LeBron James made history on Thursday night, breaking the NBA record for regular-season minutes played as he led the Los Angeles Lakers to a 113-100 victory over the Sacramento Kings. James spent 34 minutes on the court against the Kings, totaling 57,471 career minutes and surpassing the previous record held by Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who had 57,446 minutes.
The game was notable not just for James's milestone but also for the impressive performances of his teammates. Anthony Davis contributed significantly to the Lakers' success with 21 points and 20 rebounds, demonstrating his skills on both ends of the court. Austin Reaves starred offensively, scoring 35 points and providing the Lakers with much-needed scoring depth. The win marked the Lakers' third victory in their last four games, improving their record to 15-12.
The Kings started strong but struggled to maintain momentum. They trailed the majority of the game, managing to close the gap to within three points at 93-90 after De’Aaron Fox hit a jumper with eight minutes left. Despite the comeback, the Lakers extended their lead with Reaves’s key bank shot followed by two free throws from Davis, igniting a 10-2 run to pull away decisively.
Fox, who finished the game with 26 points, five assists, and three steals, faced difficulties after picking up his fifth foul midway through the second half, which limited his contribution significantly. Domantas Sabonis aided the Kings' effort with 18 points, 12 rebounds, and nine assists, but it wasn't enough against James and the Lakers.
"It’s just a commitment to the craft and to the passion and love I have for the game," said James, reflecting on his achievement after the game. He added, “I don’t take much time in the off-season, little bit more time now,” highlighting his dedication to maintaining peak performance.
Another concern for Lakers fans arose when Davis fell hard to the floor late in the fourth quarter, causing alarm among supporters. After remaining down for several moments, he managed to get up and remain active, contributing to the final moments of the game. Despite his history of injuries, Davis was determined to finish strong.
This game was historically significant for James, marking not just his minutes played record but also underscoring the longevity of his career. Earlier this year, James eclipsed Abdul-Jabbar’s all-time scoring record, demonstrating not only his scoring ability but his endurance and durability over the years.
The Lakers will play the Kings again on Saturday, where James will look to build on his newfound record as well as maintain momentum in the face of tough competition. Meanwhile, the Kings seek to address their recurring slow starts, which have plagued them throughout the season, particularly evident once again as they found themselves down by as many as 14 points early.
Fans hope both teams will showcase their best performances as they compete for playoff positioning. Indeed, with James still performing at such high levels, the basketball world watches closely, eager to see how many more records the veteran can set before he hangs up his sneakers for good.
