What happened: LeBron James leads all active NBA players with 1,627 career starts. DeMar DeRozan ranks second with 1,252 starts, followed by Kevin Durant with 1,207 and Mike Conley with 1,144.
Why it matters: The milestone highlights sustained durability across multiple eras for the league's longest-tenured veterans. James and Durant continue to log heavy workloads as primary options, while Conley remains the lone point guard featured in the top four.
By the numbers: In 2026-27 through 9 games, James has recorded 15.6 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 6.7 assists per game. Durant is averaging 20.8 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 3.1 assists in 2026-27 through 10 games. DeRozan has posted 10.7 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 3.0 assists in 2026-27 through 7 games, while Conley has registered 3.0 points and 0.3 assists in 2026-27 through 3 games.
What to watch: James looks to extend his active lead as regular-season play continues, while Conley is six starts away from reaching 1,150.