When LeBron James took the floor for the Los Angeles Lakers’ game against the Orlando Magic on Saturday night, he did so for the 1,612th time in the regular season.
That broke a tie with Robert Parish for the most games in NBA history, meaning James now stands alone, a record that he believes reflects his hard work and longevity.
“It was a regular prep day. I kept it the same as the previous 1,600, whatever, the record is. But I knew once I stepped on the floor and the game began that I was breaking the record. It’s a pretty cool thing,” James said after the game on Spectrum SportsNet. “I said it the other night, the best thing you can have for your teammates is availability and I’ve tried to be available throughout my career, two decades-plus, for my guys. It’s a byproduct of that.”
As James continues to play at a high level at age 41 in his 23rd season, he has broken a number of records. He has the most points and field goals in NBA history, and now has played the most games. Not only is LeBron still going strong, but he is having another All-Star campaign and is helping make the Lakers a legitimate threat to compete for a title.
L.A. has now win nine straight games with James’ willingness to sacrifice and play a role being a big reason for that. In his 1,612th game, LeBron 12 points, six rebounds, four assists and three steals while helping set up the game-winning basket for Luke Kennard.
What James is doing at his age is nothing short of incredible, and he will only continue to break more records as he reaches unprecedented territory when it comes to longevity in the NBA.
Robert Parish happy LeBron James broke his record
A lot of people are bitter when their records get broken, but that is not the case for Parish. In fact, he knew he would eventually be surpassed and is happy to see James being the one that does it.
“If anyone is deserving of breaking the iron man record, I would say LeBron James is,” Parish told ESPN during a phone call Thursday. “Because he takes such good care of himself. … His approach to fitness and what he puts into his body reflects, or mirrors, how I felt about my fitness and what I ate, how I took care of myself. And so, it’s a testament to not only my longevity, but LeBron’s longevity.”
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