Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James seems rarely to step onto an NBA court these days without making some kind of history, which goes double for the postseason.
James did so again in the first half of the Lakers’ Game 5 contest against the Houston Rockets on Wednesday, April 29 at Crypto.com Arena in L.A. While James has been a brilliant scorer and offensive creator over his 23-year career, the all-time mark he set in Round 1 of these playoffs was on the defensive side of the ball.
“Some more playoff history for LeBron James: With his first steal tonight, he reached 500 for his postseason career,” ESPN’s Dave McMenamin reported on X. “He’s in 1st place all-time, followed by Scottie Pippen (395) and Michael Jordan (376).”
LeBron James Can Win 42nd Career Playoff Series Against Rockets
GettyLeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers.
James took the floor on Wednesday night for his 297th career playoff game, which is the equivalent of more than three and a half regular seasons worth of postseason games. He is the all-time leader in playoff wins, minutes played and total points.
The 41-year-old led the Lakers to a 3-0 advantage over the Rockets, though he slowed down significantly in a Game 4 loss in Houston Sunday. That defeat dropped James’ playoff win-loss record in potentially series-clinching contests to 41-14.
Should L.A. close out the Rockets Wednesday night, or with a victory in Game 6 or 7, the win will mark James’ 42nd playoff series captured. The four-time MVP has appeared in the NBA Finals 10 times and has won four championship rings, including two with the Miami Heat, one with the Cleveland Cavaliers and one with the Lakers.
Lakers Hunting Trip to 2nd Round of Playoffs, When Luka Doncic May Rejoin Team
GettyLuka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers.
Another title run for James in Los Angeles in 2026 is going to be a tall order, even despite the likelihood that the Lakers eventually best Houston and move on to Round 2.
Once in the second round, L.A. will have to square off against the reigning champion Oklahoma City Thunder, and the Thunder will no doubt be the overwhelming favorite to advance to the Western Conference Finals.
That said, the last team to bounce the Thunder from the playoffs was the Dallas Mavericks during the 2024 postseason. That Mavs team was led by Luka Doncic, who now plays for the Lakers but has been sidelined with a hamstring strain since April 2, which he suffered during a contest in Oklahoma City.
Austin Reaves strained his oblique in that same game, though made his return on Wednesday night, exactly 27 days later. Doncic is unlikely to come back at any point during the Lakers’ Round 1 series, though projections have him potentially back on the court as early as Game 2 or Game 3 of a second-round series against the Thunder.
The ideal outcome for Los Angeles is to slam the door on the Rockets in Round 1 Wednesday night, which will provide multiple days of rest for James, now the oldest player in the league. Reaves and Doncic will also benefit from days off that they can use to continue rehabilitation of their respective injuries.
Houston took a 51-47 lead into halftime of Game 5. Reaves had 11 points, six assists and two rebounds in the opening two quarters, while James put up eight points, four assists, one rebound and one steal.
LeBron James Makes More Playoff History in Lakers-Rockets Game 5