Superstar LeBron James on Thursday claimed another NBA record, becoming at 41 the oldest player to record a triple-double as he propelled the Lakers to a 124-104 victory over the Dallas Mavericks.
James, a four-time champion and the NBA’s all-time leading scorer now in his unprecedented 23rd season, scored a game-high 28 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and handed out 12 assists, pulling down his final rebound with just over two minutes remaining.
He overtook Karl Malone — who was 40 years, 127 days old when he recorded a triple-double for the Lakers in a win over San Antonio on Nov. 28, 2003.
Photo: AP
James’ feat came three days before his 22nd All-Star Game appearance.
Lakers coach J.J. Redick said it was James’ level of commitment after more than two decades in the league that continues to impress him the most.
“I don’t take for granted how good he is,” Redick said. “I recognize that on a daily basis.”
“The more remarkable thing is how much he cares in his 23rd year with all his accomplishments. He’s going to get another ‘oldest player to do X, Y, or Z.’ He’s going to get another one of that. He is going to further cement his scoring record, he’s going to do all those things,” he said. “It’s really just the day-to-day professionalism and care factor that he exhibits that is the most remarkable thing.”
With the Lakers again without NBA scoring leader Luka Doncic, James set an early tone with 14 first-quarter points and the Lakers bounced back from two straight defeats.
“The win, that’s the most important thing,” said James, who received a standing ovation when he was subbed out for his son, Bronny James, seconds after nabbing his 10th rebound.
Elsewhere, Milwaukee’s Ousmane Dieng starred against his former team as the Bucks beat NBA champions the Oklahoma City Thunder 110-93.
The game in Oklahoma City lost some star power with the Thunder’s reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander missing a fifth straight contest with an abdominal strain and Milwaukee’s two-time Most Valuable Player Giannis Antetokounmpo sitting out a ninth straight game with a calf strain.
French forward Dieng, who landed in Milwaukee after being dealt by the Thunder before the trade deadline, scored 19 points with 11 rebounds, six assists and four blocked shots.
A.J. Green added 17 points, while Bobby Portis had 15 points and 12 rebounds off the bench for Milwaukee, who had seven players score in double figures.
The Thunder had won two straight since back-to-back losses to Western Conference rivals San Antonio and Houston, but with Jalen Williams joining Gilgeous-Alexander on the sidelines with a hamstring strain, Oklahoma City trailed virtually all the way.
Guard Isaiah Joe scored 17 points, while center Chet Holmgren added 16 points and 13 rebounds for the Thunder, who still take a Western Conference-leading record of 42-14 into the All-Star break.
They had more good news with the long-awaited NBA debut of Nikola Topic, who was diagnosed before the season with testicular cancer.
The 20-year-old Serbian was the 12th selection in the 2024 NBA draft, missing all of the last campaign because of a knee injury.
Topic received a standing ovation when he entered the game in the first quarter and scored two points on one basket in 12:22 minutes of action.
“Just thrilled for him,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said. “He’s a young guy that all he wants to do is play basketball and that’s been taken from him a couple of different times. So for him to work himself to this point, get himself on the floor is a great accomplishment.”
In Thursday’s other game, the Trail Blazers silenced the Jazz 135-119.
Additional reporting by staff writer
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