It is often said in the sports world that Father Time is undefeated, but Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James is putting that adage to the test.
Following another sterling performance in the Lakers' 106-103 win over the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday night to advance to the semifinals of the in-season tournament, James commented on continuing to play at a high level despite being the NBA's oldest player at nearly 39 (starting at seven-minute mark):
Spectrum SportsNet @SpectrumSN"We feel like we can go to him at any time, and he'll make the right play." Anthony Davis & LeBron James speak on AR's importance and the team's identity as players return from injury. <a href="">
"I give myself an opportunity to, I guess, surprise myself still what I'm able to do for as long as I've been in this league and for as many miles as I've put on these tires. I wanna continue to defy the odds, continue to have this battle with Father Time that for so long everybody said has been undefeated. Trying to give it one loss."
LeBron didn't play like a typical 38-year-old on Tuesday, as he matched Phoenix Suns star Kevin Durant with a game-high 31 points, while adding 11 assists, eight rebounds and five steals.
At an age when most players see their skills wane significantly, James has remained close in line with his career averages.
In 21 games so far this season for the 13-9 Lakers, LeBron is averaging 24.7 points, 7.6 rebounds, 6.6 assists, 2.2 three-pointers made and 1.5 steals per contest.
For his career, the 19-time All-Star averages 27.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 7.3 assists, 1.6 three-pointers made and 1.5 steals.
In the midst of his 21st NBA season, James is in the MVP conversation, which is unheard of for a player his age, but perhaps it shouldn't be surprising given all of the firsts he has accomplished throughout his career.
The NBA's all-time scoring leader took the Lakers to the Western Conference Finals last season before falling to the eventual Western Conference champion Denver Nuggets, and L.A. looks like a contender once again this season.
The new in-season tournament feels bigger than normal regular-season games, so it comes as little surprise that King James has elevated his level of play.
LeBron is a four-time NBA champion and four-time NBA Finals MVP, and adding an in-season tournament crown to that list of accolades would be another cherry atop one of the greatest careers in NBA history.
James and the Lakers are just two wins away from achieving that goal. and it starts with a semifinal matchup against the New Orleans Pelicans on Thursday.
If Los Angeles manages to get past the Pels, it will set up a clash against either the Milwaukee Bucks or Indiana Pacers in the finals on Saturday night.
