It feels like every time LeBron James steps on an NBA court he sets another record for longevity or career accomplishments, but this one stands out from the crowd.
In the first half Monday night in Philadelphia, LeBron passed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s record for minutes played in the NBA, regular season and playoffs combined. Kareem had played 66,297 minutes in his GOAT-level career but LeBron and his ridiculous longevity passed that against the Sixers.
What’s been remarkable about LeBron’s run is the level of play he is at in his 21st NBA season and with all those miles on the tires — 25.5 points, eight rebounds and 6.6 assists a night while shooting 38.5% from 3 and being the primary shot creator for the Lakers. LeBron is playing at an All-NBA level this season, which is unheard of for a player his age.
The Lakers have needed all of that from LeBron this season, the idea of keeping his minutes down has largely been scrapped in the service of winning. Which is good with LeBron, he prioritizes winning.