LOS ANGELES — LeBron James achieved a remarkable triple-double on the court after celebrating his 40th birthday. The remarkable part is that he accomplished this feat less than 24 hours after taking a round trip flight from Los Angeles to Atlanta to support his beloved Ohio State Buckeyes in the College Football Playoff championship game. This level of athleticism and stamina is common among sports legends.
In the Lakers’ decisive 111-88 win against the Washington Wizards on Tuesday night, James accumulated 21 points, 13 assists, and 10 rebounds, showcasing no signs of fatigue or jet lag. The previous night, he had been over 2,200 miles away, enjoying the game from a luxury suite at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, celebrating the Buckeyes’ championship victory over Notre Dame with close friends and family.
Reflecting on his experience, James expressed, “It was great to be there. I was there 10 years ago, I believe, when they won it. I was there in Dallas when they won it. To be there yesterday with a lot of my family and friends, it was super cool to be able to have that moment. We’re all diehard Ohio State fans back home.”
Since his upbringing in Akron, Ohio, James has been a steadfast supporter of Ohio State football. Whether watching from home or attending games whenever possible, he remembers vividly when Urban Meyer led the Buckeyes to victory over Oregon at the inaugural College Football Playoff in January 2015 at AT&T Stadium.
Even though James is a four-time NBA champion, he identifies as an ardent sports fan who revels in the excitement of historic sporting events. He mentioned, “Anytime you see championship-caliber teams go out and play to a level of excellence, it’s always inspiring. No matter if it’s college or if it’s pros, whatever the case may be, it’s always inspiring. So I’m always inspired by greatness.”
While a typical long-distance journey might be exhausting, James traveled in the comfort of a private jet, easing some of the strain. Just two days before the game against the Wizards, he scored 25 points in a matchup against the Los Angeles Clippers, solidifying his performance upon return with his 121st career triple-double, ranking fifth in NBA history for such achievements.
His weekend in Dallas a decade ago was similarly spectacular. At that time, playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers, he also managed to fly out for the Buckeyes’ title game despite having games scheduled around that date, returning to score 33 points against the Suns the next day, showcasing remarkable determination.
In this season alone, James has notched nine triple-doubles, with this being his first since his milestone birthday on December 30. He’s halfway through his historic 22nd NBA season, demonstrating little sign of wavering performance, averaging 23.8 points, 8.9 assists, and 7.4 rebounds per game.
The only other player in NBA history to achieve a triple-double in their 40s is Karl Malone, who accomplished this when he was 105 days older than James during a game for the Lakers on November 28, 2003. Over the last two seasons, James has tallied 14 triple-doubles, invariably making him the second-oldest player to do so each time, further extending his remarkable legacy.
