LeBron James breaks NBA appearance record in dramatic Lakers victory
LeBron James has broken the record for the most regular-season games played in NBA history, marking his 1,612th appearance as the Los Angeles Lakers secured a dramatic 105-104 victory over the Orlando Magic.
The 41-year-old surpassed the previous landmark of 1,611 games established by legendary center Robert Parish in 1997.
His historic milestone coincided with a thrilling finish, sealed when Luke Kennard drained a decisive three-pointer with just 0.6 seconds remaining on the clock.
The four-time NBA champion contributed 12 points, six rebounds, four assists and three steals to help secure a ninth consecutive triumph for his soaring team.
A milestone built on longevity
“It just kind of happened. It was not on the list of things that I wanted to accomplish.”
The league’s all-time leading points scorer admitted his early career aspirations were focused on championships, MVP awards and Olympic gold medals rather than longevity records.
“But some of the stuff that’s just been happening over the course of the last few years has been super-duper cool.”
Currently sitting third in the Western Conference, the Californian franchise continues to thrive while the defeated Magic remain eighth in the Eastern Conference standings.
“Availability, I’ve always wanted to be available to my team-mates.”
The veteran star acknowledged the significant mental toll required to maintain such an unprecedented level of physical readiness over 23 consecutive professional seasons.
Durant surpasses Jordan in scoring charts
Elsewhere on a historic night for basketball, Kevin Durant moved past iconic shooting guard Michael Jordan to claim fifth place on the NBA’s all-time regular-season scoring list.
The prolific forward reached 32,294 career points by sinking a crucial fourth-quarter three-pointer during a 27-point display for the Houston Rockets.
His offensive masterclass ensured the fourth-placed Rockets snatched a narrow 123-122 win against the Miami Heat, who sit ninth in the East.
“I’m grateful to be here and for this incredible journey it’s been. I’m looking forward to continuing.”
Thunder maintain top spot despite ejections
In another notable fixture, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander delivered a spectacular 40-point performance to guide the reigning NBA champions Oklahoma City Thunder to a fiery 132-111 victory over the Washington Wizards.
The commanding win was marred by a mass brawl near the end of the second quarter that resulted in four players being ejected from the court.
Oklahoma City’s Ajay Mitchell, Jaylin Williams and Cason Wallace were all dismissed by officials, alongside Washington forward Justin Champagnie.
The triumphant Thunder retain their position at the summit of the Western Conference, while the struggling Wizards languish in 14th place.