LeBron James lands major praise as vintage performance powers Lakers to playoff series win: ‘Greatest career’

LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers punched their ticket to the Western Conference semifinals.

The 41-year-old posted 28 points, eight assists and seven rebounds in the closeout 98-78 victory over the Houston Rockets to clinch the series in six games.

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After winning the game, the all-time great allowed himself to embrace the moment.

“It’s not my style at all,” James said, via ESPN. “I think me personally, the accepting and trying to be OK with the small victories comes with where I am in my career.

“Understanding, s***, who knows how many more playoff series I’m going to be a part of?

“If I play one more or two more or three more seasons, that doesn’t guarantee me to be in the postseason.

“So just trying to appreciate the moments, whatever it is, and however long I’m playing.

“It’s pretty cool to have the opportunity to lead a team, at 41 years old, into the playoffs and for us to be able to win it.”

In the series against the Rockets, James averaged 23.2 points, 7.2 rebounds and 8.3 assists and set the record for being the oldest player in NBA history to lead all players in a playoff series in total points scored (139).

Lakers head coach JJ Redick was full of praise for four-time NBA champion James turning back time and putting on vintage display after vintage display throughout the entire series.

“Literally every single guy was going, ‘baahhhh, baahhhh,'” JJ Redick said, mimicking the sound of a goat.

“I mean, it speaks to his greatness. To me, he’s had the greatest career of any NBA player.”

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Friday night’s win over Houston marked James’ 188th postseason victory of his career, which sees him surpass the Chicago Bulls‘ all-time franchise postseason victories (187).

Winning is all that matters to the King

James had to acclimatize himself to being the primary option on a Purple and Gold team that had, for much of the season, been spearheaded by superstar Luka Doncic and his backcourt partner Austin Reaves.

With Doncic still dealing with a hamstring injury, and Reaves missing the first four games against Houston, it was down to the 23-year veteran to carry the team on his back in a role he had only recently conceded.

“I mean, to be able to experience something (new), it was just totally different for me,” James said of his role.

“In March, it was a totally different role for me.

“It was super uncomfortable, but comfortable. I had to get into that. It was also winning. That’s all I care about.

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“But I knew at the same time I could give more. But maybe giving more wasn’t what was a fit for our team. And I accepted that and I was OK with that. Not from a team aspect, I was OK with that.

“I was able to put my ego to the side for the betterment of the team, understanding that I could do it.”

Despite being the number four seed in the Western Conference after finishing the regular season with a 53-29 record, due to the injuries and an aging James, the Lakers were not favored to win the series.

That all changed once they jumped out the blocks to take a commanding 3-0 lead.

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“For us to be written off a few weeks ago and to win a playoff series is a big deal,” Redick said after Friday’s game.

“And it’s just speaks to the character of our team and the leaders of our team. They didn’t let go of the rope.”

Next up for LA is a series against the reigning champions Oklahoma City Thunder, where James enters as the biggest underdog of his career, with the Lakers +1500 to win the series.

Although Doncic’s status is still in question, which is a huge blow to the team, by having a player of the James’ caliber and championship pedigree, the Lakers can never be ruled out entirely, even when all odds are seemingly stacked against them.

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