LeBron James became the oldest player in NBA history to record a triple-double on Thursday night, achieving the feat at 41 years and 44 days old during the Los Angeles Lakers' 124-104 victory over the Dallas Mavericks. James finished with 28 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds, earning a standing ovation when he checked out moments after securing his 10th rebound with 2:06 remaining.
James broke the record previously held by Karl Malone, who recorded his final triple-double for the Lakers at 40 years and 127 days old in 2003. It was the 123rd triple-double of James's career, the fifth-most in NBA history. 'I guess I'm more appreciative of moments like this in my career, understanding where I'm at, at the later stage of my journey,' James said.
James, playing in his 23rd NBA season, returned from a brief injury absence to dominate the Mavericks, who were without Luka Doncic due to a hamstring strain. He scored 14 points and dished six assists in the first quarter alone, factoring into the Lakers' first 23 points of the game. At half-time, he had 18 points, eight assists and four rebounds.
Lakers guard Austin Reaves nearly prevented the triple-double by grabbing a rebound that James might have taken. 'Everybody on the team yelled at me,' Reaves said. 'I don't catch myself looking at the stats during the game... He didn't, but everybody [else], and I looked at him and said, 'Shoot, my fault.''
James, who will play in his 22nd All-Star Game this weekend, has averaged 21.8 points, 6.9 assists and 5.7 rebounds this season. He called the triple-double a marker of his ability to impact the game in multiple ways. 'I think what it represents is pretty cool – the fact that you can go out and have an impact in three facets of the game,' he said.
