LOS ANGELES — In a season defined by “The King” rewriting the record books at 41 years old, a moment of high-intensity frustration and eventual levity stole the spotlight during the Los Angeles Lakers’ 124–104 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday night.

Lakers superstar LeBron James was seen visibly frustrated and heard barking at teammate Austin Reaves late in the fourth quarter after the young guard inadvertently nearly cost James an “unbreakable” milestone: becoming the oldest player in NBA history to record a triple-double.

The Incident: A Rebound Too Far

With just over three minutes remaining in the game and the Lakers comfortably ahead, James was sitting on 28 points, 12 assists, and 9 rebounds. The sell-out crowd at Crypto.com Arena was buzzing, fully aware that James was one board away from surpassing Karl Malone’s 22-year-old record (set at age 40).

When a missed Dallas shot clattered off the rim, James was in prime position to secure the record-breaking 10th rebound. However, a high-flying Austin Reaves, unaware of the statistical gravity of the moment, soared in from the perimeter to snatch the ball away.

James immediately threw his hands up in disbelief, and as Lakers head coach JJ Redick called a timeout to potentially sub his veteran star out, James was caught on the broadcast’s “hot mic” venting his frustration.

“I had to stay in the game ’cause this motherf****r AR!” James was heard joking though with a sharp edge toward the bench.

Fighting for History

The “unbreakable” record in question is the longevity of elite all-around play. At 41 years and 44 days old, James is operating in uncharted territory. Earlier this week, James was forced to miss a game against the San Antonio Spurs due to foot arthritis, a move that officially disqualified him from All-NBA honors this season due to the league’s 65-game minimum rule. That absence ended James’ record streak of 21 consecutive All-NBA selections.

Because of that disappointment, the triple-double record took on added significance for James’ legacy. Had Reaves’ “theft” forced Redick to bench James for safety in the blowout, the record might have slipped away.

Resolution and Records

Fortunately for the Lakers’ chemistry, James remained in the game for one more possession. He finally secured his 10th rebound off a Tyus Jones miss with 2:06 left on the clock, officially eclipsing Malone.

After the game, the tension had evaporated into typical locker-room banter. Reaves, who finished with 18 points, laughed off the confrontation when speaking to reporters.

  • “I honestly had no clue,” Reaves admitted. “I just saw a live ball and went for it. Then I saw ‘Bron’s face and I thought, ‘Oh, I might be walking home tonight.'”

Looking Ahead

While the confrontation was a brief flashpoint, it underscores the intensity James still brings to the court in his 23rd season. With the All-Star break approaching and the Lakers sitting at 33–21, the focus shifts to whether James can maintain this health for a deep playoff run.