3:44 AM
The Los Angeles Lakers could have big things in store if they play like the first game of the second half of the 20th century.
James scored a season-high 43 points in just 29 minutes in the Lakers' 139-106 win over the Portland Trail blazers, dominating the action from the start as he scored the game's first five points in the first 46 seconds.
James became the oldest player since Michael Jordan in 2003 to put up a 40-point, 10-rebound stat line as he shot 16-for-26 from the floor, five-for-ten from 3-point range, and added 14 rebound, four assists, two steals, and two blocks.
James became the oldest player to have 40 points in 30 minutes of play as well as the oldest to have at least 40 points and 14 rebound, according to research by the sports network.
James said his birthday celebration was centered around watching movies on the couch with his family, having some wine and tequila, and being in bed by 10:30.
He said that sometimes he has to remind people that he can still do what he does at a high level. That's what it all comes down to. Everything else will take care of itself if the work is put in.
James posted a picture of himself smiling after his first game as a 37 year old.
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The Lakers have a difficult second half of the season ahead of them. Things are going to become much harder after the last couple of months when things were much easier.
You can't count L.A. out if James can continue his tear.
His average of 28.0 points per game this season is his best since he played for the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2009, and he scored 30 points or more in his seventh straight game on Friday. James is the oldest player in NBA history with seven straight 30-point games.
James had an incredible month in December, when L.A. slipped in the rankings. He was the oldest player in league history to average 30 points per game in a month, beating Jordan who was 34 when he averaged 30.7 points per game in January 1998. He had 10 30-point games in a calendar month for the third time in his career, but the first time since 2006
He scored 40 or more in a game for the first time in his career, as he did all his damage in 29 minutes of playing time. It was the second time in his career that he scored 40 and had zero turnovers. He did it for the Miami Heat.
James has averaged 36 points on 58 percent shooting and 42% from 3-point range over the past seven games, while adding 11 rebound and 6.1 assists per game, while picking up the slack in Anthony Davis' absence since he went down with a left knee injury. He's the sixth player in league history to hit that stat line over a seven-game stretch, joining Jordan, Larry Bird, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Wilt Chamberlain.
James said that he wasn't a guy that just went out and saw if he could jack a bunch of shots. I want to be efficient all the time. As far as my scoring goes, I've been very efficient as well. I take a lot more pride in that than in the score. That's who I am as a basketball player.
The season has been difficult so far, but James continues to give hope, according to the Lakers coach.
"He exemplifies going out and playing until exhaustion, and James called for a sub because he had so much energy at one point," said Vogel. "That's how we want our group to play, that's how we should play the game, so play the game to exhaustion and he's showing that."
His energy in film sessions and work away from the game is like a mental energy. He brings a positive vibe to our team. He doesn't let the noise or the negative vibes affect our group.
