LOS ANGELES — LeBron James’ relaxed presence during pregame activities on Thursday night, dancing and jerking his arms and legs on the court, was in stark contrast to his Monday night mood when the Lakers’ star bemoaned the team’s energy levels and personal patience after they fell into a late-game slumber against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

James screamed into the tunnel before the Lakers faced the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday, echoes making their way onto the Crypto.com Arena court. He joked around with his teammates, calling himself a “goofy 41-year-old kid,” as he parlayed Thursday’s pregame vibes into in-game success from the get-go on his way to making more NBA history.

James finished with 28 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds, becoming the oldest player in league history (at 41 years and 44 days old) to record a triple-double in a 124-104 victory over the Mavericks on Thursday night that stopped the Lakers’ two-game losing streak as they head into the All-Star break. Milestones aren’t new for James – who has said that the achievement itself isn’t “meaningful.”

For James, how an effort like Thursday’s impacts the scoreboard is what matters most.

“The fact that you can go out and be able to have an impact in three facets of the game,” James said. “Rebounding, the assists obviously is what I love the most. Being able to get my guys involved throughout my career – I’ve always loved that more than anything.”

The appreciation, however, is seeping through James as the final act of his NBA career continues through his 23rd season.

“I definitely guess I’m more appreciative of moments like this in my career,” James said. “Understanding where I’m at. I’m at the later stage of my journey, so definitely taking it in a little bit more.”

Each of the Lakers’ first 23 points came either directly from James or off an assist from their 22-time All-Star – the longest-such stretch to begin a game for the player who sits atop the NBA’s career scoring list and inside the top five in career assists.

James soared a pass into Jaxson Hayes’ hands for an alley-oop, drained back-to-back 3-pointers and funneled three assists to Rui Hachimura (21 points), whose nine first-quarter points were second on the team to James’ 14. Just a few minutes into the third quarter, James secured a double-double with a no-look, one-handed pass to Hayes for a dunk. He closed out the triple-double on a rebound of a Tyus Jones miss with the Lakers holding a 20-point lead with two minutes left in the game.

James did have to wait a little longer than expected to make history. Austin Reaves scraped a late-game rebound away from his teammate in the fourth quarter, with Coach JJ Redick turning to call a timeout moments later as the 27-year-old turned aware of the looming 10th rebound.

“Everybody on the team yelled at me,” said Reaves, who finished with 18 points and six assists. “We went to the bench and … everybody let me know about it. He didn’t. But everybody did. I looked at (James), and was like, ‘aw [expletive], my fault.’”

James’ 123rd career regular-season triple-double – his first since Feb. 1, 2025 – broke the age record held by Karl Malone, who had one for the Lakers when he was 40 years and 127 days old.

“I don’t take for granted how good he is,” Redick said of James, who has another 29 triple-doubles in postseason games. “I recognize that on a daily basis. … The more remarkable thing is how much he cares in his 23rd year with all his accomplishments.”

Redick had called the 55-game stretch through Thursday night the hardest of his 17-year career, transcending both his playing and coaching experiences. He was referring to the emotional and mental energy expended day after day as its own challenge – minimal practice time and little rest during the midseason march toward eventual win-or-go-home games in the spring.

Two nights after Redick had to sit all five of his preferred starters in a loss to the San Antonio Spurs – whether for injury or injury-related rest – the Lakers (33-21) looked well-rested on Thursday, and their seventh win in the past 11 games backed that up.

Redick, who said before the game that he was content with the team’s defensive identity in recent weeks, saw more of the zone-defense prowess the Lakers delivered during most of their eight-game Grammys road trip. In their past 13 games, the Lakers have conceded more than 115 points just four times.

“I think the zone has been really good for us and the guys have done a good job in communicating when we do go to man out of it,” Redick said before the game.

The Lakers led by as much as 13 points in the first half, but the Mavericks (19-35) reeled them in several times, notably erasing the Lakers’ 64-51 lead for a one-point halftime advantage after Naji Marshall hit a trio of jumpers before the break.

“There’s still some things that we can get a lot better at,” Redick added before the game. “And we’ll continue to chip away at it.”

The Lakers pulled away for good in the third quarter, holding the Mavericks to just 19 points, while frontcourt reserves Maxi Kleber and Jarred Vanderbilt made rare 3-pointers – part of a 10-of-31 showing for the team from behind the arc – to help the Lakers push their lead as high as 22 points.

Marshall (8-of-13 from the field) and Max Christie scored 19 points apiece to pace the Mavericks, who lost their ninth straight to fall into their longest skid in 28 seasons. The Lakers outrebounded the Mavericks 44-28, dominating the paint with Dallas rookie star forward Cooper Flagg out with a foot sprain.

Dismantling the Mavericks could help the Lakers turn the page – matching last year’s record at this point – after only having Luka Doncic, James and Reaves start and finish seven games together this season. The Lakers should have all three stars healthy and available following the All-Star Break.

Sitting at the other end of the locker room, Reaves watched as James addressed reporters after yet another record night. He’s one of the players who James said he hopes to set an example for – the younger group of Lakers bound to make an impact for years to come.

“My voice is commanding,” James said. “That’s always been one of the biggest things for me, to be able to voice what I see and breathe life, breathe confidence into my teammates. But also being able to set an example, too.”

Reaves sees it. He recognizes it.

A few years ago, watching a game from the end of the bench with James in Minnesota, the former undrafted free agent came to a realization about his star teammate as his own play was on the rise.

“I was just like, ‘If there’s anybody in the basketball world that has the right to wake up some days on the wrong side of the bed, he could probably get away with it,’” Reaves said. “But he never does. He’s always got a smile on his face.”

“When you look across the room and you got a guy that’s 41 years old, enjoying every second of it – good and bad – it kind of leads the team to do the same thing.”

LeBron on 123rd triple-double of his career:

“To be able to do it and get the win, that’s what means more to me than anything. I’ve been very blessed to play this game, play at a high level and was able to do it again tonight.” pic.twitter.com/AzImpmyCvq

— Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) February 13, 2026

“I think LeBron was being himself, controlling the game and everybody followed suit after that.”

Austin Reaves (18 PTS, 6 AST, 4 REB) speaks with @NikkiKaySN1 and the media following the 124-104 victory vs. Dallas heading into All-Star weekend. pic.twitter.com/mdx1tWBtHM

— Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) February 13, 2026

“We challenged our guys to be better defensively.”

JJ speaks with @LakersReporter and the media after the #Lakers 124-104 victory over Dallas heading into the All-Star break. pic.twitter.com/klSRdzh5GK

— Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) February 13, 2026