LeBron James continues to etch his name into the annals of basketball history. The 38-year-old basketball icon achieved a remarkable milestone, becoming the first Los Angeles Lakers player since Kobe Bryant in 2004 to notch a game with at least 20 points, 10 assists, and five steals. 

The Lakers hosted the Phoenix Suns in their NBA In-Season Tournament Quarterfinals clash on Tuesday evening (Dec. 5), emerging victorious with a 106-103 scoreline against formidable opponents like Kevin Durant and Devin Booker. King James concluded the game with an impressive stat line of 31 points, 11 assists, eight rebounds, and five steals. This commanding performance also secured his status as the oldest active player to record five steals in a game since the official tracking of this statistic began in the 1973-1974 season.

LeBron James continues to carve out history, building on an impressive November milestone. During the Los Angeles Lakers’ game against the Utah Jazz on Nov. 21, the four-time NBA Champion surpassed 39,000 all-time points. This achievement enhances his prospects of retaining his position as the NBA’s all-time scoring leader for years to come. Notably, LeBron’s 39,000th point came from a three-pointer, propelling him to seventh on the all-time list for three-pointers made, behind luminaries like Steph Curry, Ray Allen, James Harden, Reggie Miller, Kyle Korver, and Damian Lillard.

The Lakers are set to face the New Orleans Pelicans in the inaugural NBA In-Season Tournament’s Semifinals on Thursday (Dec. 7). A victory would propel them to the championship game on Saturday (Dec. 9) in Las Vegas, where they’ll meet either the Indiana Pacers or Milwaukee Bucks.

As of now, the Lakers hold the fourth seed in the Western Conference with a 13-9 record. Their recent surge, winning seven of their last 10 games, instills confidence in their championship potential after a 6-6 start to the season.

The Lakers’ quest for an NBA Finals appearance, last achieved in 2020, remains a focal point. Last season, they reached the brink, facing the eventual NBA Champion Denver Nuggets but were dealt a disappointing 4-0 sweep. Interestingly, they currently trail the Nuggets in the Western Conference standings by one and a half games.