LeBron James Matches Robert Parish for Most NBA Games Played
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MIAMI — LeBron James took the floor against the Miami Heat on Thursday night and logged the 1,611th game of his career, pulling even with Hall of Famer Robert Parish for the most appearances in NBA history.
The milestone came under demanding conditions for the Los Angeles Lakers. The club had played in Houston the night before and did not arrive in South Florida until 5:00 a.m. local time, yet the 41-year-old forward still suited up at Kaseya Center.
“It is pretty cool,” James told Spectrum SportsNet after the game. “I always wanted to be available to my teammates… It takes a lot. I give a lot of praise to the man above, love the game, appreciate the game. And shout-out to [Robert Parish]. I’ve been seeing a lot of the things he’s saying about me. Not a lot of those OGs talk like that about the generation after them, so shout-out to the Chief.”
Durability behind the number
James’ run to the top of the games-played list underscores a career defined by availability. He appeared in at least 75 of 82 contests in each of his first eight seasons and did not miss more than 20 in a single year until his 16th campaign, his first with the Lakers. Overall, he has played 65 or more games in 17 of 23 seasons.
If he plays Saturday against the Orlando Magic, the four-time MVP will own the record outright.
Recent absence sparks debate
Earlier this month, James missed three straight games, all Lakers victories, leading some observers to suggest the team performs better without him. Since returning, Los Angeles has won five consecutive outings, quieting that narrative.
Tip-off against Orlando will offer James another chance to extend both the winning streak and his new place atop one of the league’s most enduring statistical categories.
Source: Lakers Nation
