LeBron James did not ease his way into All-Star weekend on Thursday night. The 41-year-old became the oldest player in NBA history to record a triple-double, dropping 28 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds as the Los Angeles Lakers rolled past the Dallas Mavericks 124-104 at Crypto.com Arena. He secured the rebound that finished off the stat line with about 2:06 to play, then checked out to a standing ovation. The performance snapped a brief skid and sent the Lakers into the break with a welcome jolt of momentum.
Historic milestone
At 41 years and 44 days old, James passed Karl Malone’s long-standing mark to become the league’s oldest triple-double man. The outing was the 123rd triple-double of his regular-season career and moved him into the top five all time, according to the AP.
How the game played out
James set the tone early, pouring in 14 first-quarter points and controlling the tempo from the opening tip. By the time the fourth quarter started, he already had 22 points and 12 assists, then went hunting for that final rebound to seal the historic line.
He had plenty of help. Rui Hachimura added 21 points, Austin Reaves chipped in 18 points and six assists, and Jaxson Hayes delivered 16 as the Lakers shot 55.8 percent from the field. Dallas, playing without Luka Dončić, was led by Naji Marshall and Max Christie with 19 points apiece. The full box score and play-by-play are available at NBA.com.
LeBron's season and durability
James has missed time this season with sciatica and has been handled carefully with maintenance rest, yet when he is on the floor he has still been producing at a high level. He entered Thursday averaging roughly 21.8 points, 6.9 assists and 5.7 rebounds, figures that, along with the context of his missed games, were detailed by the Associated Press.
All-Star nod and what's next
Even in year 21, the league is not done calling his name. James has been selected to a record-extending 22nd All-Star team, this time as a reserve, according to the Washington Post, and he will be part of All-Star weekend in Los Angeles.
Once the festivities wrap, the Lakers jump right back into it. They resume regular-season play after the break when they host the Clippers on Feb. 20, as listed on the recaps and schedules at CBS Sports.
Performances like Thursday night keep the spotlight fixed on James in Los Angeles and across the league more than two decades into a career few players ever reach. Whether this particular show turns into a real pivot point for the Lakers’ stretch run will be one of the storylines to watch once the season resumes.
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