The basketball planet was aware, this Friday LeBron James celebrated his 38th birthday. But what can you give a man who can afford almost anything? Well this year, LeBron simply offered the Hawks with a scoring record for the season at stake: victory for the Lakers (130-121), and 47 points for the legend of the Lakers!
It’s so easy for him that it’s become predictable.
With his mother and wife sitting in the front row of the State Farm Arena? With the Hawks he beat throughout his career? With Lakers struggling and fewer players in the opposite camp? It was far too good to be true, and far too big not to enjoy.
LeBron did what LeBron does, which is to cement his legend.
In a complete register, all in power but also in finesse, the King gave no chance to John Collins, Jalen Johnson and company who were sent in defense on him this evening.
We also knew that the level of frustration was very high at LeBron and the Lakers, especially following this post-game conference in Miami during which LBJ seemed to be at its lowest. If he had faced a big team in form, the outcome would have been significantly different but Atlanta being in a real hurricane internally, it was too opportune not to take advantage of it.
47 points, 10 rebounds and 9 assists at 18/27 shooting including 4/6 three-pointers, that’s a great birthday.
47 PTS
10 REB
9 AST
Lakers WLeBron showed out on his 38th birthday. pic.twitter.com/33lO5BnVpo
— NBA (@NBA) December 31, 2022
And the worst ? It’s that LeBron had announced his performance in advance, as Dennis Schröder confirmed in the post-game interview.
LeBron had gone to some of his teammates and announced that he would plant 40 minimum, as a perfectly logical self-gift.
“I was planting 30 points lately but it wasn’t working so I decided to plant 40.”
That’s the kind of masterclass LeBron James actually sent tonight, like an exclamation point on his huge season and his rise to scoring heights. The recent feeling is also that of catching up with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as soon as possible, so as not to take any risks. Injuries, uncertainties, anything can happen in the NBA. The King must therefore cross the finish line as quickly as possible, and it is with this kind of performance that KAJ begins to give way, slowly but surely.
For Lakers fans, this is obviously the perfect gift for December 31st.
And for LeBron? It’s just one more legendary performance in the career of one of the greatest athletes of all time.
Happy birthday, Bron !