LeBron James has made plenty of history in his NBA career, but he added a new chapter to his own personal record book on Saturday. With the Los Angeles Lakers’ 116-108 win over the Portland Trail Blazers, James passed former San Antonio Spurs legend Tim Duncan to move into sole possession of second place on the all-time NBA Playoffs wins list.
Saturday’s win was James’s 158th postseason victory, breaking the deadlock with Duncan, who now sits in third place with 157. James has been bolstered by making eight of the last nine NBA Finals, both with the Miami Heat and the Cleveland Cavaliers. Last season was the first time James didn’t make the Finals since 2010; the Lakers did not even make the playoffs, the first time that James missed the postseason — and the chance to add to his wins tally — since 2004-2005.
After the game, the Lakers star paid tribute to Duncan, who won five championships with the Spurs, including two over James himself, in 2007 and 2014:
It’s just always surreal for me when my name is associated with any of the greats. And obviously, you know how great Tim Duncan was in this league with that franchise. … Basically, he lived in the postseason. That was his address. So for me to be linked with a great in the Big Fundamental, it means a lot.
LeBron James
There could be more history coming soon: James is now only three wins away from tying Derek Fisher’s record of 161, and four from breaking it. If things go according to plan for the Lakers, James should be the all-time leader in postseason wins in the second round of this year’s bubble playoffs, against either the Oklahoma City Thunder or, more likely given their current 2-1 series lead, the Houston Rockets.
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