LeBron James Surpasses Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in Minutes Played as Lakers Triumph Over Kings
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — In a moment that will be etched in the annals of NBA history, LeBron James has once again proven his enduring legacy by surpassing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the all-time leader in regular-season minutes played. This milestone was achieved during the Los Angeles Lakers‘ 113-100 victory over the Sacramento Kings on Thursday night. The achievement was celebrated in the locker room by Lakers coach JJ Redick, who congratulated the 39-year-old superstar in front of his teammates.
While the formal recognition from Redick was heartfelt, the reception from James’ teammates was a bit more playful. “They told me I’m old as hell and all that,” James quipped after logging 34 minutes to bring his career total to 57,471, nudging Abdul-Jabbar to the second spot with 57,446 minutes.
James, now in his 22nd season, holds the title of the oldest active player in the league. This season, he has shown some signs of aging, notably taking an eight-day break to rehabilitate a left foot injury. However, his return to the court has been nothing short of impressive, with the Lakers securing victories in both games since his comeback. These wins were crucial as they were against teams like the Memphis Grizzlies and Sacramento Kings, who are direct competitors in the Western Conference standings. James contributed 19 points, 7 assists, and 6 rebounds against the Kings, following an 18, 8, and 8 performance against the Grizzlies.
His teammate, Anthony Davis, emphasized the importance of James’ presence on the court. “His voice is what we missed the two games that he was out — on both ends of the floor,” Davis said. Davis himself had a stellar game, finishing with 21 points and season highs in rebounds (19) and blocks (6). “I mean, he’s a natural-born leader when it comes to the game, and when it’s time where it might seem chaotic, he’s able to kind of take control and just get us into something and we try to execute as good as possible.”
Not too long ago, the Lakers’ season seemed to be spiraling out of control, with the team losing seven out of nine games and James taking a brief hiatus. However, the Lakers have managed to turn things around, winning three out of their last four games. Their defense, once a glaring weakness, has become a formidable strength.
“For the group, I really felt like this might be my favorite win we’ve had all season,” Redick remarked, highlighting the significance of the victory.
Davis added, “We’re playing desperate — especially on the defensive end. And it’s showing.”
- Austin Reaves led the Lakers in scoring with 25 points.
- Other players contributing to the double-digit scoring included D’Angelo Russell with 16 points, Gabe Vincent with 12, and Rui Hachimura with 10.
For James, the milestone was particularly special as it came full circle in the same city where he played his first NBA regular-season game back in 2003. “It’s a pretty cool honor, obviously, anytime I’m linked with some of the greats that have ever played this game,” James reflected. “I’ve been available to my teammates. I’ve been able to do this at a high level over two decades. And to continue to put myself in record books in this game of basketball that I love so much and in the best league in the world is pretty cool and it’s very humbling.”
As the Lakers prepare to stay in Sacramento for the second game of their set on Saturday, James is taking a moment to savor his achievement. “I just set the all-time-leading [mark] in minutes, I am not thinking about this next game yet,” he said. “I’m about to get to this [hotel] room, drink some wine, play some Madden and chill the f— out.”
Originally Written by: Dave McMenamin
