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Days After Stephen Curry’s “40-plus Dude Trying to Hold on For Dear Life” Remark, 38YO LeBron James looks back at 47-point Birthday Game

Published 09/03/2023, 2:01 AM EDT

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USA Today via Reuters

LeBron James is gearing up for a remarkable 21st NBA season. Initially, fans were uncertain about his future after he hinted at retirement. However, with Udonis Haslem and Andre Iguodala announcing their retirements this summer, LeBron is set to begin the 2023-24 season as the oldest player in the NBA. Coming healthy into the season, James and the gang are ready to make another championship run. The Los Angeles Lakers, after enduring several challenging seasons, have transformed into a formidable force under LeBron’s leadership.

Their late-season surge and strong playoff performance proved their newfound cohesion as a team. Nonetheless, questions have arisen about LeBron’s ability to contribute offensively and defensively, given the toll that age has taken on his body. 

LeBron James reminisces about his flashback birthday performance

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In a stunning performance, LeBron James marked his 38th birthday last year with one of the season’s standout games. He single-handedly propelled the Lakers to a remarkable comeback victory over Trae Young‘s Atlanta Hawks. He contributed an astonishing 47 points, 10 rebounds, and nine assists in the victory.

Recently, James indulged in nostalgia, reflecting on the unforgettable night. When @lakers shared a series of snippets of James’ iconic plays, the King couldn’t resist reposting them on his Instagram story.

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During the game, LeBron didn’t just display sheer dominance throughout the game; he proved to be exceptionally effective and played a pivotal role in securing the victory. James shot an impressive 18-of-27 from the field, including 4-for-6 from beyond the arc.

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It was the second-highest total James achieved on his birthday; trailing his 48-point game in 2009 while donning a Cleveland Cavaliers jersey. 

James surpassed Oscar Robertson for total birthday game points

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Before the incredible performance by James, Oscar Robertson held the record for most career points in birthday games. Over 11 such instances in his career, Oscar amassed a total of 275 points. James steered ahead of Robertson’s mark during the third quarter. He pushed his birthday game total to 276 points as he scored his 20th point. James pushed the total figure to 303 points by the night’s end. 

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Even though the stat does not constitute a player’s legacy or skillset, it serves as fun intel for avid fans, especially during the absence of NBA action in the off-season. So far, LeBron James has participated in eight birthday games, boasting an impressive average of 33.7 points per game.

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Written by:

Saahil Dhillan

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Saahil Dhillan is an NBA Writer at Essentially Sports. He has been writing articles and blogs for 5 years now, including those for a sports brand that manufactures knee braces, for a Red Bull athlete in 2019 and for a documentary of an Ultra Running Coach in 2021. There’s plenty Saahil can write about why he likes basketball, having followed the NBA for more than 10 years, but he is most keen on picking out various offense/defense strategies, on/off-court decisions, roster changes in crunch time and other underrated key elements that leave an impact on the scoreboard.
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Edited by:

Sameen Nawathe