NBA: LeBron James ties Robert Parish's record for NBA games played

Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James, already the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, tied a nearly 30-year-old career mark for games played on Thursday night against the host Miami Heat.

James, 41, appeared in his 1,611th game, matching Robert Parish, who played 21 seasons from 1976 to 1997. Parish had surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s previous mark of 1,560 games on April 9, 1996, and went on to play another season.

“If anyone is deserving of breaking the iron man record, I would say LeBron James is,” Parish, 72, told ESPN. “Because he takes such good care of himself. His approach to fitness and what he puts into his body mirrors how I felt about my own fitness and diet. It’s a testament not only to my longevity but also to LeBron’s.”

Despite his age, James continues to perform at an elite level, entering Thursday with averages of 21.4 points, 6.8 assists, and 5.6 rebounds per game. He is a 22-time All-Star, four-time NBA champion, and four-time NBA MVP, amassing 43,210 career points through Wednesday.

Drafted first overall in the 2003 NBA Draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers, James made his NBA debut on October 29, 2003. He has also played in 292 career playoff games.

Parish, meanwhile, played for the Golden State Warriors, Boston Celtics, Charlotte Hornets, and Chicago Bulls from 1976-77 to 1996-97. He appeared in 184 playoff games, winning championships with the Celtics (1981, 1984, 1986) and Bulls (1997). A nine-time All-Star, Parish was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2003.

—Field Level Media/Reuters