LeBron Oldest Player with 3-Straight Triple-Doubles

Lakers LeBron James turns back time on Wednesday.
Whether James, at 39 years-of-age and turns 40 on December 30, could still dominate a basketball game on both ends of the floor was never a burning question. The entire world just witnessed him do it in August during the Paris Olympics Games, where he won a gold medal and was named tournament MVP. The question was whether he could consistently do it over the long duration of a 82-game NBA season.

Does three consecutive triple-doubles answer that question?

LeBron made history Wednesday night as the oldest player in NBA history to record three straight triple-doubles, scoring 35 points while shooting 4-of-7 from 3-point range, with 14 dimes and 12 rebounds and doing it at age 39, leading the Lakers to a win over the Memphis Grizzlies.

LeBron broke his own record. He had been the oldest player to record three consecutive triple-doubles at age 34. LeBron was nonchalant about the incredible feat. Three straight triple-doubles ties the longest streak at any point in his 22-year Hall of Fame career.

“I’m being very patient and taking what the defense gives me,” LeBron said. “I’ve been doing it for a while, so I understand the time and score. I understand the ways and the swings of a game, so nothing new to me.”

His coach, teammates and even his opposition were a little more effusive in their praise.

“He’s mastered the game, and we don’t win that game, obviously, without him,” Lakers first-year coach J.J. Redick said.

“Man, that’s why he’s one of the greatest players to ever play this game,” the Grizzlies’ Marcus Smart said. “You’ve got to respect it and tip your cap. That’s not easy to do. Not everybody can do that. He’s still going and he’s not missing a beat.”

The Lakers need every last ounce of what LeBron has to offer. He remains the tone-setter for this team and organization. Anthony Davis leads the team in scoring and rebounding, but he plays the role of the closer, it is LeBron who sets the table and has the Lakers flowing. When Davis is struggling or in foul trouble, as he was for three quarters Wednesday night, the Lakers can still flourish because LeBron gets everyone going. His Lakers teammates are trying to take some of that pressure off the ‘Kings’ shoulders.

“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,” Rui Hachimura said. “I think it’s a lot of the weight [and] pressure off him.”

Fortunately for the Lakers, there have been nights far and few between, that LeBron has needed off so far this season.

“I’m just living in the moment,” LeBron said. “It feels good to be able to go out and play the game that I love at a high level still.”