LeBron James becomes second oldest player to record triple double

LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 30: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during the game against the Sacramento Kings on April 30, 2021 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2021 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images)

Los Angeles Lakers small forward LeBron James of Akron, Ohio, the National Basketball Association’s all-time leading scorer, continues to make NBA history. On Tuesday night in a 111-88 Lakers win over the Washington Wizards, James had a triple double. He had 21 points, 13 assists and 10 rebounds. In the process, James became the second oldest player in NBA history to record a triple double according to nba.com. James accomplished the feat at 40 years and 22 days.

The oldest player in NBA history to record a triple double was former Lakers power forward Karl Malone of Summerfield, Louisiana who was 40 years and 127 days old when the Lakers beat the San Antonio Spurs 103-87 on November 20, 2003. Malone had 10 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists.

James and Malone are in fact the only two NBA players to record a triple double at 40 years of age or older. In 2019, James and Malone made our top 10 greatest player list of all-time. James was ranked number four at the time (probably higher now), and Malone was at number eight.

James continues to play basketball at a very high level. So far this season he is averaging 23.7 points per game, nine assists per game, and 7.5 rebounds per game. He also has a field goal percentage of .513, three point percentage of .398, and a free throw percentage of .763. James leads the Lakers in assists per game and is second in points per game and rebounds per game. Meanwhile, center Anthony Davis of Chicago, Illinois leads the Lakers in points per game (25.7) and rebounds per game (11.9).

The Lakers are at 23 wins and 18 losses for a winning percentage of .561. That is the fifth best record in the NBA’s Western Conference at this time.

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