Following another career milestone for LeBron James this week, Lakers coach Darvin Ham wasted no time offering a new challenge. In a video recorded in the locker room after the game, Ham can be seen congratulating the King on reaching 39,000 points before pushing him to make it 40,000 with a throwaway joke…
“Bron, congratulations on 39,000… You’ve got to get to 40,000 before you get the game ball though!”
"You've gotta get to 40k before you get the game ball." 😂 pic.twitter.com/doINW9m9Jc
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) November 22, 2023
It is the Lakers’ tradition for Ham to dedicate the game ball to one of his players after every match, and James certainly earned it after his last performance. In a 131-99 blowout win over the Utah Jazz, LeBron put up 17 points, 9 assists, and 7 rebounds in just 24 minutes of action. This kind of efficient play has been a regular occurrence for James this year and while it remains to be seen how long he can keep this going, hitting the 40,000 points mark could be a realistic goal for him if he sticks around for a few more seasons.
LeBron James Is Making History
Never before have we seen the oldest player in the NBA dominate at such a high level. for LeBron, when you consider the mileage on his body in the regular season and playoffs combined, it’s a miracle that he’s still keeping up with the game’s elite competitors today. With just a month to go before his 39th birthday, James is averaging 25.7 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 6.6 assists per game on 58.7% shooting this season. He’s almost single-handedly leading the Lakers to a playoff spot in the West, who are 9-6 on the season so far.
To date, we haven’t seen this kind of run before in the NBA. Even after 20 years, LeBron James is still one the best players in the world and it looks like he has several more seasons in him as a top-level player in the game. As the only player in league history to reach 39,000 career points, it’s not out of the question that James can hit 40,000 before it’s all said and done, and Ham better be ready to give him the game-ball the moment it happens.
Last Dance For The Lakers
Each passing year is a step closer to the end of this era for the Lakers franchise, but it seems the team has learned a thing or two from Kobe Bryant’s final seasons. With the additions of players Anthony Davis, D’Angelo Russell, Austin Reaves, and Jarred Vanderbilt, the Lakers have provided James with a quality-level roster this season and he’s doing his best to achieve the desired results.
While the Lakers have been far from perfect in the early season, there is a lot to be excited about if you’re a fan. If James can stay healthy and on the court this season, there is no limit to what they can accomplish from now to June. The only question is, how much will they be relying on LeBron to carry them there? If the Lakers are smart, they will take it easy with James and preserve his energy for the playoffs, where the real stakes are.
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