LeBron James continues to rewrite NBA history, reaching another monumental milestone in his illustrious career. In the Los Angeles Lakers’ 113-100 victory over the Sacramento Kings, James became the player with the most minutes played in NBA history, surpassing fellow Laker legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for yet another momentous feat.
Logging 34 minutes in the game, LeBron James brought his career total to 57,471 minutes, eclipsing Abdul-Jabbar by five minutes, a gap that will undoubtedly widen as the season and what remains of James’ career progresses.
LeBron James passes Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for most regular season minutes played 👑
Timeless ⏳ pic.twitter.com/wXZYPTR2iv
— ESPN (@espn) December 20, 2024
The achievement adds to James’ growing list of records, coming just a couple of years after he overtook Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for perhaps his greatest achievement by becoming the NBA’s all-time leading scorer. Despite the milestone, though, James remained lighthearted during postgame reflections, poking fun at his advancing age.
One of the coaches came in and congratulated me. My teammates said, ‘f**k off’. They told me I’m old as hell. It’s a pretty cool honor, obviously, anytime I’m linked with some of the greatest that ever played this game.
LeBron James quipped post-game
With his latest achievement, LeBron James reinforces his legacy as one of the greatest athletes in basketball history, even though some haven’t been a fan of him resting games. The 39-year-old forward continues to defy the odds, performing at an elite level despite nearing his 40th birthday.
Matt Barnes backs up LeBron James in battle with Father Time
LeBron James’ sustained dominance has been a point of admiration from many in the basketball community, including former NBA player Matt Barnes. On a recent episode of the All the Smoke podcast, Barnes shared his perspective on LeBron’s longevity, acknowledging the inevitable effects of time while still praising James’ resilience in his 22nd season.
Mother Nature just eventually starts to take over, and we see it with all of our great heroes and players. They slowly start to get old, and we’re seeing Bron do stuff we’ve never seen. Although there was a bunch of hate before, he’s always been able to shut that sh*t up with great play, and I know he still has more left in the tank. We’re gonna see a lot of spectacular-ness from Bron this season.
Matt Barnes said
While Barnes conceded that signs of decline are beginning to emerge, he expressed confidence in James’ ability to deliver more memorable performances. Against the Kings, James delivered another well-rounded performance with 19 points, seven assists, and six rebounds. This consistency has become the hallmark of his career, particularly remarkable in his 22nd season.
Averaging 23 points, nine assists, and eight rebounds per game this year, LeBron James is maintaining numbers many younger stars can only aspire to achieve. As James continues to battle Father Time, the larger question looms: can the Lakers’ current roster rise to the occasion?
Despite James’ brilliance, the team has struggled with consistency, making it unlikely he will secure a fifth championship without significant roster upgrades.
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