After the Los Angeles Lakers’ commanding 123-103 victory over the Toronto Raptors on Sunday, head coach JJ Redick was asked whether LeBron James is more dangerous as a scorer or distributor.
Redick’s response was quick and to the point: “He’s a scorer,” prompting laughter from the media in attendance.
James had a standout performance, adding a season-high 16 assists and 19 points in the win. The Lakers’ star recorded his second consecutive triple-double, marking the 115th of his illustrious career.
In addition to his 19 points and 16 assists, James grabbed 10 rebounds, contributing across all areas of the game. He is currently averaging 23.2 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 8.9 assists per game in 34.8 minutes.
This performance was especially impressive given James’ age. At 39, in his 22nd season, he has continued to defy expectations. Since turning 37 in December 2021, he has recorded 13 triple-doubles. Only six other players in NBA history have achieved the feat after their 37th birthday.
Austin Reaves led the Purple and Gold in scoring with 27 points. The guard also dished out six assists. His and James’ leadership on the court helped propel the Lakers to victory despite the absence of Anthony Davis in the second half due to an eye injury.
Davis, who had scored 22 points, was forced to leave the game in the third quarter after taking an inadvertent blow to the face from Jakob Poeltl. The injury sidelined him for the remainder of the game, but the Lakers maintained control.
