LOS ANGELES — Whether LeBron James, at 39, could still dominate a basketball game was never in question. Everyone just saw him do it during the Paris Olympics, where he won a gold medal and was named tournament MVP. The question was whether he could consistently do it during the marathon 82-game NBA season.
Does three consecutive triples answer that question?
LeBron made history Wednesday night as the oldest player in NBA history to record three consecutive triple-doubles — scoring 35 points on 4-of-7 shooting from 3, with 14 assists and 12 rebounds — and doing it at the age of 39, leading the Lakers. to a win over the Grizzlies.
LeBron broke his own record – he was the oldest player to record three consecutive triples at the age of 34. LeBron downplayed the feat. Three straight triples ties the longest streak at any point in his career.
“I’m very patient and take what the defense gives me,” LeBron said. “I’ve been doing it for a while, so I understand the timing and score. I understand the ways and the swings of a game, so nothing new to me.”
His coach, teammates and even his opponents were a little more effusive.
“He dominated the game, and we don’t win that game, obviously, without him,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said.
“Man, that’s why he’s one of the greatest players to ever play this game,” said Marcus Smart of the Grizzlies. “You have to respect it and tip your cap. That’s not easy to do. Not everybody can do that. He’s still going and he’s not missing.”
The Lakers need LeBron to take over like this – he remains the tone setter for this team. Anthony Davis leads the team in scoring and rebounding, but he is the closer, it is LeBron who sets the table and has the Lakers flowing. When AD is off his game — as he was for three quarters Wednesday night — the Lakers can still thrive because LeBron gets everyone going. His Lakers teammates are trying to take some of that burden off LeBron.
“We rely on him a little bit sometimes, but I think now we have a good system to help each other on the court, offensively, defensively,” Rui Hachimura said. “I think it’s a lot of weight [and] squeeze from him.”
Fortunately for the Lakers, there have been few nights that LeBron has needed away so far this season.
“I just live in the moment,” LeBron said. “It’s good to be able to go out and play the game I love at a high level again.”
