LOS ANGELES – The whistle blew. The ball sailed into the basket. And then LeBron James roared.
From nearly halfcourt, the Lakers’ star had just driven past Grizzlies forward Dillon Brooks. James then bulldozed through Grizzlies center Xavier Tillman in the paint. And as Brooks and Tillman swarmed him, James tossed up a layup and drew a foul.
The crowd delighted at James shutting up Brooks once again for his mindless trash talk. They reveled in James defying Father Time once again with his strength, athleticism and smarts. And they delighted in James pouring out his emotions.
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“You know how momentum plays are made,” LeBron James said following the Lakers’ 117-111 overtime win over the Grizzlies in Game 4 of their first-round playoff series on Monday at Crypto.com Arena. “I’ve been a part of moments where you know that you get a dagger play or kill shot. I felt like that was the play right there.”
That play gave the Lakers a 111-108 lead with 29.4 seconds left. But James hasn’t just been a part of big plays throughout his 20-year NBA career. He became a part of big plays in the Lakers’ Game 4 win alone.
While scoring a modest 22 points on 8-for-18 shooting and seven assists, James posted a career-high in rebounds (20). James sank a halfcourt heave just shortly after time expired that could have been a game winner after Anthony Davis’ blocked Ja Morant’s jumper. And James made a game-tying layup with .8 seconds left in regulation.
“You have to be able to adjust to how the game is being played,” James said. “You try to make plays.”
LeBron James and making the right plays
LeBron James did not just make plays that would end up in the highlight reels. James made plays that would make for game footage that any coach would love to dissect during film sessions.
James became the fifth Lakers player in franchise history to collect at least 20 rebounds, including Shaquille O’Neal, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Elgin Baylor and Wilt Chamberlain. James committed only one turnover. And James drew a handful of charges, including one on Morant with the game tied at 99 with 2:24 left.
“That’s who he’s been his entire career – all about making the right play for himself and someone else,” Lakers coach Darvin Ham. “He’s understanding in order to get all of our other guys to make the right plays and sacrifice themselves, he has to be at the top of that list.”
James fulfilled that job description despite a few circumstances.
At 38 years and 115 days old, James became the oldest player in NBA playoff history to collect at least 20 points and 20 rebounds. James logged 45 minutes in an overtime game. And he still competed despite acknowledging that he “felt burnt” late in the game.
“You just dig deep and understand you’ll be able to sleep at some point; just not right now,” James said. “This is not the time to rest or forget about an assignment. I’ll have more than enough time after the game or the next day to rest. I just dig deep and try to make plays.”
LeBron James made some signature plays because of his skill and decision making.
When he went for the game-tying layup against Jackson, James attempted the shot over the square on the backboard to account for Jackson’s 6-foot-11, 246-pound frame. James took the same approach in Game 1 of the 2018 NBA Finals against former Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant.
Though James’ half-court heave didn’t go in on time, he “threw it just in case” because “you just never know.”
Load management paying off?
With the Lakers struggling to make shots consistently in a physical playoff game, LeBron James focused on crashing the glass any time a shot went up. Afterwards, James’ teammates alerted him about his new milestone.
“This is what the load management is about – for these guys to be able to exert themselves at a high level at this time of the year,” Ham said. “He’s nothing short of amazing, but it doesn’t surprise me. If you watch him every day and see how he prepares, then you know. He’s putting himself in the best position to be not just available to play or to play well in stretches, but to be elite at the top of the list in terms of how he performs for his team. It’s really, really special. I don’t take it for granted to be in this position to be able to coach him.”
James professed he has not taken for granted his current circumstances during his 20th NBA season, either.
After losing in the first round (2021) and then missing the playoffs entirely (2022), James helped give the Lakers a 3-1 series lead over Memphis. Should the seventh-seeded Lakers win Game 5 in Memphis on Wednesday (7:30 pm ET, TNT), James would face the winner between Golden State and Sacramento in the second round. The Lakers are considered a dark horse to win an NBA title should James and Davis stay healthy and dominant.
It appeared nothing could slow LeBron James down in Game 4. He made a key shot that made him unleash his emotions. He grabbed key rebounds that put his name in the history books once again.
“That’s always \been me: whatever it takes for the team to be successful,” James said. “Just trying to be as great as I can be.”
Mark Medina is an NBA Insider for Sportsnaut. Follow him on Twitter and on Instagram.