Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) moves the ball against Toronto Raptors guard Ochai Agbaji (30) during the second half at Crypto.com Arena. Jonathan Hui-Imagn Images

D'Angelo Russell praises 'dominating' performance from LeBron James

By Adam Taylor | Last updated Nov 11, 2024 8:37 AM ET

The Los Angeles Lakers won their sixth game of the season on Sunday, defeating the Toronto Raptors, 123-103. A masterclass from LeBron James will be the primary talking point from the game.

James ended the night with a monster triple-double. He had 19 points, 10 rebounds and 16 assists, shooting 42.9% from the field. At 39-years-old, James was the clear-cut best player on the floor and looked like a player still firmly in his prime.

D'Angelo Russell praised the aging superstar when speaking to the media after the game.

"He's just dominating the game from every cylinder," Russell said. "Assists, rebounding, passing, leading. Looked like a modern-day LeBron right there."

D'Angelo Russell speaks about LeBron's impact in tonight's win pic.twitter.com/mJ0TbCE2D1
— Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) November 11, 2024

James' big night came with a caveat, though. He was forced to step into a leading role after Anthony Davis, who has been exceptional to start the season, suffered an eye injury and didn't return to the court.

During the Lakers' postgame news conferences, Russell wasn't the only one to praise James' dominance. Head coach JJ Redick noted how the four-time NBA champion "took control of the game" once Davis went down.

"LeBron took control of the game," Redick said. "And not just with scoring the basketball. Defensively with his rebounding, his playmaking."

JJ Redick discusses AD's eye injury and the energy after he exited the game.

"LeBron took control of the game." pic.twitter.com/2H68rYtlIH
— Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) November 11, 2024

James' triple-double performance marked the 115th time he's achieved the highly respectable stat line in his career. It's another example of why many consider him to be the greatest player in NBA history.

However, in truth, his longevity is far more impressive. He will be 40-years-old next month. You would be hard-pressed to find 10 players better than him in the NBA or anywhere for that matter.

The Lakers might not have the roster to be considered championship contenders, but with James and Davis playing at their current levels, it would be foolish to count them out, especially if the front office can make minor adjustments before the Feb. 6 trade deadline.

Adam Taylor

Adam Taylor is a sports journalist based out of the UK. Adam has been covering the NBA for nearly a decade with a core focus on the Boston Celtics. He currently holds bylines with Yardbarker, SB Nation and USA Today

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