LeBron James secured his 1,229th career win as the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 127-113 on Tuesday night. The victory allowed James to surpass Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's record for most NBA wins, counting both regular-season and playoff games. It marked another milestone against the team where James earned his first career victory.
James achieved the record in a game against the Cavaliers, the franchise with which he won his debut NBA contest. The 1,229th win eclipses Abdul-Jabbar's previous mark from his 20-year career. Lakers officials confirmed the milestone following the 127-113 result on Tuesday evening, with less than two weeks remaining in the regular season. James now leads in playoff wins but trails Abdul-Jabbar in regular-season victories, holding 1,045 to the legend's 1,074. He would need another season to close that gap. This latest record adds to James's collection, including all-time scoring, field goals made, games played—surpassing Robert Parish—and minutes logged in both regular-season and playoffs. James has appeared in 23 seasons and is on track for his 20th postseason. Observers note the wins record's significance, as it underscores James's impact on team success across his career.