LeBron James, now 41, is expected to see his historic streak of 21 All-NBA Team selections end this season due to injuries, but he continues to be a workhorse, as Austin Reaves noted following the LA Lakers’ 134-126 win over the Miami Heat on Thursday.
It was a quick turnaround for the Lakers, who were coming off a 124-116 victory against the Houston Rockets on Wednesday, a game that tipped off at 9:30 p.m., before traveling to Miami for an 8 p.m. matchup against the Heat.
While the Lakers could have chosen to rest their stars, especially with it being their third game in a demanding six-game road trip, Reaves said James motivated the team to suit up.
“When (LeBron) said he was playing, I was like, ‘I can’t let a 41-year-old play and I not play,’ so I signed up to play, and so did Luka, and we went and grinded the win out,” Reaves said after the game (per Benjamin Royer). “It’s not an easy one, especially with the pace that (Miami) plays at.”
Despite the taxing schedule, the Lakers delivered. James recorded a 19-point, 15-rebound, 10-assist triple-double, while Luka Doncic put up a standout performance with 60 points, seven rebounds and five steals. Reaves added 18 points and five rebounds.
Reaves also recalled how James brushed off fatigue, even during the game.
“I remember there was a timeout early, and JJ (Redick) came over and was like, ‘I know y’all are tired,’ and Bron was like, ‘I’m not tired.’ So I was like, ‘I’m not tired either.’ So yeah, follow the leader; that goes along with the belief that we’re talking about.”
LeBron James Ties Long-Standing NBA Games Played Record
With his appearance in the Miami game, LeBron James matched Robert Parish’s NBA record for games played with 1,611, further highlighting his longevity.
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra, who coached James during his Miami tenure, where they won two championships together, praised his durability.
“You just have to absolutely respect his level of competitive spirit,” Spoelstra said before the game. “He’s competing against not only the entire league, but he’s competing against Father Time, and he’s giving Father Time hell. And you have to respect that.”
Earlier this month, James surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s record for career field goals. In February 2023, he overtook Abdul-Jabbar as the NBA’s all-time leading scorer and later became the only player to exceed 40,000 career points.
Another milestone held by James is the all-time record for most minutes played across the regular season and playoffs.
Earlier this year, James extended his All-Star streak to a record 22 selections. He is also a 21-time All-NBA selection, including a record 13 First Team honors, though those streaks will end this season as he will fall short of the 65-game requirement.
