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SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - FEBRUARY 19: LeBron James #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers speaks during a press conference prior to the 2023 NBA All Star Game between Team Giannis and Team LeBron at Vivint Arena on February 19, 2023 in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
Stretching his entire 6-foot-9 frame, LeBron James punched the basketball out of the bursting Reed Sheppard’s hands.
It was crunch-time, a three-point game that saw the Los Angeles Lakers trailing. The game was just over 22 seconds from a potential winner being decided.
Something had to give.
James, recalibrating after swiping the ball from the Rockets, struggled to corral a long touch pass from Marcus Smart.
Fumbling with the ball, James was able to bump the basketball over to teammate Luke Kennard, who then gave the back right back to James.
Who proceeded to hit nothing but net on a game-tying 3-pointer.
The 117th of his heavily-decorated career.
During the Lakers-Rockets broadcast on Amazon Prime, announcer Stan Van Gundy, a former coach in 11 NBA seasons, said while there may be a debate for who the greatest player of all time is, there is no denying who has had the greatest career ever.
LeBron James.
GettyLeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers gestures during the pregame ritual prior to the first quarter of the game against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center on April 24, 2026 in Houston, Texas.
Later that night, the 41-year-old James backed Van Gundy’s point by moving up to No. 4 in 3-pointers made in the playoffs in Lakers franchise history, supplanting Byron Scott, a central figure of the “Showtime” dynasty of the 1980s.
The Lakers official X account confirmed the news after the game.
Including the regular season, James trails only Kobe Bryant for the most 3-pointers in Lakers franchise history.
In NBA history, James is sixth in 3-pointers made. Pretty jarring to think about given James’ nature as a powerful scorer over his 23 years playing professional basketball. The outside shot has never been the four-time MVP’s forte, but his sustained greatness continues to transcend numerous records.
The 3-pointer James hit with just over 13 seconds left in the fourth quarter of last night’s win in Houston only added to his list of stunning postseason hits.
Acting as the Lakers’ third option as recently as three weeks ago, James assumed the role of closer in lifting his team to a commanding 3-0 series lead in the first round.
Twenty-three days ago, the Lakers were written off. Their season, for all intents and purposes, felt over.
Stars Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves incurred a pair of Grade 2 stains on the same day. Without their two leading scorers, the Lakers went on to lose the next three games in humiliating fashion.
Just a few short weeks later, those same two stars are watching Mr. Third Option, the timeless wonder himself, step into a heavily-pressurized role and deliver excellence.
Through three games so far in this first round series against the Rockets, the 41-year-old James is averaging 25.3 points, 9.7 rebounds and 8.7 assists per game.
Something about those numbers evoke memories of 2016, 2018, maybe even 2020.
Adel Ahmad Adel is a writer with over five years of experience covering the NBA. His work has appeared on various media platforms, both national and local. More about Adel Ahmad
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