LeBron James etched his name deeper into the NBA record books on Tuesday night, officially becoming the first player in the league’s 79-year history to appear in 23 seasons. The Los Angeles Lakers star made his season debut in a dominant 140-126 victory over the Utah Jazz. 

The 40-year-old James started for the Lakers after being sidelined by sciatica since the start of training camp, missing the team’s first 14 regular-season games. His return surpassed the previous record of 22 seasons, held by Vince Carter, who retired in 2020. James's longevity continues to redefine the limits of the sport, especially given his status as the NBA’s all-time scoring leader and a three-time Olympic gold medalist. 

In 29 minutes of action, James delivered an impressive playmaking performance, recording a near double-double with 11 points and 12 assists, along with three rebounds. The historic night also saw James move past Reggie Miller for the sixth-most 3-pointers made in NBA history. While he did not score in his first 11 minutes, he quickly found his rhythm, recording eight assists in the second half—six of which came in just over three minutes in the fourth quarter. 

The return comes after the Lakers had opened the season strong with a 10-4 record. Following the game, James dismissed questions about fitting in with the winning roster. “I can fit in with anybody,” James stated. He noted that he mentally positioned himself to help the team succeed while watching the first 14 games. 

Lakers coach JJ Redick praised James's impact, stating he was "very unselfish all night" and made "a lot of great decisions" with the ball, adding that James is viewed as a "superhero" by many who have played with him or watched him grow up. 

James’s appearance marked his 1,563rd regular-season game. According to the NBA, he is now 48 games behind Robert Parish’s record of 1,611 regular-season games played. Furthermore, James extended his own record for the most consecutive games scoring in double digits to 1,293, a streak he has maintained since January 2007. The debut officially opens the next chapter for James, a four-time NBA champion and four-time league MVP, as he continues to set unprecedented benchmarks for career length and achievement.