Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images
LeBron James is proof that age is just a number after recording his third triple-double since turning 40 in the Los Angeles Lakers’ 111-88 win over the Washington Wizards on Tuesday night.
The future Hall of Famer finished with 21 points, 13 assists and 10 rebounds in 36 minutes to get the Lakers back on track after Sunday’s loss to the Los Angeles Clippers.
James is now the second-oldest player in NBA history to record a triple-double. Karl Malone was 40 years, 127 days when he put up the last triple-double of his career.
LeBron did become the oldest player to record a triple-double with at least 20 points scored. Malone had 10 points, 10 assists and 11 rebounds in his historic game, which also came during his lone season with the Lakers.
StatMuse @statmuse
LeBron James tonight:<br><br>21 PTS<br>10 REB<br>13 AST<br><br>Oldest NBA player in history with a 20 PT triple-double. <a href=”https://t.co/68iacH9BFk”>pic.twitter.com/68iacH9BFk</a>
NBA History @NBAHistory
LeBron James (40yr, 23d) joins Karl Malone as the only players in NBA history to record a triple-double at age 40 or older!<br><br>👏👏 <a href=”https://t.co/zSVpLMP5Tp”>https://t.co/zSVpLMP5Tp</a> <a href=”https://t.co/ANQwvz9IEG”>pic.twitter.com/ANQwvz9IEG</a>
The Lakers have played 10 games since James turned 40 on Dec. 30. He is averaging 24.5 points, 8.9 assists and 6.5 rebounds during this stretch. He has three triple-doubles in the past seven games.
Even though it’s becoming harder to find new superlatives to describe James at this stage of his career, fans did shower the 20-time All-Star with praise after his historic triple-double.
NBA @NBA
LEBRON JAMES LOB THROWDOWN 🫨 <a href=”https://t.co/GxnKZxrgvy”>pic.twitter.com/GxnKZxrgvy</a>
Witness King James @WITNESSKJ
In the last two weeks, LeBron legitimately pulled off probably two of the more impressive dunks of his career.<br><br>At 40 years old in Year 22.<br><br>Both on 7-footers — A lefty windmill poster on a guy half his age and a poster alley-oop.<br><br>ABSOLUTELY INSANE.
73-9 and THEY LIED @CuffsTheLegend
LeBron’s actual SKILL won’t be understood or appreciated until he’s no longer playing<br><br>People who were too busy hating during his whole career are gonna look back at his old highlights and it’s gonna look insane
Crazy Stats @NBAcrazystats
Top 5 (most calendar years with a triple-double):<br><br>LeBron James – 21<br>Jason Kidd – 17<br>Russell Westbrook – 16<br>Larry Bird – 14<br>Magic Johnson – 14 <a href=”https://t.co/JiD4VqkVdT”>https://t.co/JiD4VqkVdT</a>
ɴᴏᴛ @georgemikan
LeBron’s first 10 games at 40 years old:<br><br>24.5 PPG on 66.3 TS%<br>6.5 RPG, 8.9 APG<br>1.1 SPG, 0.6 BPG<br><br>And two bodies caught… <a href=”https://t.co/Vbzzp37OTS”>pic.twitter.com/Vbzzp37OTS</a>
NBA Memes @NBAMemes
Father Time watching 40-year-old LeBron <a href=”https://t.co/buDv30ndj1″>pic.twitter.com/buDv30ndj1</a>
James got some help from his teammates in this game. Anthony Davis put up 29 points, 16 rebounds and four blocks in 32 minutes. Dorian Finney-Smith had his best performance since joining the Lakers, finishing with 16 points on 4-of-6 three-point shooting.
The win kept the Lakers in sixth place in the Western Conference with a 23-18 record. They are one game ahead of the Dallas Mavericks in the race to avoid the play-in tournament.
Things will get tougher for James and the Lakers in their next game. They will host the Boston Celtics at Crypto.com Arena on Thursday at 10 p.m. ET. It’s the first meeting between the historic rivals this season.
