LeBron James is not human.
In his 20th season in the NBA and on his 38th birthday, the man better known as “The King” proved once more he’s arguably the greatest player in the history of the game.
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Having lost five of their past six encounters, the Los Angeles Lakers season and their playoff hopes are hanging by a thread.
But on Saturday that was all put in the rearview mirror as James put the team on his back against the Atlanta Hawks and delivered his latest mind-blowing performance.
James secured the 130-121 victory with a hard to comprehend stat line of 47 points, 10 rebounds and 9 assists.
Fans watching on simply couldn’t believe what they’d just witnessed from the man in his 20th season at the top level.
NBA journalist Nick Wright wrote: “38 years old. 20 years in the league. 47-10-9 on 67 per cent in a shorthanded win. Simply put: The greatest to ever do it. And when it’s all said and done, folks won’t believe it was ever a debate.”
Sporting News’ Micah Adams wrote: “LeBron James is the only player in NBA history with multiple 40-point games on a birthday. He did it at 25. Now he does it at 38. Just absolutely remarkable.”
While all eyes were transfixed on James, Russell Westbrook produced once again off the bench, finishing with 14 points, 8 rebounds and 11 assists. Thomas Bryant had 19 points and 17 rebounds as Dennis Schroder had 12 points and nine assists.
While the Lakers sit in a dismal 13th in the Western Conference, three games out of a play-in spot, James has continued to produce at absurd levels.
Speaking on his show First Things First on FS1, Wright pointed out just how ridiculous James has been during a season when past greats were a shadow of themselves.
“LeBron said that he was going to play until he was 45, that would be another 7 years,” Wright said.
“While I don’t think that’s realistic, I also think that we should take a moment and realise what LeBron’s doing right now is not realistic either but we’re seeing it every night.
“Only 10 guys have ever made it to year 20, only 4 of them in year 20 averaged 10 points a game.
“Kareem Abdul Jabbar averaged 10, Dirk Nowitzki averaged 12, Kobe Bryant was the high-water mark … he averaged 17 but he also shot 35 per cent.
“LeBron meanwhile is right now one of 9 guys in the league giving you 25-5-5. You want to make it 26-6-6, it’s LeBron, Steph Curry, Luka Doncic, Ja Morant and Pascal Siakam.
“It’s the best players in the league and Pascal Siakam who is a nice player and then LeBron James.”
The Lakers return to action on January 3 when they take on the Charlotte Hornets in the final game of their away trip.