LOS ANGELES — LeBron James’ relaxed presence during pregame activities, dancing and jerking his arms and legs on the court was night and day compared to his Monday night tone when the Lakers’ veteran star bemoaned the team’s energy levels and personal patience after they fell into a late-gam e slumber against the Oklahoma City Thunder. James screamed into the tunnel before the Lakers faced the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday, echoes making its way onto the Crypto.com Arena floor pregame. He joked around with his teammates, calling himself a “goofy 41-year-old kid,” as he parlayed Thursday’s pregame vibes into in-game success from the get-go on his way to making more NBA history. He finished with 28 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds, becoming the oldest player in league history (at 41 years and 44 days old) to record a triple-double in a 124-104 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday night, to head into the All-Star break with seven wins in their past 11 games. Milestones aren’t new for James – who’s admittedly says that the achievement itself isn’t “meaningful.” For James, it’s how night’s like Thursday – a triple-double effort – impacts victory that’s what counts. “The fact that you can go out and be able to have an impact in three facets of the game,” James said. “Rebounding, the assists obviously is what I love the most. Being able to get my guys involved throughout my career – I’ve always loved that more than anything.” The appreciation, however, is seeping through James as the final act of his NBA career continues through his 23rd season. “I definitely guess I’m more appreciative of moments like this in my career,” James said. “Understanding where I’m at. I’m at the later stage of my journey, so definitely taking it in a little bit more.” Each of the Lakers’ first 23 points came either directly from James or off an assist from their 22-time All-Star – the longest-such stretch from the four-time Most Valuable Player to begin a game in his career. He soared a pass into Jaxson Hayes’ hands for an alley-oop, drained back-to-back 3-pointers and funneled three assists to Rui Hachimura (21 points), whose nine first-quarter points were second on the team to James’ 14. Just a few minutes into the third quarter, James secured a double-double with a no-look, one-handed pass to Hayes for a dunk. He closed out the triple-double on a rebound thanks to a missed Tyus Jones’ shot with the Lakers holding a 20-point lead with two minutes left in the game. James did have to wait a little longer to reach history than expected. Reaves scraped a late-game rebound away from his elder teammate in the fourth quarter, with Coach JJ Redick turning to call a timeout moments later as the 27-year-old turned aware of the looming 10th rebound. “Everybody on the team yelled at me,” said Reaves, who finished with 18 points and six assists. “We went to the bench and … everybody let me know about it. He didn’t. But everybody did. I looked (James), and was like, ‘aw s**t, my fault.’” James’ 123rd career regular-season triple-double – his first since Feb. 1, 2025 – broke the age record held by Karl Malone, who had one for the Lakers when he was 40 years and 127 days old. “I don’t take for granted how good he is,” Redick said of James. “I recognize that on a daily basis. … The more remarkable thing is how much he cares in his 23rd year with all his accomplishments.” Redick had called the 55-game stretch through Thursday night the hardest of his 17-year career, transcending playing and coaching alike. The Lakers’ coach was referring to the emotional and mental energy expended day after day as its own challenge – minimal practice time and little rest during the midseason march toward eventual win-or-go-home games in the spring. Two nights after Redick had to sit all five of his preferred starters in a loss to the San Antonio Spurs – whether for injury or injury-related rest – the Lakers looked well-rested on Thursday, and the on-court results Redick, who said before the game that he was content with the team’s defensive identity in recent weeks, saw more of the zone-defense prowess the Lakers (33-21) delivered during most of their eight-game Grammys road trip. In their past 13 games, the Lakers have conceded more than 115 points just four times. “I think the zone has been really good for us and the guys have done a good job in communicating when we do go to man out of it,” Redick said before the game. The Lakers led by as much as 13 points in the first half, but the Mavericks (19-35) reeled them in several times, notably erasing the Lakers’ 64-51 lead for a one-point halftime advantage after Naji Marshall hit a trio of jumpers before the break. “There’s still some things that we can get a lot better at,” Redick added before the game. “And we’ll continue to chip away at it.” The Lakers pulled away for good in the third quarter, holding the Mavericks to just 19 points, while frontcourt reserves Maxi Kleber and Jarred Vanderbilt made rare 3-pointers – part of a 10-of-31 showing for the team from behind the arc) to help the Lakers push their lead as high as 22 points. Marshall (8-of-13 from the field) and Max Christie scored 19 points apiece to pace the Mavericks, who lost their ninth straight to fall into their longest skid in 28 seasons. The Lakers outrebounded the Mavericks 44-28, dominating the paint with Dallas rookie star forward Cooper Flagg out with a foot sprain. Dismantling the Mavericks could help the Lakers turn the page – matching last year’s record at this point – after only having Luka Doncic, James and Reaves start and finish seven games together this season. The Lakers should have all three stars healthy and available post-All-Star Break. Sitting at the other end of the locker room, Reaves watched as James addressed the media after another record night for ‘The King.’ He’s one of the players that James said he hopes to set an example for – the younger group of Lakers bound to make an impact regardless his lasting figure in Los Angeles. “My voice is commanding,” James said. “That’s always been one of the biggest things for me, to be able to voice what I see and breathe life, breathe confidence into my teammates. But also being able to set an example, too.” Reaves sees it. He recognizes it. A few years ago, watching the game from the end of the bench with James in Minnesota, the former undrafted free agent came to a realization of his star teammate as his own budding star began to rise. “I was just like, ‘If there’s anybody in the basketball world that has the right to wake up some days on the wrong side of the bed, he could probably get away with it.’” Reaves said. “But he never does. He’s always got a smile on his face.” “When you look across the room and you got a guy that’s 41-years-old, enjoying every second of it – good and bad – it kind of leads the team to do the same thing.” Related Articles Lakers’ Luka Doncic ‘progressing good’ but All-Star status is unclear NBA All-Star Weekend: What you need to know Alexander: Lakers haven’t been paragons of consistency so far Lakers’ Bronny James senses growth in Year 2 Victor Wembanyama scores season-high 40 as Spurs bury depleted Lakers ...read more read less