Dave McMenaminESPN Staff Writer4 min read
LOS ANGELES — LeBron James scored a season-high 37 points, including a go-ahead free throw with 1.9 seconds left, and led the Lakers to a 105-104 victory over the Houston Rockets in 40 minutes on Sunday. There is something to say.
It was a rare night off for the 38-year-old, who took a break from playing Madden NFL 24 as his team played six games in nine days. Posted his story on Instagram.
He shared a chart showing his 35-point performance against the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday, his 108th 30-point game since signing with Los Angeles as a free agent in 2018.
“But I’m just here to make a movie!” James wrote, referring to the ridicule he received upon leaving Cleveland. “Isn’t that what you said!?!?”
Why did he choose this moment to hit back at his critics?
“Because sometimes you need to remind people,” James said after Sunday’s win over the Rockets.
He reminded his teammates that he could still get up in the air and completed the drive with a thunderous dunk midway through the fourth quarter that gave Los Angeles a seven-point lead and caused Houston to call a timeout.
“They’ve been joking about me taking too many open layups,” James said with a satisfied smile. “So I’m trying to change that narrative as well.”
He reminded coaches who questioned earlier this season why he would pass on paper to a wide-open Cam Reddish late in games that he will continue to find open guys in clutch situations, just like he did That pass for Austin Reeves. With 24.2 seconds left in the game, Los Angeles led 103-100 on a three-pointer.
He reminded the Rockets’ Dillon Brooks, who has become his instigator in recent seasons, to breach the cage at his own risk when James scored 13 points on 5-of-6 shooting in the fourth quarter.
“It’s competition,” James said of Brooks, who elbowed James for elbowing him in the third quarter, resulting in a technical foul, and in the fourth quarter, which led to James making a “too small” call. ” gesture. After he scored inside. “Those young guys, they keep me going. So, I need them.”
He reminded himself why he wanted to continue playing in the NBA when his financial future and professional success were already guaranteed.
“Just trying to push the envelope,” James said. “Let’s see how far I can take this thing. I don’t know. I mean, it’s me versus Father Time.”
As a Lakers player, James has now scored more than 30 points in 109 games and has surpassed Kobe Bryant, the greatest player in Lakers history, to join another historical list. James scored 35 points or more in a total of 237 games in his career, surpassing Kobe’s 236 games and ranking third in history, behind only Wilt Chamberlain (381 games) and Michael Jordan (333 games).
He shot 14-for-19 (73.7%) from the field, and if he continues like this, he’ll continue to have his most efficient season ever. James is currently shooting 58.6 percent overall through 13 games this season, which is better than his best career year with the Miami Heat in 2013-14, when he shot 56.7 percent. His 39.7 percent three-point shooting is also not far off his career-high of 40.6 percent during the 2012-13 season with Miami.
“I’ve been able to play a lot more on my off days this year because of my foot injuries over the last couple of years or whatever,” James told ESPN. “So, being able to focus on everything I need to do and not be on the court while we’re playing games. Stopping every now and then allows me to maintain a rhythm.
“I got bouncy recovery, bouncy recovery, quick twitch recovery and things of that nature.”
It seemed that he had regained his energy as well. After finishing his 20th season in which he was swept out of the playoffs by the Denver Nuggets and publicly considered retirement, the following summer his oldest son, Bronny James, suffered a cardiac arrest and he was concerned about the game. The joy is palpable. season.
“One of the special things about LeBron,” Reeves said, “I’ve never really seen him in a bad mood. He’s always full of energy. He’s the oldest player in the NBA and he still acts like he’s 20 every day. Same age.”
On Sunday, he did just that with Bronny in the building after the USC freshman was able to participate in the team’s pregame warmups for the first time this season.
“I looked over one time and saw Bronny sitting on the sideline, and I was like, ‘OK, I gotta turn it up a little louder,'” James said.
Open it and turn back time.
“He’s outstanding,” Lakers coach Davon Hamm said. “We’ve all known and loved LeBron these 21 years.”