SACRAMENTO — Halfway by means of the primary quarter Thursday night time, LeBron James checked out towards the Sacramento Kings, strolling to the bench within the metropolis the place he performed his first NBA common season minutes greater than 21 years in the past.
It could be his final stroll off the court docket earlier than attaining one other milestone. By the point his subsequent shift ended within the second quarter, he handed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for essentially the most minutes logged within the common season, breaking the earlier document of 57,446 minutes.
“I just think it’s just a commitment to the craft and to the passion and love I have for the game,” James mentioned about his achievement — one wherein he has spent greater than 957 hours taking part in in skilled basketball video games.
Nonetheless, in spite of everything that point, James is able to making profitable performs — the chase down block, the important thing defensive cease and the bully-ball dagger all taking part in a task in serving to the Lakers defeat the Kings 113-100.
Austin Reaves led the Lakers with 25 factors, James had 19 factors, six rebounds and 7 assists, and regardless of a sluggish taking pictures night time, Anthony Davis dominated with 21 factors, 4 assists and season highs of 18 rebounds and 6 blocked photographs. Davis additionally had three steals.
James ended the sport at 57,471 profession minutes after taking part in 34 minutes.
The Lakers play the Kings once more Saturday afternoon.
The minutes document comes at a time when the Lakers and James have been very in contact with how a lot he has (and hasn’t) been taking part in. James missed two video games and spent per week away from the staff, getting a psychological and bodily reset after his left foot started to trouble him.
He returned Sunday towards Memphis and had noticeably extra power on each ends of the court docket. Coach JJ Redick mentioned the staff might search for different alternatives to offer the soon-to-be 40-year-old extra relaxation.
Talking earlier than the sport, James mentioned, extra so than prior to now, he might be open to that.
“I’m just not a guy that likes to sit games if I’m somewhat healthy. It doesn’t matter. It’s just, it’s never been my thing,” James mentioned when requested about it. “…If there’s an opportunity where it could benefit my body and benefit my play long-term for the better of the team, then I’m always open to having that conversation. So we’ll see what happens.”
The Lakers, who had three days off since their final recreation, had loads of power, utilizing it towards the Kings to storm out to an early 14-point lead on the backs of their much-improved protection.
With the Kings taking part in transition protection, the Lakers had been in a position to create tons of open appears from the perimeter, making seven threes within the first quarter alone.
The sport tightened within the second, the Kings taking the lead earlier than the Lakers’ greatest gamers took management.
Reaves bought to the road and hit large photographs. Davis out-battled Domantas Sabonis, a participant he’s now bested two video games in a row. And James managed the sport with out dominating the stream of it. Gabe Vincent, who has struggled to shoot the ball since becoming a member of the Lakers, hit 4 threes.
However it was defensively the place the Lakers continued to play their greatest basketball, holding an opponent to 100 factors or fewer for the third time in 4 video games.
