LeBron James’s first NBA game was a practice game in Detroit against the Pistons, led by Chauncey Billups.

He was there again on Friday, this time as a coach for the Trail Blazers in Portland. His beard had gray spots in it, and he was still watching James work.

James has been playing in the NBA for 7,351 days and is still going strong. He led the Lakers to a 107–95 win in Portland, keeping them unbeaten in the in-season tournament.

“He played like himself,” Anthony Davis said over the phone. “Like, the player who has scored the most points in league history.”

After he slid to the basket for an early score, James shook his head. When he made a three-point shot, he looked at his arm. When he got hit in the fourth quarter, he flexed and shrugged his shoulders.

He finished with 35 points, which tied his season high, and nine assists. In his 21st NBA season, he shows no signs of slowing down. James set up seven points in the fourth quarter to help the Lakers hold off Portland in a game they never trailed.

“It’s just crazy to see him now after seeing that,” Billups said before the game. “What he’s been able to do and what he can keep doing.” When we’re all really old, we’ll all tell our grandchildren and other people that we saw that whole movie. That means we’re all pretty lucky to be able to say that.

James told them he was tired from playing four games in six nights while they were sick. But there were no signs of tiredness on the floor. James said, “Once I step on the floor, I’m really excited to try to win and help my team win games.” “That’s still the same.”The Utah Jazz are the last team in the Lakers’ pool for the first in-season event. If they win, they will automatically go to the single-elimination round. All eight of the top players in coach Darvin Ham’s rotation did good things for the Lakers.Portland lost 19 times, which led to 27 points, and Cam Reddish’s point-of-attack defense helped cause some of them. Davis got off to a slow shooting start and scored 16 points, grabbed 14 boards, blocked five shots, and stole three. And Christian Wood had a great game for the Lakers coming off the bench. He scored 10 points and grabbed 10 boards.”Dude, I just want to win,” Reddish said. “I think winning will make me feel good.” So I bring my energy to protect myself. Of course, it’s not like the way things were when I was growing up, but it’s the league. You need to make the most of every chance you get. I think I’m doing a pretty good job of that, and I’ll keep getting better as the season goes on.In their last five games, the Lakers have won four of them. This includes all three of their playoff games.”I’m sure it’s an incentive.” “We know what’s on the line early in the season when you play in the in-season tournament,” James said. “We’re not putting all of our eggs in one basket for the in-season tournament.” But we know what’s at stake every Tuesday and Friday when the games happen. So far, things have gone well for us.Their game against Houston is this Sunday in Los Angeles.