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Dave McMenamin, ESPN Staff Writer
LOS ANGELES — LeBron James recorded the 40th 30-point triple-double of his career Wednesday, a month before his 40th birthday, in the Los Angeles Lakers‘ 128-123 win over the Memphis Grizzlies.
“He’s mastered the game, and we don’t win that game, obviously, without him,” Redick said after James finished with 35 points on 13-for-22 shooting (4-of-7 from 3), 14 assists and 12 rebounds.
It was James’ fourth triple-double of the season through 11 games to bring his career regular-season total up to 116. And it was his third straight, all coming in wins during L.A.’s 3-0 homestand. The Lakers are 6-0 at home to start the season for the first time since 2010-11.
The triple-double streak is tied for the longest of James’ 22-year career, matching the three he had from Nov. 1-5, 2019; Dec. 14-17, 2017; and March 7-12, 2009. At age 39, he is the oldest player in NBA history to record three straight triple-doubles.
“Just being very patient and taking what the defense gives me,” James said of the feat. “I’ve been doing it for a while. So, I understand time and score. I understand the waves and the swings of the game. So, it’s nothing new to me.”
With Anthony Davis (21 points, 14 rebounds, 3 blocks) picking up his fifth foul in the third quarter and needing to go to the bench or risk fouling out before crunch time, James played 11 out of 12 minutes in the fourth and controlled the action, posting 9 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists as L.A. outscored Memphis 37-27 to pull away.
“I’m just living in the moment,” James said of the triple-doubles at this stage of his career. “It feels good to be able to go out and play the game that I love at a high level still. And every night I step out on the floor, I try to help our team be successful in any way, shape, form or fashion. So, in that sense it’s pretty cool.”
Lakers forward Rui Hachimura, one of five L.A. players to score 18 points or more against the Grizzlies, said the team is built to allow James to impact the game without needing to do it all.
“We kind of rely on him a lot sometimes, but I think now we have a good system of helping each other kind of on the court, offensively, defensively,” Hachimura said. “I think it’s a lot of the weight [and] pressure off him. … He can kind of be kind of chill and then still he can be himself. I think it’s good.”