abdul-Jabbar's longstanding record of 38,387 points during a Lakers game against Oklahoma City. His scoring prowess can largely be attributed to an unparalleled consistency; with his scoring against the Clippers, he extended his streak of scoring at least 10 points in consecutive games to an astounding 1,277 games since January 6, 2007, a record that stands unmatched in NBA history.

The recognition for his performance in February marked LeBron's 41st player of the month award, an extension of his own record in the league, further solidifying his place in NBA history. With this accolade, he also became the oldest player to win the award, surpassing Karl Malone, who was 37 years of age when he last received it back in November 2000.