Tonight’s matchup between the Los Angeles Lakers and Utah Jazz was already set to be a milestone moment, especially since LeBron James was set to make his season debut after missing the start of the season for the first time in his career. The 41-year-old, who had been sidelined due to sciatica, made a solid return to basketball, posting a double-double while maintaining his long-standing 10-point streak. After the game, however, Deandre Ayton revealed an interesting fact, something that can make the 23-season veteran feel the weight of time.

A reporter began the conversation, pointing out that Ayton was just five when LeBron James played his first NBA game. Ayton pointed out how it doesn’t feel like James is as old as he is, saying, “He don’t make it seem like that. Running next to him and he running fast as me down the floor, you don’t think that it’s his 23rd year, you know? The dude was a machine.”

However, no one could’ve seen what he said next coming. Ayton continued, “I was just telling him a fun fact. He threw me an alley-oop [tonight]. I said, ‘That’s my second alley-oop from you. The first one was when I was in eighth grade at your camp.’ So, yeah, it was kind of crazy seeing all that.” The room erupted in laughter.

Bron’s reaction was even funnier: “He laughed. He asked me when it was.” This was back in 2014, when Ayton was in eighth grade, visiting a LeBron James camp. Ayon explained, “It was the LeBron James camp in Las Vegas. You know, I remember the play and everything. He was court hopping, and he was playing with the campers, and I remember the one play of him in the drill with me. And he threw that alley. When I finished it, I couldn’t believe he threw it.”

Ayton’s words caught everyone’s attention, and a picture of him with LeBron, part of the Miami Heat back then, quickly circulated online. James recorded 11 points and 12 assists, on extremely efficient shooting, and recorded half of his assists in the fourth quarter, including a no-look dime to Ayton for a rim-rattling dunk. Ayton pointed to James’ leadership, saying, “I’m really glad us as a young team… we went through some tough games and a little adversity… It made us prepared for times like this, where he says one thing and we get it done right away.”

How the Los Angeles Lakers Flipped Everything After Halftime Against the Utah Jazz

The turning point for the Los Angeles Lakers arrives in a wave. The Utah Jazz controlled the entire first half tonight, dictating the pace while shooting lights out from beyond-the-arc, stacking an early lead. However, as soon as the third quarter opened, something snapped into place. LA looked much faster, sharper and more connected, as if the previous 24 minutes had been a warmup.

Everything funneled through Luka Doncic. His 17-point explosion in the third was a takeover that completely reset the game’s momentum, with a layup giving LA it’s first lead at 89-88. He also helped ignite an 8-0 run that led to the quarter scoring being a lopsided 37-22, and Utah never managed to slow the avalanche.

LeBron James finally settled in during the fourth, and his presence added a sense of calm to the whole game. After a long wait to see him in uniform, LA’s offense looked free, with cleaner spacing. Utah’s Keyonte George and Lauri Markkanen tried their best, combining for 65 total points, But Doncic, Austin Reaves and Deandre Ayton outdid them with a combined 83, burying Utah down the stretch for a 140-126 win. Now, LA gets a small break, playing their next game on Sunday, once again opposite the Jazz.