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LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers protects the ball during a game against the Dallas Mavericks.
Jason Kidd has watched LeBron James from every possible vantage point across over two decades — as an NBA opponent, as a teammate on the 2008 U.S. Olympic “Redeem Team,” as an assistant coach during the Los Angeles Lakers’ 2020 championship run, and now from the opposing bench.
After James delivered another historic performance Thursday night, Kidd said the most astonishing part isn’t the box score — it’s the mindset required to keep competing at this level against players barely out of their teens.
James recorded 28 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds to lead the Lakers to a 124–104 victory over Kidd’s Dallas Mavericks at Crypto.com Arena. At 41 years and 44 days old, James became the oldest player in NBA history to record a triple-double, surpassing a record set by Karl Malone in 2003.
The crowd rose for a standing ovation as James exited late in the fourth quarter, recognizing yet another milestone in a career that continues to stretch the limits of longevity.
Kidd: Mental Commitment Is the Hardest Part at 41
“Physically, LeBron has taken care of his body,” Kidd told the Los Angeles Times. “He’s always prepared himself for the marathon. But I think it’s the mental side that’s the hardest part.”
Kidd explained why.
“To wake up and say, ‘Do I really need to go play against an 18-year-old or a 19-year-old?’” Kidd said. “That’s hard.”
The Mavericks coach said that question is what separates James from nearly every player of his generation — most of whom are retired, coaching, or working in front offices.
“[LeBron’s] won championships. He’s been an MVP, the face of the league,” Kidd said. “He’s a billion-dollar company. And yet he still loves competition. He still loves the game of basketball.”
That internal drive, Kidd said, is what allows James to keep returning to the grind — and thriving — in a league increasingly dominated by youth.
Lakers Lean on LeBron With Dončić Sidelined
Kidd had a courtside view, albeit on the opposing bench, as James once again translated mentality into control.
With Luka Dončić sidelined for a fourth straight game due to a hamstring strain, James asserted himself immediately. He scored 14 points and dished out six assists in the first quarter, dictating tempo from the opening minutes.
James reached double figures in assists during the third quarter and stayed on the floor deep into the fourth before finally securing the rebound that sealed the historic triple-double. It was a complete performance, built on command rather than stats padding.
“It’s pretty impressive,” Kidd said after the game. “I think stat might be wrong, but he is leading the league in fast break points, I think. And so, understanding that he’s playing the game at a high level at 41 to put up a triple-double is really amazing. And it just shows for someone that’s taking care of his body and mind up to this point, is playing the game the right way, and at a high level.”
Lakers Oldest Star Still Outrunning Players Half His Age
Kidd isn’t far off.
James is averaging 7.1 fastbreak points per game, second in the NBA behind only Giannis Antetokounmpo, who is 10 years younger. The numbers reinforce Kidd’s larger point: James is not surviving on reputation.
He is still competing — and winning — against the league’s youngest athletes.
James: Love for the Process Will Decide the End
After the win, James echoed Kidd’s assessment, making clear that his future will be dictated by mindset, not skill.
“My game is not going anywhere,” James said. “It’s just my body — and my mind. How long can I stay in love with the process?”
James said once the mental commitment fades, everything else follows.
“If the mind goes, the body goes,” he said. “And once that happens, it’s a wrap.”
For now, the commitment remains firm.
As Kidd sees it, James’ willingness to keep lining up against teenagers — night after night — is what truly sets him apart. At 41 years and 44 days, when most NBA greats are far removed from the grind, James continues to embrace it.
Alder Almo is a sports journalist covering the NBA for Heavy.com. He has more than 20 years of experience in local and international media, including broadcast, print and digital. He previously covered the Knicks for Empire Sports Media and the NBA for Off the Glass. Alder is from the Philippines and is now based in Jersey City, New Jersey. More about Alder Almo
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