Concerns about LeBron James’ availability for the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday arose due to reported foot and back issues, leading to speculation he might not participate, especially since he had avoided playing consecutive games in back-to-back scenarios throughout the current season.
Despite expectations, he took to the court and almost achieved an unprecedented triple-double for a 41-year-old in NBA history. The prominent Lakers player contributed 31 points, hitting 12 of 20 shots, along with 12 assists and 9 rebounds, contributing to a dominant 141-116 victory over the Atlanta Hawks.
This triumph ended the Lakers’ three-game losing streak and simultaneously halted the Hawks’ three-game winning streak.
Karl Malone continues to hold the record as the oldest NBA player to record a triple-double, achieving it at 40 years and 127 days old. James holds the subsequent 15 spots in that category but has not registered a triple-double since February 1st of the previous year, which marked the 122nd of his professional journey. Should he manage this feat once more at his current age of 41 years and 14 days, he would claim this historical record.
However, no one associated with the Lakers expressed any dissatisfaction with his display. After the match, Lakers head coach JJ Redick stated that the team had not anticipated his participation:
“He will exert every effort to compete in his twenty-third season. It is truly astonishing. His sheer drive to compete is extraordinary. We had not anticipated him being able to participate.”
One possible motivation for James’ decision to play could be his proximity to losing award eligibility this season, as missing just one more contest would end his unparalleled 22-year run of All-NBA selections. He was absent for the Lakers’ initial 14 games due to a sciatica issue and has opted out of segments of three back-to-back fixtures since beginning his career. Only days prior, he had informed journalists that his status for all remaining back-to-back games on the Lakers’ schedule was undecided.
Complementing James’ almost-triple-double, Luka Dončić delivered a 27-point, 12-assist output, while Deandre Ayton contributed 17 points and 18 rebounds. Each member of the Lakers’ starting lineup reached double-digit scoring, and the team collectively achieved an unprecedented feat in NBA records, notwithstanding Austin Reaves’ absence.
Following an initial quarter with a tight score, the contest gradually transformed into a decisive victory. The Lakers held a 21-point advantage by halftime and maintained a lead of ten points or more throughout the entire latter half.
This triumph elevates the Lakers’ season standing to 24 wins against 14 losses, securing their fifth position within the Western Conference. Despite this, their performance has been merely 9 wins and 10 losses since the first of December, indicating continued pressure to improve their trajectory, particularly with a less challenging sequence of games on the horizon.
