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Jay-Z Had Influence in LeBron “Senior Citizen” James’ 34-Point Explosion vs the Clippers, Per ESPN Analyst

Published 02/29/2024, 9:10 AM EST

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Despite being 39-years-old, LeBron James reminded everyone that he’s still the modern NBA’s greatest superstar. Things weren’t looking nice for the Los Angeles Lakers, as they trailed by 19 points going into the last quarter against arch rivals, the Los Angeles Clippers. However, the Lakers rallied in the fourth quarter, dominating the Clippers and outscoring them by 23 points.

After the game, ESPN analyst and former NBA champion, Kendrick Perkins, credited Jay-Z for the Lakers’ impressive comeback. He wrote (on X formerly Twitter), “Jay-Z in the front row… I’ve should have known better! This damn 39 year old senior citizen just put on a damn masterpiece on both ends of the floor. God Bless America!” With the Lakers vs the Clippers being one of the NBA’s premier offerings, several A-list celebrities like Jay-Z, Wiz Khalifa, and Bow Wow attended the game. However, it was King James who stole the spotlight with his exceptional abilities.

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LeBron played an instrumental role in the Lakers’ remarkable fourth quarter comeback, as his 34-point eruption inspired his teammates. He finished the game with a stat-line of 34 points, 8 assists and 6 rebounds. Anthony Davis (20 points and 12 rebounds) and D’Angelo Russell (18 points) also made important contributions, as the Lakers ultimately won by a score line of 116-112.

King James’ unprecedented longevity

LeBron James‘ performance against the Clippers defied logic, as a 39-year-old “senior citizen,” who’s in his 21st NBA season shouldn’t be performing at such a high level. Here’s a mind-blowing statistic: In his 21st year in the NBA, LeBron has already scored 1,274 points, with nearly 20 regular season games left to play. Remarkably, the combined total points scored by the other five players who have also played in the NBA for 21 years is just 1,230.

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This mind-boggling statistic just goes on to further highlight LeBron’s incredible longevity. He is currently treading in uncharted territory, as not even the “GOAT” Michael Jordan was expected to win the NBA title during the latter stages of his career. Yet, fans and analysts still expect LeBron to lead the Lakers to their 18th NBA title. At times, it begs the question as to whether we, as fans, are placing unrealistic burdens on LeBron.

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However, despite the increasing pressure, LeBron has kept his head down and continued to perform at an All-Star level. With the Lakers still in the playoff picture, there’s still hope that LeBron could clinch his 5th ring and further establish himself as one of the NBA’s greatest ever players, if not the greatest.

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Written by:

Dushyant Singh

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Dushyant Singh is an NBA Writer at EssentiallySports. Ever since the Lakers’ Orlando Bubble victory, he has maintained a vigilant eye on the NBA with his research-heavy perspective, along with a specialization in covering predictive lineups. He keenly observes the evolving narratives that unfold each season.
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Edited by:

Anuj Jacob