Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James became the NBA’s all-time leader in regular-season games played on Saturday night, logging career appearance No. 1,612 against the Orlando Magic and moving ahead of Hall of Famer Robert Parish.
The 41-year-old reached the milestone in style, finishing a breakaway dunk on the Lakers’ second possession. James, now in his 23rd season, had been tied with Parish at 1,611 games.
“It’s pretty cool. Availability—I always wanted to be available to my teammates,” James told Spectrum SportsNet after matching the record earlier in the week. “It’s a mental toll trying to play a lot and be out there for this whole thing. I just give a lot of praise to the man above, just loving and appreciating the game. And shoutout to Chief [Parish]. I’ve been seeing the things he’s saying about me. Not a lot of those OGs talk like that about the next generation, and I appreciate him.”
James already sits atop the league’s all-time lists for scoring and field goals made, and Saturday’s appearance adds another major category to his résumé. Despite the record mileage, he continues to play at an All-Star level for Los Angeles.
Parish, who had held the durability record since 1996, welcomed the new leader. “If anyone is deserving of breaking the iron man record, I would say LeBron James is,” Parish told ESPN in a phone interview Thursday. “He takes such good care of himself. His approach to fitness and what he puts into his body mirrors how I felt about my fitness and what I ate. It’s a testament to our longevity.”
With no plans to retire in the immediate future, James now sets a new benchmark that future generations will have to chase.
Source: LakersNation.com
