LeBron, 41, Ties NBA Games Record With Triple-Double

At 41 years old, LeBron James just made history twice in one night and inspired an entire team to follow his lead.

Playing in his 1,611th regular season game Thursday night, James tied Robert Parish's NBA record for most games ever played. He celebrated by posting a 19-point, 15-rebound, 10-assist triple-double in the Lakers' 134-126 victory over Miami, becoming the oldest player in league history to achieve that feat.

The night before, James had taken a hard fall and banged his elbow in a physical win against Houston. The team didn't arrive at their Miami hotel until after 5 a.m., with players finally reaching their rooms at 5:10 a.m.

When coach JJ Redick approached the bench during a sluggish start, trying to sympathize about fatigue, James shut down the excuse. Guard Austin Reaves recalled the moment: "Bron was like, 'I'm not tired.' So I was like, 'I'm not tired either.' Follow the leader."

James made his first seven shots and didn't miss until the fourth quarter, finishing the two-game stretch shooting an incredible 26 for 28 from the field. His last 13-for-14 shooting performance came 13 years ago in 2013.

Star guard Luka Doncic, dealing with hip soreness, followed James's example and exploded for 60 points. The performance included 20 fourth-quarter points that electrified the crowd into "MVP" chants.

Even Reaves, nursing a bruised shooting wrist, pushed through. "When he said he was playing, I can't let a 41-year-old play and I not play," Reaves said. The trio had decided together in the locker room before coaches even arrived that they were all suiting up.

Why This Inspires

James has spent decades perfecting a meticulous pregame routine that takes hours to complete. Teammates a decade younger than him have never beaten him to the arena on game days, though they keep trying.

His dedication forces everyone around him to raise their standards. "You see this guy who has done everything in this league, accomplished everything, he's still coming out here every day with that professional attitude," said 32-year-old guard Marcus Smart.

Coach Redick called James "a psycho" with affection, awe and respect. Heat coach Erik Spoelstra, who coached James in 2013, summed it up perfectly: "He's not only competing against the entire league but also Father Time. And he's giving Father Time hell."

The Lakers have now won eight consecutive games and sit third in the Western Conference, playing their best basketball when it matters most.