Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James turns 41 on Tuesday and is in the middle of his 23rd NBA season. That alone is an unprecedented feat never-before accomplished by any player in league history. But it doesn’t even account for the fact that in his final game as a 40-year-old, James dropped 24 points on 11-of-13 from the field with several highlight-reel dunks.
LeBron was on the receiving end of two incredible lobs, and had arguably the play of the game with a fastbreak reverse slam. James was doing those things at 20, was perfecting them at 30 and is somehow still doing them at 40.
The Lakers star has been far from perfect this season, but games like Sunday’s win over the Sacramento Kings show that he still absolutely has some great basketball left in the tank. He joked about Father Time in reference to his performance in the win.
“Yeah, I think it was 2020 or 21 where I did the Father Time commercial thing. I’m in a battle with him and I would like to say I’m kicking his ass on the back nine,” James said with a smile.
The battle between LeBron and Father Time has been one of the best rivalries of the last five or so years in the NBA. Despite constant belief that each year might be the year James finally isn’t an elite player anymore, he shows that he still can be when it’s asked of him.
He has absolutely slowed down a bit, he is not the player he was in his 20s or mid-30s. His defense can be nonexistent at times and he gets injured at a higher rate than he ever has. However, when the Lakers need him most, he has found a way to deliver.
Sunday night was one of those cases, with Austin Reaves out of the lineup and L.A. reeling on a three-game losing streak.
LeBron James willing to do whatever’s needed
James was asked about his role for the Lakers in the wake of Reaves being out at least four weeks with a calf strain. He said that he’ll do whatever he feels the team needs on a night-to-night basis to help his team win.
“Whatever’s needed,” James said. “If it’s a little bit more defensive rebounding, if it’s a little bit more scoring or if it’s a little bit more assisting to take a little pressure off Luka Dončić, if he needs it. Obviously, [he’s] super dynamic with the ball. I’ve done it all, so I can still do it at a high level, if need be.”
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