J-Speaks: Lakers' James and Ball Make Triple-Double History

Back in March 2010 Hall of Famer and six-time NBA champion with the Chicago Bulls Michael Jordan became owner of the then Charlotte Bobcats, now Hornets. One player that his team has had no success against in the eight seasons since then has been four-time Kia MVP and three-time NBA champion LeBron James who has own them winning 27 of the 28 matchups. James added to that misery on Saturday night as the first year Los Angeles Laker along with his teammate made some history in front of the Hornets fans. 

In fitting fashion, James registered his second triple-double on the season and the 75 of his 16-year career with 24 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists while his teammate Lonzo Ball registered his third career triple-double with 16 points, 10 boards and 10 assists as the Lakers (18-11) won at the Hornets (14-15) 128-100 last night.  

It was just the second time in franchise history that two Lakers recorded a triple-double since Hall of Famers and James’ boss Earvin “Magic” Johnson and fellow Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who led the Lakers to five Larry O’Brien trophies in the 1980s did it in a 123-111 on Jan. 22, 1982 versus the Detroit Pistons. 

“We just try to do a little bit of everything to help our team win,” James said of what he and Ball try to do each night on the hardwood. “We’re one in the same when it comes to our playmaking ability.” 

“We are always looking for our teammates and that’s the greatest satisfaction when we see our teammates score the ball. We’ve always been pretty good rebounders for our position. Him [Ball] at the guard spot, me at the four [power forward] spot, and then being able to put the ball in the hole as well.”

“We just try to be aggressive, attack the rim, make shots from the outside when guys disrespect us and we showed all of that tonight.”  

In that contest, Abdul-Jabbar, “The Captain” had 19 points, 10 rebounds and 10 block shots, while Johnson, who is second all-time in triple-doubles with 138 to the 181 of Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson had 26 points, 16 rebounds and 12 assists. 

The last set of teammates to record a triple-double in the same game came on Apr. 7. 2007 by the then New Jersey Net twosome of current Atlanta Hawks reserve swingman Vince Carter and recent Hall of Famer Jason Kidd. 

In the Nets 120-114 win versus the Wizards, Kidd, who was enshrined at the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, MA back in September had 10 points, 18 assists and 16 rebounds with four steals. Carter in his 21^st season with the Hawks this year had 46 points, 16 rebounds and 10 assists, along with three block shots on 16 for 28 from the field, including 7 for 13 from three-point range.

Nearly two decades prior, Jordan and his running mate that was a big part of the six titles he won with the Chicago Bulls Scottie Pippen, current studio analyst for ESPN, frequently scene on “NBA: The Jump” both recorded triple-doubles on Jan. 3, 1989 versus the Los Angeles Clippers. 

In the Bulls 126-121 overtime win that day, Jordan had 41 points, 11 assists and 10 boards, with six steals and Pippen registered 15 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds. 

The first pair of teammates to record a triple-double were the Hall of Fame tandem of Larry Bird and Robert Parish, who did it on Mar. 29, 1987 versus fellow Hall of Famers Julius “Dr. J” Erving and Charles Barkley and the Philadelphia 76ers. 

Bird, who had 59 triple-doubles in his career, No. 7 all-time had 17 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists on the day, while Parish, who register the only triple-double of his 21-year career on this day registered 14 points, 10 boards and 10 assists.

Ever since he came into the NBA as the No. 1 overall pick in June of 2003 James has drawn comparisons in terms of his play on the floor to Jordan and his all-around game to Johnson. 

While he has not exceeded Jordan in terms of titles, six for MJ to just three so far for LBJ, he has had a similar impact in terms of being the best player in the league and like Johnson has made his teammates better. 

That was clearly the case for Ball on this night, where he scored a season-high of 16 points, on 7 for 11 shooting and became the first Laker to register a triple-double with five steals since Johnson did it in 1989. 

“Ever since he got here, it’s been a dream come true for me,” Ball, who scored in double-figures for the 13^th time this season said of what James has meant to him joining the Lakers back in the summer. “Like I said, I watched him my whole life, and my idol growing up, and now were both getting triple-doubles in the same game.” 

“I don’t know if I’ve even dreamed of that before. So, like I said it was a good day today.” 

James added, “Any time you can put yourself in the same conversation of Laker history, all the guys that have come through this franchise, it’s pretty special.” 

The other similarity between James, Jordan, and Johnson is this that when they come into your team’s home arena the house will be packed. The 19,461 in attendance at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, NC on Saturday night was the largest crowd to see a game in that arena’s history. 

On Saturday night one of the greats of today’s NBA LeBron James along with his teammate Lonzo Ball put on a show in front of an owner who was one of the best to ever play the game in Michael Jordan. Both James especially registered his aforementioned 75^th career triple-double in front of a player that he said of his first encounter with Jordan, “It was Godly. I’ve said that over and over before but it was like meeting God for the first time.” 

James this past weekend was Godly as he continued his dominance over Jordan and the now Hornets beating them for the 28^th time in the last 29 opportunities as the Lakers continued their improvement winning for the 16^th time in their last 22 games after a 2-5 start. Even head coach Luke Walton was surprised about the history that James and Ball made in the game while throwing in a little joke. 

“I know it’s not easy There have been a lot of good players in the Lakers history and I figured Walton and Kobe (Bryant) would have done it a few times,” the former small forward with the “Purple and Gold” said. 

Information, statistics, and quotations are courtesy of 12/16/18 1 a.m. edition of ESPN’s “Sportscenter” with John Buccigross and John Anderson; www.nba.com/games/20181215/LALCHA#/recap; https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198201220LAL.html; https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/200704070NJN.html; https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198901030CHI.html; http://www.basketball-reference.com/leaders/triple-double-most-times.html; and www.espn.com/nba/player/gamelog/_/id/4066421/lonzo_ball.