LeBron James Becomes the Oldest Player in NBA History to Achieve a Triple-Double
LeBron James Sets New Record for Oldest Player to Achieve Triple-Double
In a remarkable display of skill and longevity, LeBron James shattered a 22-year-old record by becoming the oldest player to register a triple-double in NBA history. The milestone came during the Los Angeles Lakers’ 124-104 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday night, with James achieving this feat at 41 years and 44 days old.
James showcased his impressive abilities, finishing the game with 28 points, 12 assists, and 10 rebounds. He reached his triple-double with just over two minutes remaining, earning a standing ovation from the home crowd as he departed the game, marking his 123rd career triple-double and placing him fifth all-time in that category.
Previously, the record for the oldest triple-double was held by Karl Malone, who was 40 years and 127 days old when he last accomplished the feat for the Lakers.
Reflecting on this achievement, James expressed a newfound appreciation for moments like these. "I guess I’m more appreciative of moments like this in my career, understanding where I’m at, at the later stage of my journey,” he said. “You definitely take it in a little bit more.”
Despite facing injuries this season, which caused him to miss 18 games, James proved his mettle by dominating against the Mavericks, especially in the absence of star player Luka Doncic, who was sidelined with a hamstring strain.
"I think what it represents is pretty cool — the fact that you can go out and have an impact in three facets of the game," he noted, highlighting his contributions in rebounding, assists, and scoring. "Being able to get my guys involved… that’s part of this game as well."
James’ performance has been consistently outstanding when healthy. He entered the game averaging 21.8 points, 6.9 assists, and 5.7 rebounds, contributing significantly to the Lakers’ playoff ambitions in the competitive Western Conference.
Prior to his recent achievement, it had been nearly two years since James had tallied a triple-double, with his last occurring on February 1, 2025, in a game overshadowed by the significant trade that brought Doncic to the Lakers.
Malone had held the record for nearly two decades, achieving his last triple-double with 10 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists on November 28, 2003. Notably, James has tallied the next 15 oldest triple-doubles, nearly surpassing Malone several times in the past year before finally breaking the record.
With Doncic absent in this matchup, James was assertive from the onset, contributing significantly to the Lakers’ early lead. He amassed 14 points and six assists in the first quarter alone and had 18 points, eight assists, and four rebounds by halftime. Maintaining his momentum into the second half, he secured the necessary rebounds to complete his triple-double without exiting the game.
As the Lakers gear up for the All-Star Game this weekend at Intuit Dome, James will return after missing last year’s showcase due to injury. While ineligible for this season’s All-NBA team due to missed games—particularly the first 14 of the season related to sciatica—James continues to solidify his legacy with 152 career triple-doubles when including playoff performances.
