Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James played his 1,612th NBA game on Saturday, becoming the league’s all-time leader for regular-season games played. He surpassed Hall of Fame center Robert Parish in the Lakers’ 105-104 victory over the Orlando Magic.
(Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images)
Parish played 1,611 games across 21 seasons with the Golden State Warriors, Boston Celtics, Charlotte Hornets, and Chicago Bulls. James has now played in 87.7 percent of his possible regular-season games across 23 seasons.
James finished with 12 points on 5-of-13 shooting, six rebounds, four assists, and three steals against the Magic. He first scored after a steal and a one-handed dunk. Luke Kennard hit the game-winning 3-pointer with seconds left to extend the Lakers’ winning streak to nine.
“I’m happy for you, and I’m proud too,” Parish told SiriusXM NBA Radio. “No player is better deserving to break that Iron Man record than LeBron James. He deserves it — hell yes.”
History made! LeBron James becomes the all-time leader in games played in NBA history, surpassing the legendary Robert Parish pic.twitter.com/ECkmnzrwDE
— Italo Santana (@BulletClubIta) March 21, 2026
The Latest Jewel in King James’ Crown
James called his shot when he tied Parish at 1,611 after a Thursday game in Miami, where he previously won two of his four NBA titles.
“I’ve always wanted to be available to my teammates, either in Cleveland, Miami, or now in LA,” James said. “It’s a mental toll, man, trying to play a lot. Shoutout to Chief, man. I’ve been seeing some of the things that he’s been saying about me. It’s not a lot of those OGs that talk like that to the generation after them. He’s super cool. I like him.”
Lakers teammate Austin Reaves still has to remind himself who he’s playing with.
“I’m going to kill you one day on accident, just throwing the ball,” Reaves said. “I forget that you’re 41. I’m still throwing it to 35-year-old LeBron. It’s just incredible what he does every single day.”
James has set all-time records in many categories, including points (43,229), field goals made (15,884), All-Star selections (22), All-NBA selections (21 total), seasons played (23), and playoff appearances (292). Entering Monday’s games, he ranks fourth all-time in assists, sixth in steals, and fifth in triple-doubles.
James first played in the NBA in 2003 at 18 years old. He has recorded 60,710 regular-season minutes. The total is 72,772 when including the playoffs over 1,904 combined games, both of which also stand as records.
“He’s had an awesome season and an awesome career,” Lakers head coach J.J. Redick said. “There’s just a deep-seated love for the game of basketball. He loves the process. He really does.”
James has missed at least 10 games in every Lakers season except the 2019-20 championship year, including a 14-game absence this season due to sciatica. Before Los Angeles, he’d crossed that threshold once in 15 seasons.
His future remains uncertain. Retirement, a return to the Lakers, and a reunion with Cleveland are all in play. He hasn’t said which way he’s leaning.
James added to his latest record on Monday when he partook in the Lakers’ Monday outing in Detroit. Game No. 1,614 potentially lands on Wednesday when a six-game Los Angeles road trip wraps up in Indiana (7 p.m. ET, Spectrum SportsNet).
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