The veteran superstar scored his 35th point in Game 3 against the Minnesota Timberwolves on a 3-pointer midway through the fourth quarter, producing the highest scoring performance by a 40-year-old player in an NBA playoff game. He finished with 38.
James scored 22 points in the first half. It was his 100th career 20-point half in the postseason. The Timberwolves beat the Lakers 116-104.
Lakers great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar previously held the record, after scoring 32 points in Game 6 of the 1987 NBA Finals against the Boston Celtics. Former Laker Karl Malone scored 30 points against the Houston Rockets on April 25, 2004.
Who are the oldest players to play in the NBA playoffs?
LeBron James is not the oldest player to play in the NBA’s postseason. Here are other players who have played beyond the age of 40.
43 years, 254 days — Robert Parish (May 11, 1997, Chicago at Atlanta)
42 years, 363 days — Udonis Haslem (June 7, 2023, Miami vs. Denver)
42 years, 300 days — Dikembe Mutombo (April 21, 2009, Houston at Portland)
42 years, 58 days — Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (June 13, 1989, Los Angeles vs. Detroit)
LeBron James stats Friday vs. Timberwolves
Points: 38
FG: 13-for-21
3PTs: 5-for-9
FTs: 7-for-10
Rebounds: 10
Assists: 4
Steals: 2
Blocks: 2
Turnovers: 1
Fouls: 0
Minutes played: 41
Lakers’ next game
LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers will play against the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 4 of the Western Conference first-round series on Sunday (3:30 p.m. ET, ABC)