The Los Angeles Lakers are still receiving all-time LeBron James performances after the forward dropped 40 points to help a shorthanded Lakers squad without Luka Doncic to beat the Portland Trail Blazers in a 110-102 contest.
Lakers head coach JJ Redick was in awe of James’ performance, pedestalizing his efforts to still dominate the game at 40 years old as ‘the standard’ for how you’re supposed to approach basketball in the post-game press conference.
“He just defies everything that’s normal. Not just physical feats and plays, it’s the mentality. He is a billionaire and he’s playing on the second night of a back-to-back at 40 after 22 years with every freaking record and accolade. And the kids will say that I’m glazing him. He’s one of the greatest competitors.”
“He’s amazing to coach. He brings it every single day. He sets the standard of how you’re supposed to approach this craft. That to me is the most incredible thing. Just a mindset to do it, get up, next day do it, over and over again.”
JJ Redick on LeBron James:
"He's a billionaire and he's playing on the second night of a back-to-back at 40 after 22 years with every freaking record and accolade. And the kids will say that I'm glazing him. He's one of the greatest competitors"
🔥🔥
pic.twitter.com/Vo76b61aub
— Mark Jackson’s Burner (@casualtakeking) February 21, 2025
LeBron’s full stat line on the night read 40 points (14-24 FG), eight rebounds, four assists, two steals, and one block. While he did have 11 turnovers, it was due to him and Austin Reaves being the only two real on-ball offensive options the entire game. The duo combined for 72 points of the total 110, with Reaves putting up 32 points (9-21 FG) and seven assists.
LeBron is averaging 24.7 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 8.9 assists this season, which seems to guarantee another All-NBA appearance for the forward, especially if the Lakers can finish the season as a top-four seed.
James has been particularly motivated over the last 10 games, averaging 28.6 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 8.7 assists and playing three of those games alongside Luka Doncic. Doncic was expected to lighten LeBron’s load, but as the Slovenian guard is struggling, it seems the load on LeBron has increased with the loss of Anthony Davis.
These performances might not be sustainable over March and April and then in the Playoffs, so Doncic must find his rhythm and take over the load that LeBron has carried in February.
This is the greatest season we’ve ever seen from a player at age 40 and most definitely of any player in Year 22, with James and Vince Carter the only players to have made it this deep into their careers.
Carter averaged 5.0 points and 2.1 rebounds in his final season, so it’s incredible to see that LeBron is not only comfortably outperforming what Carter did; he likely could be a 20+ points scorer next season as well.
Future generations will look at LeBron’s statistical achievements and look at him like the way many modern fans look at Wilt Chamberlain. However, all these games and carefully recorded stats will be indisputable, as James is setting a new standard of greatness by sustaining it over a 22-year career.
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