LeBron James shone in the Los Angeles Lakers’ 123-100 victory over the Toronto Raptors on Sunday night at Crypto.com Arena. In his 22nd NBA season, James continues to impress, and during his postgame press conference, he acknowledged how special it is but made it clear that he won’t keep playing indefinitely. Unlike many NBA legends who play past their prime, James is determined to walk away before he can no longer dominate on the court. While most would expect a 39-year-old player to slow down, this “old man” shows no signs of losing his edge.
James finished the game with 19 points, 10 rebounds, 16 assists, and one steal, marking his second consecutive triple-double. He is now the oldest player to record back-to-back triple-doubles. For the 2024-25 season, James is averaging 23.2 points, 7.7 rebounds, 8.9 assists, 0.6 steals, and 0.6 blocks per game. He’s also been highly efficient, shooting 51.5% from the field, 44.4% from three (a career-high), and 81.6% from the free-throw line (another career-best).
Such numbers would be impressive for any player at their peak, but James is posting them just over a month before turning 40, which is a remarkable feat in itself. It’s hard to believe, but it seems he could keep this up for at least another season or two, a testament to his extraordinary talent.
James’ strong performance in the win was partly due to the absence of Anthony Davis, who left the game in the third quarter with an eye injury. James stepped up, grabbing key defensive rebounds in Davis’ absence and taking on more responsibility. In his postgame interview, LeBron explained that he had no choice but to take on a bigger role. While it’s uncertain whether Davis will miss additional games, if he does, James will once again be tasked with carrying a heavier load.
Next up for the Lakers is a home game against the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday at 10 PM ET. Davis missed the previous matchup against Memphis, which ended in a 131-114 loss for the Lakers. If Davis is unavailable again, the odds of a win seem slim, but with James on the roster, the Lakers’ chances always remain unpredictable.