Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James, already the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, tied a career mark for games played that has stood for nearly 30 years on Thursday night against the host Miami Heat.
James, 41, played in his 1,611th game, tying Robert Parish, who played 21 seasons from 1976-97. Parrish had broken Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s mark of 1,560 on April 9, 1996, and played another season.
“If anyone is deserving of breaking the iron man record, I would say LeBron James is,” Parish, 72, told ESPN on 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.”
James still is performing at a high level, entering Thursday averaging 21.4 points, 6.8 assists and 5.6 rebounds. He’s a 22-time All-Star, four-time league champion and four-time NBA MVP with 43,210 career points through Wednesday.
The first overall pick of the 2003 NBA Draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers, James made his league debut on Oct. 29, 2003. He also has appeared in 292 career playoff games.
Parish played from the 1976-77 to 1996-97 seasons for the Golden State Warriors, Boston Celtics, Charlotte Hornets and Chicago Bulls. He also played 184 playoff games (109 starts), winning championships with the Celtics (1981, 1984, 1986) and Bulls (1997).
The nine-time All-Star was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2003.
