Insane LeBron James NBA first is something ‘we’ll never see again’

Basketball fans better enjoy this while they can — 37-year-old LeBron James is a different beast as he continues to make NBA history.

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 11: LeBron James #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts against the Washington Wizards in the fourth quarter at Crypto.com Arena on March 11, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

LeBron James unleashed his second 50-point performance in a week to spark the Los Angeles Lakers over Washington 122-109 but missed a historic NBA milestone.

James scored 50 points on 18-of-25 shooting, including 6-of-9 from 3-point range, and was 8-of-8 from the free throw line while contributing seven rebounds and six assists to power a Lakers team that had lost nine of its prior 11 games.

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The 37-year-old forward, a four-time NBA champion and four-time NBA Most Valuable Player, scored 56 points last Saturday in a home win over Golden State.

James had the first back-to-back 50-or-more Laker totals at home since the late Kobe Bryant in 2007.

“We missed a lot of chippies, but we kept fighting, we kept defending, and I was able to hit a hot streak at one point,” James said.

LeBron James is the first player in NBA history with multiple 50-point games after turning 35. pic.twitter.com/Yg2JDW4MYr

— StatMuse (@statmuse) March 12, 2022

The fact that Bron still out here serving these young boys 50 piece wing dinners is beyond me!!! I can’t front @KingJames that was a ART what you displayed tonight. Carry the hell on…

— Kendrick Perkins (@KendrickPerkins) March 12, 2022

bron 👑 .. 50ball . very efficient too 🔥

— Ja Morant (@JaMorant) March 12, 2022

LeBron is on another level

— Michael K-B (@therealmikekb) March 12, 2022

There's a lot of "we'll never see this again" thrown around in sports. An NBA player like LeBron, in Year 19, at age-37, doing stuff like this ... we'll never see this again. https://t.co/QGarqmfH8u

— Chris Mannix (@SIChrisMannix) March 12, 2022

LeBron is a different beast. Photo: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images/AFP

James was in a “zone” after hitting 17 in the first half, scoring 12 points in a row for the Lakers at one stage in the third quarter.

“I just try to stay in that zone as long as possible,” James said. “I was able to hit a couple.”

It was the 14th career 50-point game for James, tying him for sixth on the all-time list.

But James finished two assists shy of becoming the first player in NBA history with 30,000 career points, 10,000 career rebounds and 10,000 career assists.

James was pleased to get a hug during the game at one stage from his mother Gloria.

“The fact she was here tonight was a treat for me,” James said. “She’s my biggest supporter, my biggest inspiration and my biggest love.”

Originally published as Insane LeBron James NBA first is something ‘we’ll never see again’