LeBron James continues to defy the odds with his latest virtuoso performance

The Cleveland Cavaliers were blessed to draft LeBron James. He’s the most unique player to ever play in the NBA.

The man ages like wine. I won’t pretend to be a “oenophile” and compare Cleveland Cavaliers future Hall of Famer LeBron James to a bottle of Emu Gold Armand De Brignac Brut Gold.

I will, however, compare James to a player like Utah Jazz legend Karl Malone who remained dominant until his final season, at 40-years-old. I would even compare James to Bill Russell, whose knowledge of the game allowed him to be a player-coach for the Boston Celtics.

Now imagine putting Malone and Russell together in one body and giving that player Magic Johnson’s passing ability and a bevy of Michael Jordan’s moves. For good measure, throw in Shaquille O’Neal’s physical dominance. Even that amalgamation of Hall of Fame talent doesn’t illustrate the player James has become.

At 33-years-old and in his 15th season, James averaged a triple-double (27.0 points, 10.5 rebounds and 10.5 assists per game) for the month of February (10 games) and it’s the first time in his career he’s done so. It might not be more glamorous than being the first player in NBA history to average a triple-double in the NBA Finals, which he did last season, but in accomplishing a career-first this late in his storied career James continues to defy the odds.

That’s even more apparent on a grander scale, with James (one of four players in NBA history to average a triple-double in a calendar month) becoming not just the oldest player to average a triple-double in a calendar month (besting Wilt Chamberlain, who set the record in 1968, by two years) but the first player in NBA history to record 30,000 points, 8,000 rebounds and 8,000 assists.

If Benjamin Button was 6-foot-9 baller with prodigal basketball ability, he’d be James.

Never before has an all-time great player retained this much athleticism, amassed this much knowledge and had James’ level of durability. He’s more than fantastic, really.

He’s fascinating. Even in the process of securing a statline that cemented this collection of NBA firsts, James did it so quietly that the talk of the game were the Cavaliers four new players, who did an excellent job of taking over the game against the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday night.

As for his accomplishments, everyone from head coach Tyronn Lue to newcomer Jordan Clarkson found themselves in awe of James’ greatness following the game.

James, who would say he needs his own category following the game offered the following quotes (transcribed by ESPN’s Dave McMenamin):

"“I always wanted to be labeled as just an all-around basketball player; and I get more gratification out of the assists more than anything, because to get my guys great looks or they’re knocking down shots, that means a lot to me.”“With the long list of so many great players that have come through this league, in the history of this league, for me to be the only [person] in a category, I think it’s pretty cool”"

James would also comment on his accomplishment on his Instagram page using the hashtag #IStandSoloDolo. You might not be hip to the lingo but “solo dolo” translates to “alone”. That’s another thing about James, a man mature beyond his years.

As Clarkson put it, “he cool”.

He hasn’t just stayed young on the court but off of it as well.

There are many players in the league who aspire to be complete talents but considering James’ age at the time he was drafted, his sustained dominance and his durability in a sport that has seen injuries sap the ability of the most elite stars, it’s unlikely there will be a player that matches James’ accomplishment any time soon, if ever.

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