In a thrilling NBA game, LeBron James and Luka Doncic led the Los Angeles Lakers to a dominant 136-115 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans. While Doncic delivered a masterful performance with 30 points, eight rebounds, and 15 assists, it was James who stole the spotlight by surpassing the 50,000-point mark in his career (regular season and playoffs combined), cementing his legacy as one of the greatest players in basketball history.

James’ achievement is nothing short of extraordinary. He is the only player in NBA history to reach 50,000 points, surpassing the previous record held by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar by nearly 6,000 points. At 40 years old, James continues to defy Father Time, showcasing his unparalleled longevity and skill.

“It’s amazing. Watching him do this stuff at this age?” Doncic said during his postgame press conference, via ESPN’s Dave McMenamin. 50K points I can’t even explain how insane that is. And he might get to 70K, man. You never know.”

Doncic’s stellar performance

Luka Doncic, who has long admired James, is now witnessing the Lakers star’s greatness up close. The Slovenian sensation has been a revelation for the Lakers, taking pressure off James by shouldering much of the offensive load. His ability to score, rebound, and create opportunities for his teammates has been instrumental in the Lakers’ success.

Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts to LeBron James #23 after his pass during a 111-102 Lakers win over the Minnesota Timberwolves at Crypto.com Arena on February 27, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Can Luka Doncic challenge LeBron’s scoring record?

From a scoring perspective, Doncic is nearly unstoppable. His ability to create shots and dominate games has drawn comparisons to some of the NBA’s all-time greats. However, challenging James’ all-time scoring record will require more than just talent.

While Doncic has the potential to make a run at the record, LeBron James’ combination of longevity, durability, and sustained excellence makes his scoring mark an incredibly elusive target.