He became the oldest player in NBA history to score 30 points and pull down 20 rebounds in a game
Future NBA Hall of Famer LeBron James is still adding accomplishments to his career, and it doesn’t look like he is stopping anytime soon.
According to The Athletic, the Los Angeles Lakers superstar help his team seal the victory over the Golden State Warriors by making two free throws at the end of a game that went into double overtime. The Lakers won the game 145-144, and the forward broke a record when he achieved a triple-double to become the oldest player in NBA history to score 30 points and pull down 20 rebounds in a game. LeBron is 39 years old but playing like he just came out of college.
His feat took place on the Warriors’ home court at the Chase Center on Saturday, Jan. 27.
LeBron’s stat line for the contest was 36 points and 20 rebounds (which amounted to a career-high for him) as he dished out 12 assists. He is the first Laker to post a 30-20-10 stat line since NBA Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar did it in 1976. He also joined Elgin Baylor in accomplishing that task.
“Setting new standards,” Lakers coach Darvin Ham said after the game. “From the duration of his career, which continues on, the level in which he’s played throughout that career and still playing to this day. Just phenomenal, man.”
Although the Lakers and Warriors are currently outside of the playoff race, both teams gave it their all.
Stephen Curry also had a phenomenal performance in a losing effort. By scoring a season-high 27 points behind the three-point line, he ended up scoring a team-high 46 points.
The Lakers’ win has given them hope in inching toward obtaining a playoff entry as they upped their season record to 24-23, while the loss for Golden State puts them at 19-24.