LeBron scores 11 in season debut, sets NBA longevity mark

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James is officially the first player in NBA history to take the court for a 23rd season.

The 40-year-old made his season debut in Tuesday's 140-125 win over the Utah Jazz, posting 11 points with a team-high 12 assists to help JJ Redick's squad improve to 11-4 on the year. He missed the campaign's first 14 contests due to sciatica.

James previously shared the record for seasons played with Vince Carter, who retired in 2020 at age 43.

Luka Doncic led L.A. with 37 points, giving him a seventh game with at least 35 in his 13 appearances this season. He added 10 assists of his own but had an off night from beyond the arc, where he was just 2-of-10. Austin Reaves scored 26, continuing a hot start to the Lakers guard's fifth NBA season.

Tuesday's contest marked the 1,563rd regular-season game of James' career. Boston Celtics icon Robert Parish, who played 21 campaigns, holds the league record with 1,611 games played. James can surpass Parish by appearing in 49 more outings, a milestone he could reach this season.

James, who turns 41 in December, already owned the all-time NBA records for regular-season points (42,184), minutes played (59,041), All-Star selections (21), and All-NBA nods (21), among a litany of others when he stepped on the floor against the Jazz. He's also the only player to reach 10,000 points, 10,000 rebounds, and 10,000 assists.