LeBron James turned back the clock again on Thursday night, registering 28 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds as the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Dallas Mavericks 124-104 at Crypto.com Arena.
The rebound that completed his stat line came with 2:06 remaining, making the 41-year-old and 44-day-old forward the oldest player ever to record a triple-double. He surpassed Karl Malone, who held the mark since 2003.
Thursday’s effort marked James’ 123rd regular-season triple-double, the fifth-highest total in league history and his first since Feb. 1, 2025—the night Los Angeles acquired Luka Doncic in a blockbuster deal that sent Anthony Davis to another team.
Doncic sat out his fourth consecutive game with a mild hamstring strain, leaving James to set the tone early. He scored 14 points and handed out six assists in the opening quarter, reached double figures in assists during the third, and played the entire fourth period before securing his final rebound and exiting to a standing ovation.
James entered the matchup averaging 21.8 points, 6.9 assists and 5.7 rebounds. Despite injuries limiting the time he, Doncic and Austin Reaves have shared the court to just 10 contests, the Lakers remain firmly in the Western Conference playoff mix.
The four-time MVP is slated to make his 22nd All-Star appearance this weekend at Intuit Dome, though an insufficient number of games played will render him ineligible for All-NBA honors. Counting postseason performances, he now owns 152 career triple-doubles.
Source: Hoops Wire
