After his 40-point performance against the Brooklyn Nets, LeBron James merely hinted at how long he expects to continue playing in the NBA, admitting to being on the ‘other side of the hill’ and having little time remaining in the league.
On Sunday, after tying his career-high number of three-pointers made (9) in a game since being chosen 21 years ago, James remained tight-lipped about when it would be appropriate to say farewell to the league in which he has played since 2003.
‘Not very long, I’m not going to play another 21 years, that’s for sure,’ he remarked after putting down all but one shot from beyond the arc. ‘I am not sure when that door will close, but I don’t have much time left.’
James once again appeared to be an ageless wonder as he led the Los Angeles Lakers to a 116-104 victory over the Nets on Easter.
James had the sellout crowd at Barclays Center on their feet as he finished his 3-point shooting extravaganza in the fourth quarter. He has hit 40 points three times this season, most recently on March 16 in a home defeat to Golden State.
The Lakers have won five of their last six games, and this victory puts them nine games ahead of.500 with seven games left in the regular season. Los Angeles stayed ninth in the Western Conference, but the Lakers may pass the Sacramento Kings for eighth or the Phoenix Suns for seventh, excluding them from the single-elimination No. 9 vs. No. 10 play-in game.
If James plays another game like this in the playoffs, everything is possible for the NBA’s career scoring leader, who continues to astound at the age of 39.
The 20-time All-Star went 13 for 17 overall as the Lakers played the fourth game of a six-game road trip, rebounding from a setback in Indiana on Friday night that ended their five-game win run.
‘I spent a lot of time working on my skill,’ James explained.
Anthony Davis contributed 24 points and 14 rebounds, while Rui Hachimura scored 20 points and 10 rebounds in a game that the Lakers led by 20 in the first quarter and dominated throughout. Brooklyn’s deficit reached double digits just once in the second half.
Cam Thomas led the Nets with 30 points, attempting to rally them after a disappointing start.
‘But you can’t do anything when someone goes 9 for 10 from three,’ Thomas explained. ‘Made every three he put up, so it’s tough, but I think we played pretty well from second to fourth. It was only that the first quarter was difficult for us since we started so slowly.
The starters accounted for 114 of the Lakers’ 116 points.
James also made nine 3-pointers on January 24, 2023, against the Clippers, going 9 for 14. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, his 90 percent accuracy was the second-best of his career in games with at least five three-pointers made. He went 5 for 5 against Oklahoma City on December 23 of this season.
The Lakers next face the Toronto Raptors on Easter Monday.