After becoming the oldest player in league history to record a 30-point triple-double in the Los Angeles Lakers' 106-94 win over the Orlando Magic on Sunday, LeBron James said the key to his eye-catching performance was an abundance of shut-eye.
James flew to Phoenix on Saturday to watch his son lead his high school team to a victory, and then slept for 12 hours before the Magic game.
I got up and ate breakfast and went back to sleep at 11:30 a.m.
James is the oldest player ever to record a triple-double at 36 years old. Bryant was 36 years, 99 days old when he had 31 points, 11 rebound and 12 assists in a win over the Toronto Raptors.
The Lakers have won three of their past four games, with James scoring 30 points in all of them.
James was asked how sustainable his burst can be.
"Who me?" How do I keep playing? He has been doing it for 19 years. Do what I've been doing. I feel like I'm getting better every day. I'm getting better.
James, who missed 10 of the Lakers' first 16 games because of injuries, has improved his play as the season has gone on. In the first eight games, James averaged 22.8 points on 50% shooting with 5.1 rebound and 6.1 assists. In his past eight, he has averaged 29.8 points on 50% shooting, 7.3 rebound and 8.0 assists.
James brushed off talk that his workload was too much to handle at this stage of his career after a win over the Celtics. His minutes per game average is the most he has played since he joined the Lakers, and it is also the most he played last season.
That's just my mindset. James said not to get involved in how many minutes he played or days off. I don't limit myself to that. Negative thoughts or negative energy just creeps into your mind. I'm as young as I've ever been.
James was at his best in the third quarter on Sunday, scoring 14 points on 5-for-7 shooting and adding three assists and two blocked shots, flying all over the court and sending the crowd into a frenzy. The Lakers dominated the third quarter, out scoring the Magic 36-10) and holding them to 2-for-23 shooting. It was the best defensive quarter for the Lakers since 1999.
"When he's just being aggressive, he's aggressive in making the right plays and reads, our team's different," Russell said of James. He imposed his will tonight.
Talen Horton-Tucker was asked what it was like to play with someone who is nearly 16 years his senior.
Horton-Tucker had two of his six steals in that dominant third quarter, and he said it gave him energy. "It makes me think that I should do the same thing again."
James said that being around the Sierra Canyon High School team has made him feel younger.
James said that he had to sleep to have his energy. My son and his team inspire me.
Lakers coach Frank Vogel said he has adjusted the team's schedule in recent seasons to give his players more time to rest on game days.
Over the last couple years, a group has gone almost entirely away from morning shootarounds. When we give them the morning off, we typically have more juice.
James has left his Hall of Fame career without fear of being emptied of his tank before the playoffs, but that's not what Vogel wants.
"He has a lot of resources with him," Vogel said. We have to be just the way he plays. That's Lakers basketball. It doesn't matter who our opponent is, what their record is, what the situation is. We want to play harder than our opponent.
We've been that way for the last couple years. It has not always been there for us this year. I think our guys are aware of that. They're trying to play at the highest level. Building championship habits in regular-season games. He's setting a good tone for us.
