Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) handles the ball in the first half against the Dallas Mavericks at Crypto.com Arena on Feb 12, 2026.
LeBron James may be getting older but his game does not seem to be slowing down. James became the oldest player in NBA history to record a triple-double during the Los Angeles Lakers’ 124-104 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday night.
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James passed former Lakers forward Karl Malone (40 years, 127 days) for the record.
The Lakers were playing without superstar Luka Doncic and center DeAndre Ayton, making James’ standout performance much more crucial. James scored 28 points and recorded 10 rebounds and 12 assists to mark the 123rd triple-double of his 23-season career and his first of the 2025-26 season.
After the game, James told reporters he believes his game will remain strong for as long as he wants to play. The main factor determining the longevity of his career with the health of his aging body.
“My game is not going anywhere,” James said, per ESPN’s Dave McMenamin. “It’s just my body. It’s so many more factors that come with how long will I play the game. I don’t think my game will ever suffer if I decided to continue to go, however long that is. I just think it has to be [my mind]: How long can I stay in love with the process?”
“Because that’s always been my thing. If I can’t continue to stay in love with the process, then if [my mental commitment] goes, then my body’s going to go. And once my body goes, then it’s a wrap. Then the love goes, and then the fun and all that stuff goes. So that’s what it is. It’s not my game is deteriorating,” James added.
Feb 12, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) handles the ball in the first half against the Dallas Mavericks at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
James Is Not Eligible For End-of-Season Awards
Even though James continues to be one of the best players in the league today and has cemented himself as one of the best players in NBA history, he will not receive any end-of-season awards this year.
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James did not make his 2025-26 season debut until mid-November as he dealt with sciatica in the early season. He also has sat out of multiple back-to-back games to help preserve his body for later in the season.
After missing the game against the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday, James is no longer eligible for end-of-season awards because he will not meet the 65-game minimum requirement. This also means James will lose his 21-season All-NBA record streak.
Although he is not eligible for end-of-season award, James extended his All-Star streak to 22 seasons this year. He will represent the Western Conference and play in Sunday’s All-Star Game alongside Doncic.
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