LeBron James had himself a pretty good Friday night. For the 867th straight game, LeBron James scored at least ten points which passed Michael Jordan for the all-time lead. He also led the Cleveland Cavaliers to a big victory over the New Orleans Pelicans putting up 27 points, 11 assists, and nine rebounds. The win kept the Cavs’ half a game cushion over the Philadelphia 76ers for the third seed in the Eastern Conference.
After the game, Alvin Gentry talked to Dave McMenamin of ESPN and said he wouldn’t be shocked to see James pass the Houston Rockets’ James Harden and win the MVP award.
“You really could make a strong argument for him being the MVP of the league,” Gentry said. “Obviously with what Houston is doing, probably James Harden will do it, but if it ended being LeBron James, I don’t think anybody will go, ‘Oh my gosh.'”
For James, this has been a trying season but with the way he has played and the position he has put the Cavs in, he at least has to be in the conversation and should garner at least a few first-place votes.
After the game on Friday James also talked about how much passing Jordan meant to him.
“It will probably go in my trophy case with a lot of accomplishments in my life,” James said of the memento. “That’s a good moment, a special moment not only for myself but for my family and for so many kids that look up to me for inspiration to know that you can actually go out there and do it. …
“[You] know, where I’ve come from, brought up 30 minutes south of here, and the statistics is always stacked up against you, and for me to be in this position today, being able to accomplish something that a lot of people thought would not happen again or be able to break a record like that. It means a lot for me, and it means more to the youth that kind of needs hope.”