On this day, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the legendary center for the Los Angeles Lakers, cemented his legacy by becoming the NBA’s all-time leader in games played, a record that many considered unbreakable at the time.

As he stepped onto the court for his 1,560th regular-season game, he surpassed the previous record held by Elvin Hayes, further solidifying his reputation as one of the most durable and dominant players in league history.

At 41 years old, Abdul-Jabbar was in the twilight of his career, yet he remained an integral part of the Lakers’ success. His unparalleled longevity was a testament not only to his skill but also to his meticulous conditioning, disciplined lifestyle, and commitment to the game. While other stars had seen their careers cut short due to injuries or diminishing performance, Abdul-Jabbar defied time, continuing to contribute to a championship-contending team.

His signature skyhook remained nearly unstoppable, and even as his athleticism waned, his basketball IQ and leadership kept him relevant in a league that had evolved significantly since his debut in 1969. Magic Johnson, his longtime teammate and Lakers’ floor general, marveled at Abdul-Jabbar’s consistency. “Cap has been here forever,” Johnson said at the time. “He’s still schooling guys half his age, and he makes it look easy.”

One of the things that made Los Angeles Lakers legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar truly remarkable was his longevity. Very few players are able to have 20-year careers in the NBA and even fewer are able to remain as productive as Kareem did even in his later years.

When you play that long you are obviously going to set some records. Kareem’s scoring record is one that stood until 2023 when LeBron James passed him, but on Feb. 23, 1986, he made history in another way. As the Lakers took on the Philadelphia 76ers, Kareem passed fellow Hall-of-Famer Elvin Hayes to become the NBA’s all-time leader in games played with 1,304.

Abdul-Jabbar capped off the historic night with 28 points, five rebounds, three assists, three steals and seven blocks as the Lakers pulled out a hard-fought 117-111 overtime win over the Sixers.

The Lakers also got 34 points and 11 assists from Magic Johnson, as well as 22 points from Byron Scott in the victory to improve their record to to 41-14. Michael Cooper and A.C. Green each added 10 points off the bench, as the Lakers needed every bit of help on this night.

The Sixers’ big man duo of Moses Malone and Charles Barkley gave everything they had to get the win. Barkley finished with 24 points and 18 rebounds, including 11 on the offensive end, while Malone had 27 points and 12 boards. Point guard Maurice Cheeks also added 18 points, nine assists, and four steals, but it just wasn’t enough in the end.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s record ended up being broken

Nonetheless, the story on this night was Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who was clearly far from done as he showed in this performance. He would go on to finish his career with 1,560 games played in his career, a number that was ultimately passed by Robert Parish, who finished his career with 1,611.

Regardless, Kareem’s longevity and consistency remains something to be marveled at.