LeBron James therefore had a notable performance last night in the Lakers’ victory over the Wizards. In addition to having masterfully led his team in the absence of Anthony Davis, the number 6 of the Purple and Gold achieved a historic accomplishment that only Michael Jordan (who else ?) had reached before him.
This is still likely to give grain to grind to the defenders of the LeBron James file in the conversation of the GOAT. At 37 years and 353 days, the quadruple MVP of the regular season (2009, 2010, 2012 and 2013) and of the Finals (2012, 2013, 2016 and 2020) therefore joined His Airness to become – only – the second player of the History to score 30 points or more on four meetings in a row beyond 37 years. A feat that not even Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, another serious candidate for the title of The Goat and model of longevity and scoring if ever there was one, will have accomplished during his immense career. At home against Washington, 33 units darken the “points” column of the former Cavs and Heat player, thus concluding (or not?) a series that began on December 11 against the Pistons. While the Lakers have just (again) lost Anthony Davis, and the Suns, Kings and Mavs are on the program in the coming days, the Californian franchise which is still struggling at the start of the season (thirteen wins, sixteen losses, twelfth in the West) would really need – let’s use the terms – its leader to continue its momentum. Indeed, on these four meetings, the Angelinos have a record of three wins, including a convincing one against the Nuggets, for a single setback, a match lost by four small points against the Celtics overall much stronger this season.
LeBron James has tied Michael Jordan for the most consecutive 30-point games aged 37 or older with his FOURTH straight tonight.
Greatness personified ???? pic.twitter.com/e8bO5cjSqP
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) December 19, 2022
From a more historical point of view, this is a new opportunity seized by the King to get closer to the first place in the large number of points scored in the history of the League, occupied this time by the illustrious Kareem. As for the comparison with MJ, another match of this ilk for LBJ and the great Mike will be in the retro (even if the one who was then on an interim contract with the Wizards still managed to go to two times the bar of 40 pawns on its series, unlike the Chosen One).
Whether he does it on purpose or not, LeBron James continues, in his old age, to chase the ghost of Chicago, and his game after game performances continue to testify to his longevity at the highest level. And in a period when his Lakers are in great need of it, the Kid from Akron would do well to continue to run on this rhythm for a while longer.
