LeBron James has added another unprecedented milestone to his career, surpassing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in a category that underlines his longevity as much as his greatness.
While James’ all-time scoring record continues to dominate headlines, this latest achievement highlights just how long he has remained a constant presence at the NBA’s highest level.
The record was set during a difficult night for the Los Angeles Lakers, but its scale places James even further ahead of every player who came before him.
LeBron James sets historic NBA minutes record
During the Lakers’ recent 129-99 loss against the Cleveland Cavaliers, James reached a landmark that no player in league history had previously touched.
According to information shared by the Lakers and circulated publicly by Ryan Ward, James logged his 60,000th career regular-season minute during the game in Cleveland.
That figure makes him the first player in NBA history to reach the mark, moving him clear of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who completed his career with 57,446 regular-season minutes.
Minutes played is a measure that combines durability, trust from coaches, and sustained performance over multiple eras.
LeBron James moves further past Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Abdul-Jabbar’s longevity had long stood as the gold standard in NBA history, with 20 seasons played at a consistently high level.
James has now passed him in both total scoring and regular-season minutes, two records that once appeared unreachable.
Reaching 60,000 minutes requires more than health alone, demanding season after season as a central figure rather than a role player.
The growing gap between James and Abdul-Jabbar in minutes played further illustrates how rare this level of durability truly is.
Even on a night that ended in defeat, the record stands as another marker of how far James has pushed the boundaries of NBA longevity.
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