LeBron James showing 'a different kind of greatness' with the Lakers this season

After scoring 30 points in 33 minutes in a 111-103 win over the Pelicans, LeBron James was praised by coach JJ Redick, who called the 41-year-old's late-career play 'a different form of greatness.' James said decisions about playing back-to-backs for the rest of the season are 'to be determined.'

LeBron James scored 30 points in 33 minutes as the Los Angeles Lakers beat the New Orleans Pelicans 111-103 on Tuesday. He said availability for back-to-back games for the rest of the season is "to be determined." James missed the first 14 games this season with sciatica and has emphasized taking his recovery day to day. Coach JJ Redick praised James' recent work and described it as a different form of greatness. Key details: - LeBron James scored 30 points in 33 minutes in the 111-103 victory over New Orleans, dunking 19 seconds into the game and hitting deep 3s during an 18-4 run that opened the fourth quarter. - It was the second time in three games James scored at least 30 points; he had 31 in a win at Memphis three nights earlier. - James missed the first 14 games of the season with sciatica and is 41 years old; the article notes he is the NBA's all-time leading scorer and was the first to reach 40,000 regular-season points, listed at 42,575 and counting. - James said every back-to-back for the rest of the season is "TBD" and that he will assess how his body feels day to day. - Coach JJ Redick said he will evaluate game to game how to use James, compared the late-career adjustments to those of pitcher Greg Maddux, and called what James is doing "a different form of greatness." - The article reports James said he considers Luka Dončić to be the Lakers' premier player now and that teammates should "bend our game around him and figure it out." Summary: JJ Redick praised LeBron James after the Pelicans game and framed the 41-year-old's recent performance as a distinct late-career excellence that requires careful, game-to-game management. Decisions about James' availability for back-to-back games will be made as the season progresses, with day-to-day assessments guiding usage. Undetermined at this time.