LOS ANGELES (USA) - In Wednesday's 128-123 home win over the Memphis Grizzlies, the 39-year-old James had 35 points, 12 rebounds and 14 assists to become the oldest player in NBA history to record three straight triple-doubles.
James had 19 points, 10 rebounds and 16 assists in LA's previous game against Toronto, a 123-103 Laker win, and 21 points, 12 rebounds and 13 assists in the game before that, a 116-106 home conquest of Philadelphia. 3 TD and 3 wins for the Lakers.
Exceptional performances for James, it seems, are still the norm. Can he gets a fourth one on Saturday in San Antonio?
Without question, James' summer with the USA has helped him to continue playing at an extraordinary level. He said as much on the Lakers media day.
"That was pretty cool to know that from an individual standpoint you can be out there with the best players in the world, and still be able to have a big part of it not only on the floor but off it, so that was dope," he said of his 2024 Olympic experience.
"When you're along with 11 other unbelievable great talents, some of the best talent we've ever seen, it gives you a lot of joy to be able to play the game, be able to play at a high level, come to work every day, push each other, and for myself individually, to go out there at may age, the miles that I have and to be able to play at the level I played at, I was like, 'Okay, I do have a lot in the tank. A lot!'"
Stephen Curry's cascade of 3-pointers in the USA's come-from-behind triumph over Serbia in the Semi-Finals at the Olympics in Paris grabbed most of the headlines yet someone else had an incredible game that night.
While Curry buried 9 of 14 treys on his way to 36 points in that 95-91 American win, LeBron James had arguably the best game of his USA career.
The four-time NBA MVP had just the second triple-double in the USA jersey, and one that was far more important than the one achieved in a 119-86 Quarter-Final victory over Australia at the 2012 Olympics.
Without his 16 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists against Nikola Jokić and Serbia, the USA would not have won the game or advanced to the Final in France. He became the only player in Olympic Tournament history to record two triple-doubles. The King.
FIBA