LeBron James becomes oldest player to win an MVP award in NBA history

Chris Haynes @ChrisBHaynes
LeBron James told me Cam Reddish is the player he wanted to have this IST championship platform to showcase his skillset: “People were writing him off. I’m so happy he got to experience this and perform. I believe in him.” – 12:20 AM

Jorge Sierra @hoopshype
LeBron James is averaging 25 ppg this season.
Outside of LeBron, the last player from the 2003 class to average 25 ppg was Carmelo Anthony 10 years ago.
Dwyane Wade last accomplished that 13 years ago
Just to add a bit more context to his longevity. – 12:10 AM

Ben Golliver @BenGolliver
Lakers’ LeBron James autographed his NBA Cup-winning sneakers and gifted them to longtime Nike executive Lynn Merritt aka “The General” pic.twitter.com/mdLxSL8Ix6 – 12:09 AM

Ball Don’t Lie @Balldontlie
Bron in championship mode
pic.twitter.com/wT7BQjeuY3 – 12:06 AM

Arash Markazi @ArashMarkazi
LeBron James gives his MVP trophy and medal to Maverick Carter. He says he’s going to shower and head out. He’s heading back to L.A. to see Bronny James’ debut for USC tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/rEFDjnzi4m – 12:00 AM

Scott Agness @ScottAgness
Haliburton: “This didn’t have a regular-season feel. It felt like LeBron and AD never came off the floor. … And this makes me want to play in more games that have a meaning to them.” – 11:57 PM

Khobi Price @khobi_price
LeBron James on what he’s learned about this Lakers team with their 7-0 play in the In-Season Tournament – and winning the NBA Cup – and about 1/4 of the way through the season: pic.twitter.com/ac6IdVi81o – 11:57 PM

Ryan Ward @RyanWardLA
Adam Silver’s comment to LeBron James before handing him the In-Season Tournament MVP was priceless lol David Stern would never haha – 11:54 PM

Nate Duncan @NateDuncanNBA
LeBron barged into the press conference room I think earlier than anyone expected and declared he and AD were going together. He appears set on getting this over with and the post game festivities going. – 11:49 PM

Tony Jones @Tjonesonthenba
Seeing how much juice left in the tank LeBron clearly has, how long does he realistically play? – 11:48 PM

Eric Pincus @EricPincus
Good fun, Pacers growing up quick. Bron was winning that tournament from the start, seemed like, at least from his POV and the result – 11:47 PM

Jorge Sierra @hoopshype
LeBron James just became the oldest player to win an MVP award of any kind in NBA history.
It’s only the IST, but still. – 11:42 PM

Mark Haynes @markhaynesnba
LeBron James becomes the first In-Season Tournament MVP. Does this add to his resume in the GOAT conversation? – 11:39 PM

Bobby Manning @RealBobManning
LeBron had to pay off some mortgages for his teammates – 11:39 PM

Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
Add it to the trophy case, @KingJames, the first ever IST MVP: pic.twitter.com/wONnCtctmp – 11:39 PM

NBA on ESPN @ESPNNBA
LeBron James wins the in-season tournament MVP pic.twitter.com/XH3zlK1wDG – 11:39 PM

Sam Quinn @SamQuinnCBS
The NBA should name the In-Season Tournament MVP after LeBron James.
They just named awards after Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson and Jerry West last season. James is their only active peer. He played a big part in the tournament’s success. Give him the damn trophy. – 11:38 PM

Khobi Price @khobi_price
LeBron James is the 2023 NBA In-Season Tournament MVP. – 11:38 PM

StatMuse @statmuse
LeBron in the In-Season Tournament:
26.4 PPG
7.9 RPG
7.6 APG
56.8 FG%
60.1 3P%
MVP. statmuse.com/nba/player/leb… – 11:37 PM

StatMuse @statmuse
LeBron James in 21 seasons:
19x All-Star
19x All-NBA
6x All-Defense
4x MVP
4x NBA Champ
4x FMVP
And now, the first ever In-Season Tournament MVP. statmuse.com/nba/player/leb… – 11:37 PM

Ben Golliver @BenGolliver
Lakers forward LeBron James is named the first In-Season Tournament MVP, adding to his four NBA MVPs, four Finals MVPs and 3 All-Star Game MVPs. – 11:37 PM

Chris Palmer @ChrisPalmerNBA
LeBron wins his 5th Ring as Lakers defeat Pacers in the In Season Tournament. – 11:31 PM

Wes Goldberg @wcgoldberg
It’s legitimately incredible that LeBron basically decided to win the In-Season Tournament. – 11:28 PM

Jovan Buha @jovanbuha
Final: Lakers 123, Pacers 109
LA wins the inaugural In-Season Tournament. Anthony Davis had one of the best games of his career: 41 points, 20 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 blocks. LeBron had 24 points and 11 rebounds. Austin Reaves had 28 points.
Up next: at Dallas on Tuesday. – 11:26 PM

Ben Golliver @BenGolliver
The Los Angeles Lakers defeat the Indiana Pacers, 123-109, to win the first NBA in-season tournament.
– LeBron James: 24 points, 11 rebounds, 4 assists
– Anthony Davis: 41 points, 20 rebounds, 5 assists, 4 blocks – 11:26 PM

Jorge Sierra @hoopshype
LEBRON JAMES IN SCORING RANKINGS
Regular season: No. 1
Playoffs: No. 1
All-Star Games: No. 1
In-Season Tournament: No. 2 – 11:26 PM

Dave McMenamin @mcten
The Lakers are the 1st ever NBA In-Season Tournament champions.
LeBron 24p 11r 4a 2s after 26.8p 7.5r 8.2a 1.5s in tourney coming into tonight.
AD 41p 20r 5a 4b after 20.3p 13.7r 83.5a 2.7b.
Reaves 28p 2r 3a after 15.7p 5.2r 5.3a.
The Cup and the cash heading back to L.A. – 11:25 PM

StatMuse @statmuse
LeBron tonight:
24 PTS
11 REB
2 STL
Champion. statmuse.com/nba/player/leb… – 11:24 PM

Sam Quinn @SamQuinnCBS
Anthony Davis is having the best single game any Laker has had during the In-Season Tournament.
LeBron James was still the best Laker during the tournament as a whole and should win MVP. – 11:16 PM

Jovan Buha @jovanbuha
A successful challenge for Indiana. It’s an offensive foul on LeBron. – 11:14 PM

Bryan Kalbrosky @BryanKalbrosky
My picks for the inaugural NBA Cup All-Tournament Team (if I had a vote):
LeBron James
Tyrese Haliburton
Anthony Davis
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Kevin Durant
NBA In-Season Tournament – 11:14 PM

Sergio Gonzalez @thatgonzalez
NBA Cups
LeBron James: 1
Michael Jordan: 0
(surely I’m the first person to make this joke) – 11:14 PM

Zach Kram @zachkram
Davis and LeBron have more rebounds than the entire Pacers team combined – 11:12 PM

Steve Bulpett @SteveBHoop
Accepting Lebron’s greatness as a constant, the Lakers are a little different when Anthony Davis decides to play, huh? – 11:12 PM

Jorge Sierra @hoopshype
LeBron James will now be the only player to win an MVP, an NBA title and an In-Season Tournament.
The ultimate trifecta – 11:12 PM

Tony East @TonyREast
Aaron Nesmith fighting over Anthony Davis screens so he can get right up in LeBron James’ grill. Impressive stuff. – 10:57 PM

Tony East @TonyREast
LeBron James went down in some pain but gets up after a moment on the floor. Reaching for his right knee after tripping over McConnell. – 10:53 PM

Ball Don’t Lie @Balldontlie
LEBRON LOBS TO AD
(via @NBA)
pic.twitter.com/zelnW5kTwk – 10:44 PM

Jovan Buha @jovanbuha
Third quarter: Lakers 90, Pacers 82
LA continues to dominate the paint (66-34 points in the paint advantage). Anthony Davis has 27 points, 16 rebounds and 4 blocks. LeBron James has 20 points and 8 rebounds. Austin Reaves has 24 points. No other Laker is in double figures. – 10:43 PM

Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
LAL thought they’d managed a 6-0 run to close the 3rd, with Davis splitting FT’s, a Prince 3 (LAL’s 1st), and a Davis dunk from LeBron, pushing their biggest lead to 11.
But after a LeBron TO with 2.8 sec. left, Indy pushed the inbounds and got a buzzer-beating 3 to cut it to 8. – 10:42 PM

Khobi Price @khobi_price
End of 3Q: Lakers 90, Pacers 82.
Benn Mathurin with a buzzer-beating 3. The Lakers are 12 minutes away from winning the first NBA Cup. Anthony Davis (27p/16r/4a/3b), Austin Reaves (24p) and LeBron James (20p/8r) have all scored at least 20 points. – 10:42 PM

Nate Duncan @NateDuncanNBA
I don’t think LeBron even went too early before the Mathurin 3. You should be able to defend just fine full court with 2.8 second left. But that’s a huge shot. Pacers got a big one to cut it to 3 right at end of the 3rd on Thursday as well. – 10:42 PM

Tim Bontemps @TimBontemps
After 3: Lakers 90, Pacers 82
A Bennedict Mathurin buzzer-beating 3 to end the quarter gives the Pacers a little life heading into the fourth, but the combination of LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Austin Reaves has been too much so far.
Tyrese Haliburton has 15 and 9 for Indy. – 10:42 PM

Jovan Buha @jovanbuha
LeBron was not happy with Max Christie after that Tyrese Haliburton basket and foul. – 10:32 PM

Tony Jones @Tjonesonthenba
Aaron lucky lebron don’t have the bunnies he used to – 10:29 PM

Vincent Goodwill @VinceGoodwill
Not sure where the foul was on that. LeBron could’ve been called for a clear out but it wasn’t too heavy – 10:28 PM

Khobi Price @khobi_price
LeBron James was trying to send Aaron Nesmith back to Indianapolis with that dunk attempt. – 10:27 PM

Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
One benefit of LeBron’s foul trouble for LAL, even if it didn’t help them on the scoreboard: he played just 14 minutes, after playing 22 on Thursday. He should be as fresh as he could have been for the 2nd half. – 10:05 PM

Tim Bontemps @TimBontemps
Halftime: Lakers 65, Pacers 60
Indiana outscored the Lakers 15-0 at the 3-point line and 21-11 from the foul line, but is down at halftime behind tremendous halves from Austin Reaves (22 points) and Anthony Davis (17 points, 11 rebs).
Myles Turner and LeBron both have 3 fouls. – 9:53 PM

Dave McMenamin @mcten
The Lakers are one half away from the half a million dollar cash prize. L.A. leads Indiana 65-60 headed into the break. Reaves 22p on 7-of-9 2a; AD 17p 11r 2b; LeBron 12p 5r 2s. – 9:52 PM

Ball Don’t Lie @Balldontlie
LeBron rocked Oregon-themed shoes on the night the Ducks’ QB was up for the Heisman pic.twitter.com/JP0GQhgq2s – 9:50 PM

Jovan Buha @jovanbuha
Halftime: Lakers 65, Pacers 60
Austin Reaves has 22 points — he had 15 in the second quarter. AD has 17 points, 11 rebounds and 2 blocks. LeBron has 12 points. LeBron, Rui Hachimura and Cam Reddish have three fouls. LA has 52 points in the paint but is just 0 for 6 on 3s. – 9:50 PM

Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
With LeBron sitting due to foul trouble, Austin Reaves continued a terrific scoring half with 9 straight Lakers points, allowing a 65-58 edge with 24.8 seconds in the half.
Reaves has 22 points to lead all scorers, the biggest scoring half of his young career. – 9:49 PM

Nick DePaula @NickDePaula
LeBron James is in an Oregon PE of the LeBron 21 tonight pic.twitter.com/i7DfcfHMFP – 9:46 PM

Tim Reynolds @ByTimReynolds
This is one of the quirks. As the great Mike Breen just pointed out, LeBron hasn’t had three first-half fouls since 2021.
Until tonight.
But this won’t count — because for stat purposes, tonight doesn’t exist. – 9:40 PM

Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
LeBron was called for his 3rd PF, and sits with 3 minutes left in the half, after the Lakers lost a challenge. Could be significant in a tight game, as they won’t get another one.
LAL led 52-49 when he went to the pine. – 9:40 PM

Nate Duncan @NateDuncanNBA
Big mistake to me for Ham now not getting Reaves back in with LeBron out. They need another creator. – 9:39 PM

Scott Agness @ScottAgness
LeBron James picks up his third foul. Lakers challenged it, but lost.
So LeBron to the bench with 3:19 left in the half.
It feels like the Lakers are up double-digits, but it’s just a three-point game. – 9:39 PM

Dan Favale @danfavale
aaron nesmith after drawing that offensive foul on lebron pic.twitter.com/5JyktFANKb – 9:39 PM

Brad Turner @BA_Turner
LeBron James called for third personal foul, even after the Lakers challenged it – 9:38 PM

Gary Washburn @GwashburnGlobe
Call stands on LeBron James, his third foul. #Pacers #Lakers #NBAInSeasonTournament – 9:38 PM

Jovan Buha @jovanbuha
The call on the floor stands. Offensive foul on LeBron James. – 9:38 PM

Khobi Price @khobi_price
Darvin Ham is challenging the offensive foul called against LeBron James late in the 2Q. The foul would be LeBron’s 3rd foul. – 9:38 PM

Tony East @TonyREast
Lakers ask for a review on what would be LeBron’s third foul. Nesmith, who drew the contact, was pumped after the incident. Russell, randomly, had words for Mathurin too. – 9:38 PM

Nate Duncan @NateDuncanNBA
Oh Darvin, you shouldn’t have listened to LeBron on that challenge. These sort of hand fighting fouls almost never get overturned because there’s always enough to sustain the call on the floor. – 9:38 PM

Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
Big bench lift from Austin Reaves tonight. He’s matched AD’s 13 points on 4 of 6 FG’s with 5 of 6 FT’s. LeBron has 12, and LAL lead 48-40. – 9:28 PM

Scott Agness @ScottAgness
LeBron is gassed and asks for a sub. AD led the charge in the 1Q, then LeBron (12/5) in the 2Q.
Haliburton returns with the Pacers down 8, mid-2Q. – 9:28 PM

Allen Sliwa @AllenSliwa
AD (13pts), Lebron (12pts) and Reaves (11pts) already in double figures – 9:28 PM

Synergy Sports Tech @SynergySST
LeBron James ranks 6th in the #NBA in transition scoring while shooting 70% in the open floor in his 21st season. – 9:25 PM

Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
LeBron has 6 points early in the 2nd Q, all on aggressive, explosive attacks to the rim, forcing an Indy time out at the 8:59 mark with LAL up 44-38.
Pacers are doing a good job getting to the FT line, already hitting 10 of 11 to help counteract their 38.7% FG’s. – 9:24 PM

NBA Kicks @NBAKicks
Nike LeBron 21s for @KingJames in Las Vegas! #NBAKicks pic.twitter.com/eLXLGPnI5U – 9:22 PM

Marc J. Spears @MarcJSpears
LeBron grown manning the Pacers – 9:22 PM

Vincent Goodwill @VinceGoodwill
When the jumper isn’t working, LeBron can just big body these dudes – 9:22 PM

Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
Behind 13 points + 8 rebounds from Anthony Davis, LAL take a 34-29 lead out of the 1st Q. Austin Reaves chipped in 7 points off the pine.
The teams combined for 19 FT attempts (Indy 8 of 9, LAL 10 of 16), with Brown, Turner, Mathurin, LeBron and Hachimura all picking up 2 PF’s. – 9:15 PM

Nate Duncan @NateDuncanNBA
I don’t agree with taking LeBron out with 2 fouls. He’s basically the lowest foul superstar we’ve ever had. – 9:13 PM

Khobi Price @khobi_price
That illegal screen was LeBron James’ 2nd foul. He heads back to the bench late in the 1Q, with Max Christie subbing in for him. – 9:11 PM

Tony East @TonyREast
TJ McConnell going right at LeBron to create open shots. – 9:09 PM

Scott Agness @ScottAgness
Assistant Lloyd Pierce was just shouting instructions to the guys on the court and LeBron was listening intently nearby. As a cerebral veteran in the league, there’s not much he hasn’t seen. – 9:08 PM

Stephen Noh @StephNoh
Haliburton had gone his last 76+ minutes without a turnover. LeBron forced him into two in the first three minutes.
First one, great spin through the rip screen. Second, he anticipates the pass when the Lakers put two on Haliburton. pic.twitter.com/G8orAFxiv7 – 9:07 PM

J. Kyle Mann @jkylemann
i feel like some of the best lebron games come when there’s a talented upstart player/team that gets his attention and he sees a need to make a point
this is a double whammy with the tourney also being on the line so im expecting big things – 9:00 PM

Scott Agness @ScottAgness
First decision point for the Pacers: Myles Turner picks up his second foul with 5:49 left in the 1Q, so Isaiah Jackson is in to replace him.
Turner defended AD while Toppin started on LeBron. – 8:56 PM

Mike Prada @MikePradaNBA
LeBron forcing Tyrese Haliburton to commit a turnover cements his GOAT-ness. – 8:49 PM

Tony East @TonyREast
Obi Toppin on LeBron James, Myles Turner on Anthony Davis. Pacers up 3-0 early. – 8:43 PM

Nate Duncan @NateDuncanNBA
Video board is showing highlights of each team’s path to get here. No idea why they didn’t put LeBron’s timeout on it. – 8:41 PM

Jovan Buha @jovanbuha
Lakers’ starters vs. Indiana:
D’Angelo Russell
Taurean Prince
Cam Reddish
LeBron James
Anthony Davis
LA is 8-1 with this lineup. – 8:05 PM

Sam Vecenie @Sam_Vecenie
Also, asked @AndrewKSchlecht this on the podcast yesterday:
LeBron has been unreal this season. Top-8 player in the league (at least) so far, IMO.
At what age do you think LeBron could continue to play in the NBA and be a ~top-40 player in the league? My answer was around 47. pic.twitter.com/acQWY20PmR – 6:48 PM

Ben Golliver @BenGolliver
Lakers’ LeBron James is ready for the NBA in-season tournament championship game vs. Pacers pic.twitter.com/yRguPXkR3j – 6:47 PM

Sam Quinn @SamQuinnCBS
The In-Season Tournament MVP trophy should be named after whoever wins tonight.
LeBron just watched a bunch of other legends get trophy names last year. Let him go win one. If he loses, we’re always gonna remember this first tournament for Hali anyway, so let’s commemorate that. – 6:41 PM

Tony East @TonyREast
LeBron getting ready: pic.twitter.com/0DaOth73x4 – 6:26 PM

Scott Agness @ScottAgness
LeBron is a man on a mission. He took the court more than 3hrs before tipoff pic.twitter.com/MjCAReDyBv – 6:25 PM

StatMuse @statmuse
In six head-to-head games:
Hali — LeBron —
18.8 PPG 26.3 PPG
10.7 APG 6.8 RPG
2.0 SPG 6.5 APG
46/40/75% 45/26/67%
Tyrese is up 4-2. pic.twitter.com/u1Vc6rBd8H – 6:07 PM

Ball Don’t Lie @Balldontlie
LeBron is the first player to arrive to the In-Season Tournament Championship from either team pic.twitter.com/7xmrGXgAJT – 6:07 PM

Ball Don’t Lie @Balldontlie
LeBron arriving to the In-Season Tournament Championship
(via @NBATV)
pic.twitter.com/AymaOgENWf – 5:24 PM

Bobby Marks @BobbyMarks42
For some perspective on the Shohei Ohtani contract vs. NBA players:
Ohtani: $700M contract (10 years to earn)
LeBron James: $534M career (22 seasons to earn)
Kevin Durant: $500M career (19 seasons to earn) – 4:34 PM

StatMuse @statmuse
Contract earnings:
$700M — Ohtani next 10 seasons
$628M — LeBron and MJ COMBINED pic.twitter.com/E2u3Xar7MK – 4:13 PM

Sirius XM NBA @SiriusXMNBA
“I think it’s a no-brainer”
Lakers Head Coach Darvin Ham tells @TermineRadio that LeBron is the MVP front-runner after the first seven weeks of the season
Hear the In-Season Tournament Final tonight at 8:30p ET on Channel 86, or on the Sirius XM App
siriusxm.us/NBARadioLive pic.twitter.com/gjHc4Xt8fi – 3:00 PM

Christian Clark @cclark_13
New @FromTheWingPod
– The Zion conversation
– LeBron got up for the IST
– It was close until late in the 2Q
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fro… – 2:29 PM

Sirius XM NBA @SiriusXMNBA
LeBron James continues to make history in his 21st year.
@adaniels33 talks with @RickKamlaSports about the lack of appreciation for James. pic.twitter.com/4cQjb7ozEC – 2:00 PM

Kane Pitman @KanePitman
“I looked at my phone 35 minutes ago, just to see exactly how old he was…”
Rick Carlisle on the Pacers embracing the LeBron challenge today. pic.twitter.com/AmbpLDMyT4 – 1:54 PM

Steve Aschburner @AschNBA
Being the first to accomplish anything brings a little extra status. The Pacers and the Lakers are trying to be the first In-Season Tournament champs, with Tyrese Haliburton and LeBron James in position to be inaugural MVP. nba.com/news/lakers-pa… – 1:45 PM

Jimmy Spencer @JimmySpencer
I don’t want to hear it anymore. The NBA midseason tournament is a win. It’s uniquely built the now-global superstar story of @TyHaliburton22 in fast fashion and showcases @KingJames as king of the big moments. – 12:53 PM

Justin Kubatko @jkubatko
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander last night:
38 PTS
5 REB
5 AST
5 STL
It’s the third time he’s recorded at least 30p/5s in a game this season, one more such game than all other players combined (LeBron James and Jayson Tatum, one apiece).
Subscribe: statitudes.com/p/nba-game-not… pic.twitter.com/Wrb1NvjKaf – 11:53 AM

Joe Vardon @joevardon
Tyrese Haliburton grew up rooting for LeBron James. Mentioned several times this week. Tonight, the two try to make history in the NBA’s first In-Season Tournament, ⁦@TheAthleticNBA⁩ theathletic.com/5123657/2023/1… – 9:59 AM

StatMuse @statmuse
Most points in the 4th quarter this season:
161 — Maxey
159 — Giannis
152 — Fox, LeBron pic.twitter.com/seYw8Ew23v – 9:46 AM

Zach Lowe @ZachLowe_NBA
New wide-ranging Lowe Post podcast: All things Pacers-Lakers/IST/Haliburton/Bron w/ @MoDakhil_NBA — plus Clips check-in. Then rapid-fire awards races at the 1/4 mark and Knicks check-in w/ @FredKatz:
Spotify: spoti.fi/3RygEYB
Apple: apple.co/3GEZ3I0 – 9:44 AM

NBA Math @NBA_Math
Dec. 9 RPR MVP:
1. Nikola Jokić: 18.756
2. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: 17.484
3. Joel Embiid: 16.845
4. Giannis Antetokounmpo: 15.551
5. Tyrese Haliburton: 14.591
6. Luka Dončić: 13.966
7. LeBron James: 13.743
8. Kevin Durant: 13.457
9. Jayson Tatum: 13.436
10. Tyrese Maxey: 13.357 pic.twitter.com/VNCk06LMlQ – 9:38 AM

Kane Pitman @KanePitman
“Did LeBron tell you he wants to finish his career in Australia?!”
It was always going to be chaos with the fellas pic.twitter.com/2IH8aMpIl4 – 1:27 AM