LeBron James passed Michael Cooper for fifth place on the Lakers’ all-time assists list during a 128-104 victory over the Sacramento Kings, reaching 3,667 career assists as a Laker. James scored 24 points on 8-of-15 shooting with five assists, two steals, and a block in 27 minutes. His third assist of the game moved him past Cooper’s 3,666.
Norm Nixon holds fourth place at 3,846, a mark James could reach if he returns to the Lakers next season. The win kept Los Angeles at 36-24 and in the sixth seed in the Western Conference, a half-game behind Denver for fifth.
James averaging 21.5 points and 7.0 assists at age 41 as he climbs Lakers’ franchise records
James is averaging 21.5 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 7.0 assists per game this season as the oldest player in the league. The assists average in particular is what has moved him up the franchise list — his playmaking volume at 41 continues to generate the kind of production that would be notable for a player a decade younger.
The gap between James and Nixon for fourth is 179 assists. At his current pace of 7.0 per game, James would need roughly 26 games to pass Nixon — achievable within this season’s remaining schedule if he stays healthy. Jerry West holds third place, and while that mark may be out of reach, the assists record is another entry in a franchise history that already includes the 2020 championship.
James says daughter Zhuri’s presence on road trips has kept him grounded in year 23
James spoke about the role his daughter Zhuri plays in keeping him balanced during his 23rd NBA season. “I miss a lot of moments, you know, spending time with my kids because of my career,” James said. “So to have my daughter want to come on the road and be with me [is special].” He added that fatherhood has “definitely softened me up over the last 11 years,” describing the bond with Zhuri as something that provides perspective outside of basketball.
The Lakers face the New Orleans Pelicans next as they try to climb from the sixth seed into a more favorable playoff position. James’ efficiency against Sacramento — 24 points in 27 minutes on 53% shooting — suggests the minute management the Lakers have employed throughout the season is keeping him productive for the stretch run without the wear that a full workload would create at his age.