Whew.
If the reaction to the Los Angeles Lakers‘ 145-144 victory over the Golden State Warriors Saturday night can be summarized in one word, it’s that. The nationally televised instant classic took the two teams to their limits as their veteran stars wrestled fiercely for the upper hand.
In the end, the Lakers came out on top as forward LeBron James knocked down the two winning free throws in the closing seconds. Aside from gerontocracy, however, the real winners were NBA fans.
Bill Simmons of The Ringer quickly christened the contest the game of the year, and he wasn’t alone in doing so.
Lakers-Warriors the new Game of the Year? Man that was something. Curry and LeBron are a combined 74!
— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) January 28, 2024
Many marveled at how the two teams’ play belied their subpar records; neither would make the playoffs if the season ended today.
Warriors-Lakers play in for right to get smacked by the 1 seed will move mountains
— kyle (@knicks_tape99) January 28, 2024
James’s duel with Warriors guard Stephen Curry was compared to their epic mid-2010s battles when James was on the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Warriors vs Lakers tonight pic.twitter.com/edBQw2bbEj
— TJ (@img0418) January 28, 2024
Many raised on those battles found themselves contemplating their own mortality.
why am i emotional watching this lebron and steph masterclass. we truly cannot take these moments for granted i fear….
— Molly Morrison (@mollyhannahm) January 28, 2024
James, now a 39-year-old elder statesman, was showered with praise.
You can argue LeBron isn’t the greatest of all time, but no basketball player has ever been this good at this stage of his career.
It’s pretty wild.— Ralph D. Russo (@ralphDrussoAP) January 28, 2024
A number of outlets and fans noted the historicity of the game regardless of its participants.
FIRST DOUBLE OT BETWEEN LAKERS-WARRIORS SINCE 1969 😳 pic.twitter.com/em7Npl52py
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) January 28, 2024
James’s ability to charm fans with tall tales appears to have only increased with age.
first thing lebron do after a win in double OT, breathin hard as hell, is cap and say he not tired. gotta love him 😭
— mariah rose (@mariahcrose) January 28, 2024
As it was in 2004 and ‘14, it’s hard to deny the results.
I know he did a ton of other stuff and I know it was double OT but pulling down 20 boards is the most impressive stat for that 39 year old dude man. Effort stat
— RyanG (@drggrizz) January 28, 2024