LeBron James was questionable for the Los Angeles Lakers with foot and back injuries on Tuesday, and there was some doubt he would play given that he hasn’t played both legs of a back-to-back all season. He
So naturally he played and nearly posted the first triple-double by a 41-year-old in the history of the NBA. The Lakers star posted 31 points on 12-of-20 shooting with 12 assists and 9 rebounds in a 141-116 blowout of the Atlanta Hawks.
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The win snapped a three-game losing streak for the Lakers, and a three-game winning streak for the Hawks.
The oldest player to post a triple-double in NBA history remains Karl Malone at 40 years, 127 days. James has the next 15 games on the list, but hasn’t posted one since Feb. 1 of last year which was the 122nd of his career. At 41 years, 14 days old, he will take the record if he ever accomplishes the feat again.
No one on the Lakers’ side was complaining about his performance, though. Lakers head coach JJ Redick claimed after the game the team didn’t even expect him to play:
“He’s gonna do everything he possibly can to play in his 23rd year. It’s remarkable. His competitive stamina is off the charts. We didn’t expect him to be able to play.”
James rising to play might also have something to do with the fact that he is exactly one missed game away from not being award eligible this season, which would snap his unprecedented 22-year All-NBA streak. He missed the Lakers’ first 14 seasons due to sciatica, and has sat out legs of three back-to-backs since his debut. Just last week, he was telling reporters he was TBD for every back-to-back left on the Lakers’ schedule.
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Alongside James’ near-triple-double was a 27-point, 12-assist night from Luka Dončić and a 17-point, 18-rebound performance from Deandre Ayton. Every Lakers starter scored in double figures, and collectively accomplished something never before seen in NBA history despite the absence of Austin Reaves.
After a close first quarter, the game steadily progressed into a blowout. The Lakers were up 21 points at halftime and led by double-digits for the entire second half.
The win improves the Lakers’ record to 24-14, still good for fifth in the Western Conference. They’re only 9-10 since Dec. 1, though, and are still under pressure to fully right the ship with a soft stretch of schedule ahead of them.
