LeBron James Amazes NBA Fans with Historic Triple-Double in Lakers' Win vs. Wizards

LeBron James Amazes NBA Fans with Historic Triple-Double in Lakers’ Win vs. Wizards

Posted by author January 22, 2025 NBA

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Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images

LeBron James is proof that age is just a number after recording his third triple-double since turning 40 in the Los Angeles Lakers’ 111-88 win over the Washington Wizards on Tuesday night.

The future Hall of Famer finished with 21 points, 13 assists and 10 rebounds in 36 minutes to get the Lakers back on track after Sunday’s loss to the Los Angeles Clippers.

James is now the second-oldest player in NBA history to record a triple-double. Karl Malone was 40 years, 127 days when he put up the last triple-double of his career.

LeBron did become the oldest player to record a triple-double with at least 20 points scored. Malone had 10 points, 10 assists and 11 rebounds in his historic game, which also came during his lone season with the Lakers.

StatMuse @statmuse

LeBron James tonight:
21 PTS
10 REB
13 AST
Oldest NBA player in history with a 20 PT triple-double. pic.twitter.com/68iacH9BFk

The Lakers have played 10 games since James turned 40 on Dec. 30. He is averaging 24.5 points, 8.9 assists and 6.5 rebounds during this stretch. He has three triple-doubles in the past seven games.

Even though it’s becoming harder to find new superlatives to describe James at this stage of his career, fans did shower the 20-time All-Star with praise after his historic triple-double.

Witness King James @WITNESSKJ

In the last two weeks, LeBron legitimately pulled off probably two of the more impressive dunks of his career.
At 40 years old in Year 22.
Both on 7-footers — A lefty windmill poster on a guy half his age and a poster alley-oop.
ABSOLUTELY INSANE.

73-9 and THEY LIED @CuffsTheLegend

LeBron’s actual SKILL won’t be understood or appreciated until he’s no longer playing
People who were too busy hating during his whole career are gonna look back at his old highlights and it’s gonna look insane

Crazy Stats @NBAcrazystats

Top 5 (most calendar years with a triple-double):
LeBron James – 21
Jason Kidd – 17
Russell Westbrook – 16
Larry Bird – 14
Magic Johnson – 14 https://t.co/JiD4VqkVdT

ɴᴏᴛ @georgemikan

LeBron’s first 10 games at 40 years old:
24.5 PPG on 66.3 TS%
6.5 RPG, 8.9 APG
1.1 SPG, 0.6 BPG
And two bodies caught… pic.twitter.com/Vbzzp37OTS

James got some help from his teammates in this game. Anthony Davis put up 29 points, 16 rebounds and four blocks in 32 minutes. Dorian Finney-Smith had his best performance since joining the Lakers, finishing with 16 points on 4-of-6 three-point shooting.

The win kept the Lakers in sixth place in the Western Conference with a 23-18 record. They are one game ahead of the Dallas Mavericks in the race to avoid the play-in tournament.

Things will get tougher for James and the Lakers in their next game. They will host the Boston Celtics at Crypto.com Arena on Thursday at 10 p.m. ET. It’s the first meeting between the historic rivals this season.