LeBron James surpasses Chris Paul to become No. 2 on NBA all-time assists list

The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Grizzlies 120-114, with LeBron adding another milestone to his remarkable career by becoming the NBA’s second-highest assist provider of all time. His total of 13,786 assists surpassed Chris Paul’s mark of 13,785.

Of those assists, 11,691 have come in the regular season and 2,095 in the playoffs. Only John Stockton now sits ahead of LeBron, with 17,645 assists, a record that appears out of reach.

LeBron also continues to lead the NBA’s all-time scoring list with 42,545 points, more than 4,000 ahead of second-placed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who finished his career with 38,387 points. None of the current active players are close to challenging that mark, with Kevin Durant the nearest on 31,342 points, followed by James Harden (28,509), Russell Westbrook (26,732) and Stephen Curry (26,134).

Despite having played for 23 seasons, LeBron James shows no sign of stopping. In September last year, he said that retirement was “only a vague notion” compared to his immediate goal of turning the Los Angeles Lakers back into title contenders.

The Lakers have not won an NBA championship since 2020 and have experienced a decline in recent years. As a result, LeBron’s comments suggest he remains motivated to continue competing at the highest level, with the possibility of staying on the court for several more seasons.

This season, LeBron has taken on a more playmaking-focused role. With Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves carrying much of the scoring load, he has concentrated on creating opportunities and advantages for his teammates. Against Memphis, he recorded 26 points, seven rebounds and 10 assists in 37 minutes.

The Lakers are currently third in the Western Conference with a 22-11 record, trailing only the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder. They will face the New Orleans Pelicans on 7 January, the Spurs on 8 January and the Milwaukee Bucks on 10 January.