For most of the season, the Los Angeles Lakers have been without the man who’s been the face of their organization over the last seven seasons. LeBron James missed the first 14 games of the season with a right sciatica injury.
One would think that the team would struggle without the King. It was quite a different story, however.
New face of the franchise, Luka Dončić, made sure that the team wouldn’t miss a beat by coming out and playing like the MVP of the league to this point. Austin Reaves has certainly been doing his part as well, playing out of his mind.
More: Austin Reaves is averaging more points than who?
When the Lakers took on the Dallas Mavericks on Black Friday, Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves established a new LeBron record without the 23-year vet having to do much at all.
LeBron James not a part of 35+ point performance for first time
When you’re as talented as LeBron James and play for as long as he has, the record and feats he’s accomplished have been bound to happen.
He is seemingly both the youngest and oldest player in the league to accomplish most anything while also being the NBA’s All-Time leading points scorer. Friday night against Dallas, with Dončić scoring 35 and Reaves scoring 38, they gave him some long-overdue history.
For the first time EVER, two players on LeBron’s team, in a game where he played, scored 35 points and he wasn’t one of the two.
(via @ByTimReynolds) pic.twitter.com/X0Vmead4tS
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) November 29, 2025
LeBron has always been the best player on every team he’s played on, so this isn’t wildly surprising. When you look at the elite company he’s shared the floor with, though, it’s a bit shocking.
Never once did Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love, or even Anthony Davis and Austin Reaves complete this task. This may be the sign that LeBron finally sees the requisite talent worthy of passing the torch.
If LeBron James still has a full tank just waiting to be emptied, and the duo of Dončić and Reaves can keep that tank full, look out for the Lakers in the playoffs.
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