In his 14th season in the league, Cleveland Cavaliers star forward LeBron James has shown no regression in his game on the court. In fact, the Cavs’ leader has continued to play at an MVP level that very few before him have been able to maintain this late in their respective careers.
James has put that on full display in the month of February playing some of the best basketball of not only this season but arguably of his career, finishing the month by averaging a triple-double with 27.0 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 10.5 assists in 10 games played.
According to Dave McMenamin of ESPN, he also surpassed Hall of Famer Wilt Chamberlain as the oldest player in league history to accomplish this feat.
Not only was it a first for the 33-year-old player’s already-decorated career, but James also became the oldest player in NBA history to average a triple-double in a calendar month containing at least 10 games played, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. The previous oldest to do it was Wilt Chamberlain in March 1968 at 31 years old.
The 33-year-old was on an absolute tear during the month, notching four of his 12 triple-doubles on the season while scoring 20 or more points all but once, recorded double-digit assists five times, and shot greater than 52 percent from the field six times. It is quite a remarkable feat given that James is at a point in his career many players in the past would have shown some sort of decline in their game in some regard even after becoming the first player to notch at least 30,000 points, 8,000 rebounds, and 8,000 assists.
Instead, James has continued to showcase why he is still widely regarded as being the game’s best player, currently the only player in the league averaging at least 25.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 8.0 assists while having at least a 50 percent field goal percentage this season. He has also shot 50 percent or better from the floor 42 times while scoring at least 20 points 48 on occasions.
It just speaks to the type of special talent that James has, putting him among the greatest players to play the game. This also sheds more light on his impeccable commitment to his health that has helped maintain this level of play despite being 14 seasons into his career. With James displaying no sign of slowing down, there could many more impressive marks that the Cavs star will add to his sure-fire Hall of Fame career.