NBA world in awe as LeBron James puts up near 47-pt triple-double on 38th birthday

Even at age 38 and in the 20th season of his career, LeBron James can sometimes still be inhuman. He led the LA Lakers to a 15-point comeback on the road against the Atlanta Hawks to celebrate his birthday.

The four-time MVP dropped 47 points to go with 10 rebounds and nine assists in front of a crowd that unquestionably appreciated his greatness. Several NBA players who watched the game were just as thankful they could still see him play:

“Masterful 47 I just watched, Lebron James. Masterful…GGz”

“Man it’s going to be sad for the sports world when LeBron James decides to hang ‘em up. That’s greatness.”

LeBron James was both masterful and great against players much younger than him. He also showed so much energy and hustle that even the supposedly hostile crowd could only shake their heads in awed disbelief.

In one play in the third quarter, James' layup was blocked as he went out of bounds. He quickly got back in to get the loose ball and went hard for a layup and a foul. The energy he showed ignited his team and slowly turned the momentum to the Lakers’ side.

“King James’” 47 points is the second-highest in his career during a birthday game. He's added a few more records to his resume after his explosion last night. Considering his age, it’s even more impressive than the 48 he put up back in 2009 when he was just about to hit his prime.

When asked in a courtside postgame interview how he has been able to maintain longevity and excellence, here’s what he had to say:

“Make sure my body is fresh, but my mind more importantly. If I keep my mind fresh then my body will follow.”

LeBron James’ brilliant basketball mind had such a huge impact that the Atlanta Hawks’ game plan eventually wilted. The four-time champ directed the Lakers’ defense and orchestrated the offense. He played 40 minutes and it seemed like he was everywhere tonight and the Hawks will be glad the game is over.

He’s not going to sustain this kind of energy, effort and dominance, not when he’s near 40. But when the necessity calls for it, it’s never a good idea to bet against the 18x NBA All-Star.

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The LA Lakers may need to see more of these LeBron James masterpieces to even make the playoffs

The LA Lakers will badly need this version of LeBron James to make a push for the playoffs.

After the win, the LA Lakers raised their record to 15-21, good for 13th in the tightly-contested Western Conference. They’re three games behind the Utah Jazz for the 10th seed to qualify for at least a play-in ticket.

The Lakers aren’t expecting Anthony Davis to return until the second week of January. To keep the team afloat, LeBron James may need to produce more of these superb displays to keep them in contention.

LA are only 4-6 in their last 10 games and can’t expect James to play every game until AD is available. Darvin Ham has meticulously managed his workload, often sitting him down on the second night of a back-to-back set.

The Lakers are almost guaranteed a loss when “King James” and Anthony Davis are out. To make up for that while Davis is still out, James will have to be truly exceptional to keep their playoff hopes alive.

It’s incredible and almost unbelievable to see James perform at this level at age 38. It’s also a bit pitiful that the Lakers are barely afloat despite masterpieces like the one the basketball world saw last night.