LeBron James has made a career out of defying expectations-and on Saturday night against the Mavericks, he reminded everyone that Father Time still hasn’t caught up with him.
Midway through his 23rd NBA season-and his eighth in purple and gold-James, now 41, showed he's still got some serious bounce left. With the Lakers and Mavericks locked in a tight one, LeBron picked off a pass from Brandon Williams, sprinted down the court, and finished the play with a vintage two-handed fastbreak slam that sent the Crypto.com Arena crowd into a frenzy. It wasn’t just a highlight-it was a statement.
That dunk wasn’t just about flair. It was a momentum-changer in a game that had already seen wild swings.
The Lakers came out strong, building a 65-52 lead by halftime. But Dallas came storming back in the third, outscoring L.A. 35-12 in a dominant stretch that flipped the game on its head.
Then came the fourth quarter-and the Lakers’ response.
With just under six minutes left, the Lakers flipped the switch. They locked in defensively, pushed the pace, and overwhelmed the Mavericks down the stretch. LeBron’s dunk was a spark, but it was the collective effort that closed the door.
Five Lakers scored in double figures, including James, who turned in a well-rounded performance: 17 points, eight rebounds, five assists, plus a steal and a block. He shot 8-of-16 from the field, including 1-of-3 from deep. Efficient, impactful, and still capable of delivering those jaw-dropping moments.
LeBron James with the THROWDOWN in transition off the steal 😤
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) January 25, 2026
pic.twitter.com/SgoZpUWjUE
Luka Dončić did his part for Dallas, finishing with 33 points and 11 assists, continuing his MVP-caliber season. Rui Hachimura matched LeBron’s scoring output with 17 points and eight boards of his own, while Marcus Smart added 13 points and seven rebounds. Jake LaRavia chipped in with 13 points and six boards as well.
The win moves the Lakers to 27-17 on the season, good for fifth in the Western Conference. They’re now half a game up on both the Suns and Timberwolves, and just a half-game back of the Rockets. The defending champion Nuggets sit three games ahead.
Next up, the Lakers stay on the road, heading to Chicago for a Friday night matchup against the Bulls. But for now, the talk around the league will be about that dunk-and the 41-year-old still throwing it down like he’s 25.