One of the major storylines around the NBA right now centers on LeBron James’ reported decision to opt into his $52.6 million player option with the Los Angeles Lakers, securing his spot with the California franchise for the 2025–26 season. If finalized, the 40-year-old forward will not only set a historic league record but also move within reach of another milestone.
Simply by appearing in the upcoming season, LeBron will become the longest-tenured player in NBA history, entering his 23rd consecutive season. Until now, he shares the all-time record with Vince Carter, both with 22 seasons.
Carter began his career in 1998 with the Toronto Raptors and remained in the league uninterrupted until his retirement in 2020. In his final years with the Atlanta Hawks, he reached the record that had previously been shared by Robert Parish, Kevin Willis, Dirk Nowitzki, and Kevin Garnett with 21 seasons, eventually extending it to 22 before stepping away from the game.
That mark, however, is set to fall—just five years later, LeBron James is in position to break it by reaching the remarkable milestone of 23 consecutive seasons in the NBA. To do it, the forward will only need to appear in one game during the 2025–26 campaign with the Lakers.
The other record LeBron could break
Beyond the record for most seasons played, LeBron James is also closing in on another all-time achievement. Next year, he could become the NBA’s all-time leader in regular season games played, surpassing Boston Celtics legend Robert Parish.
Parish has held the top spot in that category since the 1996–97 season, when he passed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and solidified his place at the top with 1,611 games played across stints with the Golden State Warriors, Boston Celtics, Charlotte Hornets, and Chicago Bulls—playoffs not included.
Nearly three decades later, LeBron has a chance to eclipse that number. With 1,562 regular season games played during his career with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, and Los Angeles Lakers, James will need to appear in 50 of the 82 games next season to claim first place on the all-time list.
LeBron James’ records in the NBA
LeBron James’ longevity and elite talent have allowed him to set an extraordinary number of records in the NBA. In terms of games played, not only is he close to topping the all-time regular season list, but he already holds the record for playoff appearances. With 292 postseason games, he passed the Lakers icon Derek Fisher to claim the top spot long ago.
James is also the NBA’s all-time leading scorer in the regular season, with 42,184 points—surpassing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar—as well as the top scorer in playoff history, with 8,289 points, ahead of Michael Jordan. Additionally, he holds the record for the most All-Star selections, with 21 appearances.
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