LeBron James registered the 40th 30-point triple-double of his career to help the Los Angeles Lakers record a 128-123 win over the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday.
James finished with 35 points on 13-for-22 shooting (4-of-7 from 3), 14 assists and 12 rebounds and once again carried the team on his shoulders. At 39 years, James also became the oldest to register three straight triple-double.
“He’s mastered the game, and we don’t win that game, obviously, without him,” Redick said.
James said he has all the experience under his belt and he just tries to give his best for the team.
“Just being very patient and taking what the defense gives me,” James said of the feat. “I’ve been doing it for a while. So, I understand time and score. I understand the waves and the swings of the game. So, it’s nothing new to me.”
“I’m just living in the moment,” James said of the triple-doubles at this stage of his career. “It feels good to be able to go out and play the game that I love at a high level still. And every night I step out on the floor, I try to help our team be successful in any way, shape, form or fashion. So, in that sense it’s pretty cool.”
On the other hand, Rui Hachimura reckons they are sometimes overdependent on LeBron James but at the same time, they are trying to help each other on the court.
“We kind of rely on him a lot sometimes, but I think now we have a good system of helping each other kind of on the court, offensively, defensively,” Hachimura said. “I think it’s a lot of the weight [and] pressure off him. … He can kind of be kind of chill and then still he can be himself. I think it’s good.”
The Lakers will next take on the San Antonio Spurs on Friday.