MIAMI, March 20, (V7N) — LeBron James marked his record‑tying 1,611th regular‑season NBA appearance with a triple‑double on Thursday as the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Miami Heat 134–126 for their eighth straight victory.
James, 41, matched Hall of Famer Robert Parish’s long‑standing record for most regular‑season games played, a milestone that had stood since 1997.
“Availability — I’ve always wanted to be available to my teammates,” James said afterward. “It’s a mental toll, trying to play a lot and being out there… I just give a lot of praise to the man above and appreciate where the game has taken me.”
The NBA’s all‑time leading scorer finished with 19 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists, the 124th triple‑double of his career. He made his first seven shots and did not miss from the field until the fourth quarter, despite arriving in Miami at 4:00 am after Wednesday’s win in Houston.
James had been listed as “questionable” on early injury reports but said his pre‑game routine convinced him he could play. “I still wanted to come in and see how the body felt… Decided to give it a go,” he said.
Now in an unprecedented 23rd NBA season, James already holds numerous league records, including career points, field goals made and field goals attempted. His latest achievement came in the city where he won the first two of his four NBA championships during a four‑year stint with the Heat.
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