‘Never seen before’: LeBron James scores 56 points in Lakers best

LeBron James may be 37 years old but the superstar shows he’s still able to do things leave the NBA and sporting world in awe.

Must be exhausting to do it all yourself. Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

LeBron James has claimed his highest ever tally in a Lakers uniform has he knocked down 56 points to will his side to a 124-116 win over the Golden State Warriors.

Falling just five points short of his all-time best game of 61 points which he scored against the Charlotte Bobcats in 2013-14, James showed that despite his advanced experience, he’s still got it.

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A seesawing game at the Lakers’ newly renamed Crypto.com Arena saw the lead change hands nine times, with the Lakers jumping out to a 14-point lead in the first quarter before the Warriors hit back with a 42-point second quarter display.

That left the Warriors in the driving seat and leading by 14 before James and the Lakers gradually worked their way back into the contest with a late burst of scoring in the fourth quarter.

James, who finished with 56 points and 10 rebounds, said afterwards that “desperation” had inspired the Lakers.

“Just desperation,” he said. “We needed this win for sure. It means a lot.

“Obviously they’re the second best team in the West. They’ve been struggling a little bit of late, but we’ve been struggling all year pretty much.

“For us to get a win like this in front of our home fans – they deserve it. We haven’t played like much of anything of late so it’s good to get a win like that in front of them.”

19 years in, LeBron’s still got it. Photo by Harry How/Getty Images

But while the Lakers have been getting slammed in recent times, the NBA and the sporting world was in awe of the ageless legend.

Lakers legend Magic Johnson tweeted: “LeBron James willed the @Lakers to victory tonight scoring 56 points and 10 rebounds!! He continues to over-deliver on a nightly basis and do things on the basketball court, at 37, we’ve never seen before!”

Pau Gasol added: “LeBron!!!” followed by four mind blown emojis.

Former 2008 NBA champion Kendrick Perkins wrote: “Is it me or ever since they tried to hand the throne over to Steph, Bron takes it personal every time he matches up against #30? Brilliant game by the old man, maybe they should act like they are playing the Warriors every game the rest of they way! Carry on…”

New York-based NBA writer Chris Sheridan reported: “That was something to see, LeBron scoring 56. He now is just 0.1 points behind Joel Embiid for the league lead in scoring. Somebody bet him at 80-1 a couple months ago to finish first.”

Celtics reporter Marc D’Amico added: “56 and 10 for LeBron at age 37 lol the guy is and always has been utterly ridiculous.”

It was a star studded crowd on hand for the performance as well as newly minted Australian Open doubles champion Nick Kyrgios was courtside.

Massive basketball fan Kyrgios was in the back of several shots but was also dabbed up by LeBron before the game started and dropped his phone when the NBA legend approached.

Kyrgios, who will play at the Indian Wells Masters and Miami events, was also joined by the likes of tennis stars Matteo Berrettini and Fraces Tiafoe, while LeBron called out to Super Bowl winning LA Rams QB Matthew Stafford saying “I can’t have you in the building without putting on a show”.

The win ends a four-game losing streak for the side who had lost seven of their last eight heading into the match.

The Lakers are ninth in the West and looking likely to have to play into the NBA Finals.

Nick Kyrgios was in awe of the great man. Photo: Twitter

James hopes the win can act as a catalyst for the Lakers’ troubled season.

The 2020 NBA champions remain out of the automatic playoff places with a 28-35 record and five games behind the Clippers in eighth.

“We’ve gotta see where we can take it from here,” James said. “We’ve got a two-game road trip coming up so let’s see what we can do.”

Lakers coach Frank Vogel meanwhile saluted James’ leadership. “He leads us with his consistent demeanour, trying to get better every day,” Vogel said. “What he did tonight was spectacular.”

James’ scoring was backed with 20 points from Russell Westbrook while veteran Carmelo Anthony added 14 off the bench.

Stephen Curry led the Warriors scorers with 30 points while Jordan Poole added 23.

— with AFP