NBA Briefs 2020 | LeBron James dunks after verbal clash, LaMelo Ball's draft hopes hurt by dad, Lillard out of All-Star

LeBron James has once again proved age is just a number, dropping an insane highlight play as he continues a historic season.

LeBron James is straight up savage.

At 35-years-old, LeBron James is still nailing highlight reel plays night after night, but his latest act will have the NBA on notice.

After a slow start against the Denver Nuggets, the LA Lakers were looking for a spark.

A touch of trash talk in the second quarter against James was all they needed.

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Denver ran out to a 45-32 lead after Monte Morris hit a three-pointer and then turned around and had words to James.

For a guy who's had the career that James has, he's probably not the guy to light a fire under, as Morris now knows too well.

Monté Morris had some words for LeBron after hitting a three in his face 👀 pic.twitter.com/zh5yB0JrNl

— ESPN (@espn) February 13, 2020

James appeared to have more to say but did it on the scoreboard having scored nine points to start.

The Lakers went on a 29-8 run in the eight minutes to half-time after the jab before he went nuts.

The superstar nailed his 12 triple-double of the season, drawing level with Dallas Mavericks young gun Luka Doncic on top of the ladder for the season.

And with 32 points, 12 rebounds and 14 assists, he's LA Lakers firing, leading the side to a 120-116 over-time win over the Denver Nuggets.

It was his 20th triple-double for the Lakers, and he became just the fourth player behind Magic Johnson (138), Elgin Baylor (26) and Kobe Bryant (21), while it's his 12th triple-double in his 17th season or later, three more than all players in history.

He's also the first Lakers player since Magic Johnson in the 1990-91 season to tally 12 triple-doubles.

LeBron James becomes the 4th player in Lakers history with 20 triple-doubles with the team, joining Magic Johnson, Elgin Baylor, and Kobe Bryant.

LeBron also picked up his 12th triple-double in his 17th season or later, three more than all other players in NBA history combined. pic.twitter.com/p2aLsdU7KU

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) February 13, 2020

But it was a dunk in the third quarter that had the NBA once again standing up and taking notice.

Controlling the game, he took the ball to the corner before switching direction and thumping the ball home.

The dunk was so big, he left the commentators baffled by the huge dunk and saying "He may have just broken the rim" after a stoppage on the court.

It turns out it was because of his teammates stepping onto the court because they could hardly believe what James is still able to do at alarming regularity.

“He may have just broke the rim”
🤣🏀🤣🏀

Lebron is absurd #Lakers

pic.twitter.com/GJ4nBH3c86

— Dan Leach (@DanLeach971) February 13, 2020

I'll never forget the ESPN Sports Science piece that said the force LeBron dunked on the "No regard for human life" dunk was the same as an Apache helicopter rotor in motion. https://t.co/xck3WO2Ayp

— Peter Bukowski (@Peter_Bukowski) February 13, 2020

Good lord! LeBron just bout ripped the rim off the backboard! 😱

— Stetsen (@YungStet) February 13, 2020

That rim gonna pay LeBron on time from now on. pic.twitter.com/h0iGDS6OzO

— Chris Martin Palmer (@ChrisPalmerNBA) February 13, 2020

It's not the first time he's stunned with his dunking and it won't be the last despite getting older.

LeBron wasn't the only player to stand up with Anthony Davis also scoring 33 points, 10 rebounds, two assists, two blocks and two steals as the dynamic duo again impressed.

James said he wanted to lead the team to the All-Star break on the right foot.

"I'm just trying to be as laser sharp as I could, laser-focused," he said. "I knew the (All-Star) break was coming but I didn't want to take this opportunity for granted."

LOUDMOUTHED NBA DAD SULLIES DRAFT WATERS

LaVar Ball is at it again.

Everyone's favourite loudmouthed basketball Dad LaVar Ball may just have cost his son LeMelo a shot at the No. 1 Draft pick.

The father of current New Orleans Pelicans player Lonzo, LaVar is known for, let's just say speaking his mind.

But on the latest episode of Ball in the Family, a LaVar rant may give teams just enough pause to see him tumble down the Draft pecking order.

In the episode, LaVar was told to tone down his antics in order to help LaMelo get as good a pick as he could in the draft and revive the Big Baller brand.

It didn't last long.

His manager Jermaine Jackson called after an NBA scout asked about taking LaMelo with the number one pick and then playing him 12 minutes a game to start.

“Here’s the thing — as long as they do the right thing," LaVar said. "Don’t draft my son and play him no 12 minutes and think I ain’t gonna say (expletive). Who’s ever been drafted No. 1 and plays 12 minutes? So don’t act like I ain’t gonna say nothing. I’m gonna go crazy as (LaMelo). So, if that’s what they wanna say, hey, do the right thing. My son gonna be at the team where he’s supposed to be at. But if you don’t have no confidence in him, don’t be drafting him no No. 1, and don’t be doing (expletive) with him. That’s a waste.

“And if somebody ask me something, I’m gonna do the exact same (expletive) I did last year. So, hey, whether you take him one or two, it’s on you. He’s gonna be that No. 1 pick, and like I said, all these other folks wanna be acting like till you get up there, and it’s they turn to pick, I guarantee you they ain’t passing up on your boy.”

LaMelo Ball was great in Australia but his dad may hurt his chances at a No. 1 pick.

LaVar was pushed further and admitted "I'm gonna be me" which might be the exact concern the NBA scout had.

LaMelo is projected to go high in the draft, especially after impressing with the Illawarra Hawks in the NBL before injury concerns saw him leave the competition.

HOT HAND'S ALL-STAR DISAPPOINTMENT

Arguably Damian Lillard is the hottest hand in the NBA right now, racking up huge scores for fun.

There is no doubt he's an All-Star and was probably hard pressed to miss a starting spot but the Trail Blazers star is out of the game.

He was selected on Team LeBron but after suffering a groin strain in the 111-104 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies, Lillard cut a dejected figure when speaking with media, all but ruling himself out of the game.

“Obviously that’s something that you look forward to, those festivities and having fun. But my health is first,” Lillard said.

“I knew right away that wasn’t going to happen. I’ll still be there and be a part of it, but I’m not going to be able to play. Hopefully somebody who should’ve been there that didn’t make it (will take my place), but unfortunately I had to be the fall guy.”

Everyone wanted to see Dame play.

The hope is the injury isn't too bad with Yahoo's Chris Haynes reporting Lillard didn't hear a pop.

Yahoo Sources: Damian Lillard didn’t hear a pop when he injured his groin, which is a great sign. He’ll spend All-Star Weekend recovering in preparation for a second-half playoff push.

— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) February 13, 2020

Lillard has been scoring at 38.4 points and 9.4 assists per game over the last month with an average of 5.5 threes.

It's an incredible hot streak for the star.

The Phoenix Suns' Devin Booker is believed to be the player who will come into the All-Star Game for Lillard.