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LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers
LeBron James continues rewriting the record books at an age when most players have long since retired. The Los Angeles Lakers forward posted 28 points, 12 assists, and 10 rebounds Thursday night in a 124-104 victory over the Dallas Mavericks at Crypto.com Arena.
The milestone came with 2:06 remaining in the fourth quarter when James secured his 10th rebound. At 41 years and 44 days old, he became the oldest player in NBA history to record a triple-double, surpassing Karl Malone‘s previous record set in 2003.
The crowd gave James a standing ovation as he checked out moments later, recognizing they had witnessed another piece of history from a player who keeps finding ways to defy age.
LeBron Dominates Without Luka
GettyLuka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers.
James carried the offensive load for the Lakers with Luka Dončić sidelined for his fourth consecutive game due to a hamstring strain. The 41-year-old set the tone immediately, pouring in 14 points and dishing six assists in the first quarter alone.
He reached double digits in assists during the third quarter and played the entire fourth before finally grabbing the rebound that secured the historic triple-double. This wasn’t a stat-padding performance in garbage time. James controlled the game from start to finish.
The Lakers led 36-31 after the first quarter behind James’ early explosion. Dallas battled back to cut the deficit to 64-63 by halftime, but Los Angeles pulled away in the third quarter to take a 96-82 lead into the final period. The margin eventually grew to 22 points late in the game.
Rui Hachimura added 21 points for Los Angeles. Austin Reaves contributed 18 points. Jaxson Hayes finished with 16 points, seven rebounds, and three steals. Jake LaRavia scored 11 points off the bench.
The victory gave the Lakers their final win before the All-Star break. More importantly, it demonstrated they can still win games when Dončić is unavailable if James plays at this level.
Mavericks Lose Ninth Straight
GettyHead coach Jason Kidd of the Dallas Mavericks.
Dallas dropped its ninth consecutive game, matching its longest losing streak since dropping 15 straight from December 1997 through January 1998. The Mavericks fell to 19-35 on the season and limp into the All-Star break desperately needing the time off.
Cooper Flagg didn’t play for Dallas due to a left midfoot sprain. The Mavericks also lost Naji Marshall to a left foot strain and Daniel Gafford to right ankle soreness during the game, compounding their injury problems.
Mavericks coach Jason Kidd praised James’ performance after the game, noting that the Lakers forward is leading the league in fast-break points despite his age.
“It’s pretty impressive,” Kidd said. “At the age of 41 to put up a triple-double is really amazing. It just shows for someone that’s taking care of his body and mind up to this point he’s playing the game the right way at a high level.”
Lakers’ LeBron Addresses His Future
GettyLeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers.
James spoke with reporters after the game and was asked about retirement given his age and historic performance. His response revealed his mindset about how much longer he’ll continue playing.
“My game is not going anywhere,” James said. “I don’t think my game will ever suffer if I decided to continue to go, however long that is. I just think it has to be [my mind]: how long can I stay in love with the process?”
The comment suggests James doesn’t believe his body will be the limiting factor in when he retires. Instead, it’s about maintaining the mental drive to compete at the highest level night after night, season after season.
James will make his 22nd All-Star appearance this weekend. However, he’s missed enough games this season that he’ll be ineligible for All-NBA consideration, which requires players to appear in at least 65 games.
Thursday’s triple-double was his 123rd in the regular season, fifth-most in NBA history. It was his first since February 1, 2025, a night remembered more for the blockbuster trade that brought Dončić to Los Angeles in exchange for Anthony Davis.
Including the postseason, James now has 152 career triple-doubles.
What This Means for Lakers
The Lakers remain in the thick of the Western Conference playoff race despite having played just 10 games with James, Dončić, and Reaves all healthy. Injuries have defined their season, forcing constant adjustments to lineups and rotations.
James entered Thursday averaging 21.8 points, 6.9 assists, and 5.7 rebounds per game. Those numbers represent a slight decline from his peak years, but they’re still All-Star caliber production from a 41-year-old in his 22nd NBA season.
The question facing the Lakers is whether James can maintain this level through the season’s final two months and into the playoffs. Thursday’s performance suggests he still has the ability to dominate games when needed. Whether he can do it consistently while managing his workload remains to be seen.
Los Angeles also needs Dončić healthy. The hamstring strain has kept him out for four games, and the Lakers have been cautious about rushing him back. His timeline for return after the All-Star break remains unclear.
If both James and Dončić can stay healthy and on the court together, the Lakers have the talent to compete with anyone in the West. The challenge is getting them both available at the same time for an extended stretch.
LeBron’s Legacy Continues Growing
James recently addressed what’s holding the Lakers back from being a true championship contender. After a loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, he drew a stark comparison between his team and the defending champions.
“You want me to compare us to them? That’s a championship team right there. We’re not,” James said. “We can’t sustain energy and effort for 48 minutes and they can. That’s why they won a championship.”
The honesty reflects James’ understanding of where the Lakers stand. They’re talented but inconsistent. They can beat good teams on any given night but struggle to maintain championship-level intensity over full games and full seasons.
Rich Paul, James’ agent, told ESPN before the start of the season that James wants to compete for championships and understands the Lakers are building for the future. That dynamic creates uncertainty about James’ long-term plans in Los Angeles.
For now, James continues playing at a remarkably high level while making history along the way. Thursday’s performance was just the latest example of him doing things no one his age has ever done before.
The standing ovation he received when he checked out with the historic triple-double secured reflected appreciation for witnessing greatness, even in what might be the twilight of an unprecedented career.
Keith Watkins Keith Watkins is a sports journalist covering the NBA for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Golden State Warriors, Boston Celtics, and Los Angeles Lakers. He previously wrote for FanSided, NBA Analysis Network, and Last Word On Sports. Keith is based in Bangkok, Thailand. More about Keith Watkins