Just in: History Made: LeBron James Surpasses Another Legend, Now 3rd on the All-Time Games Played List

Lakers star plays in his 1,542nd career game and becomes the 1st player with multiple 40-point games after turning 40.

Lakers star plays in his 1,542nd career game and becomes the 1st player with multiple 40-point games after turning 40.

Forty-year-old LeBron James went off for 40 points and 8 rebounds to lead the Lakers over the Trail Blazers, 110-102.

LeBron James made history Thursday night just by suiting up for the Los Angeles Lakers’ 110-102 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers.

And then he made some more history while closing out the game in the fourth quarter.

With his starting nod in Portland, James moved past Vince Carter for the third place on the NBA’s all-time leaderboard for games played. He now sits at 1,542 and counting, 18 behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and 69 behind Robert Parish.

Assuming good health, James can catch Abdul-Jabbar later this season and would become the all-time leader during the 2025-26 season at which point he would be the only player in NBA history to play in 23 seasons.

James has already played the most postseason games (287) in NBA history.
As for the game, James took over in the fourth quarter and scored eight straight points while the game was in doubt. He also sealed the deal from the free-throw line with 5.2 seconds left — his 39th and 40th points.

By scoring at least 40 for the second time since he turned 40 on Dec. 30, James became the only player in NBA history to score at least 40 points multiple times. James scored 42 against the Golden State Warriors on Feb. 6.

Michael Jordan is the only other player to score 40 points in an NBA game after turning 40. He scored 43 for the Washington Wizards in an 89-86 win against then-New Jersey Nets on Feb. 21, 2025, four days after his 40th birthday