In New York City, LeBron James, currently 39 and a member of the Los Angeles Lakers, stands out as one of the enduring figures in basketball, constantly asserting his unparalleled prowess at his age. In the recent match against the Brooklyn Nets, James tallied 40 points, a feat shared only with Michael Jordan in NBA history. This marks James’ second instance of achieving this milestone after turning 39, while Jordan, retiring at 40, accomplished it three times.

The experienced 21-year-old player showcased his skills by shooting an impressive 13-for-17 from the field, matching his career-best performance in three-pointers by hitting 9-for-10 from beyond the arc.

Reflecting on his improved three-point shooting in the latter part of his career, James commented, “I don’t ever have to rely on [three-pointers] because I can do so much — I can score on any level of the floor basically once I cross half court. I can do so much.” However, he acknowledged the importance of maintaining a growth mindset and adapting to the evolving nature of the league, which places a significant emphasis on three-point shooting.

Some players aim to take 12, 14, or even 15 three-pointers every game, but that’s not my style. I focus on earning respect on the court, and to do that, I know I need to be a threat from the outside. Teams still factor that in when planning their defense against me. They might think, “If we have to give up something, we’d prefer him shooting from the outside.”

Despite the fact that Brooklyn did not always give James open looks. The star player for the Lakers simply became really hot, and he made almost all of the shots he attempted from beyond the arc. And he kept his best for last, scoring 17 points in the fourth quarter on 5-for-6 shooting (4-for-4 from three-point range) to close out the game after the Nets had reduced Los Angeles’s once-26-point advantage to just eight points with 11:42 left in the game.

“It’s incredible,” remarked Darvin Ham, the coach of the Atlanta Lakers. I told him in the huddle before his final little stretch, and we finally substituted him out, that I was just incredibly thankful that he packed the cape on the road trip. I said this before we took him out of the game. All nine of those threes were required.

Over the course of its six-game road trip, which will come to a close on Tuesday and Wednesday with a back-to-back against the Toronto Raptors and the Washington Wizards, Los Angeles improved its record to 3-1 with this victory. With seven games left in the regular season, the Los Angeles Lakers are now ranked ninth in the Western Conference. This places them one and a half games behind the seventh-ranked Phoenix Suns.

During the Easter shooting display, James’ three-point percentage increased to 41.6% for the season, which is the highest it has ever been in his career.

Anthony Davis commented on the remarkable shooting performance, noting that the shots were consistently finding the net. He expressed admiration for LeBron James’ scoring prowess, highlighting his position as the NBA’s all-time leading scorer and his ongoing contribution to that record. Despite a previous season where James struggled with a low shooting percentage from beyond the arc, he attributed this to an injury sustained in February, which limited his practice time and hindered his shooting rhythm. However, with his foot feeling better now, James is dedicated to putting in the work to improve his shooting consistency, ensuring he spends ample time on the court refining his craft before each game. He emphasizes the importance of repetition and maintaining consistency in his shooting form through diligent practice.

When LeBron James entered the game as a late substitute in the fourth quarter, the opposing crowd rose to their feet in applause, prompting James to gesture as if placing a crown on his head in acknowledgment of their support.

As James continues to perform at a high level, the inevitable question arises: how much longer does he plan to play?

James responded, “Not nearly that long. Not for an extended period. It’s clear that I’m on the other side of the hill. So, I won’t be playing for another 21 years, that’s for sure. Not for much longer. As for when I’ll retire, I don’t know when that door will close, but I know I don’t have a lot of time left.”