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LeBron James gave the world another reminder of what he can still do at 41 during Friday night’s 98-93 win over the New York Knicks.
A defensive play in the third quarter brought the crowd to its feet and drew plenty of attention online, although not everyone agreed with the officials’ decision.
The four-time MVP chased down Knicks forward OG Anunoby and blocked his shot off the backboard during the Philadelphia Sixers’ NBA Cup opener at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
Hoop Central shared a clip with the caption “LeBron James chase down block,” adding, “Vintage LeBron.”
The Athletic’s Fred Katz also praised the play: “LeBron James, at age 41, is still smashing chase-down blocks against backboards.”
One fan disagreed, replying to Katz: “Obvious goaltend.”
Sports and political analyst Andy Froemel was also among those impressed: “LeBron James with the chase-down block at 41 years old, no problem.”
Basketball account Hoop Muse acknowledged the defensive effort but questioned the call: “Great block but goaltend (hard to see in real time though).”
Not everyone thought the play was particularly eye-catching. Another fan wrote that “Anunoby has one of the lowest vert in the league” and added, “This is NOT impressive.”
One viewer brought up James’ approaching birthday: “Turns 42 next month.”
The viewer was a month early. James was born Dec. 30, 1984, and will turn 42 in December. His ability to make a play like that at his age was part of what drew so much attention.
The officials allowed the block, which was James’ only one of the game. Philadelphia finished with 4 blocks, compared with 2 for New York.
The disagreement centered on whether the play met the NBA’s definition of goaltending. Under NBA rules, goaltending includes touching a shot on its downward flight when it has a chance to score. It also applies when a defender touches a shot that still has a chance to go in after it strikes the backboard above the rim.
The play was officially ruled a block, though some viewers argued it met the criteria for goaltending.
The play came just two nights after James was on the receiving end of a similar block. Indiana Pacers two-way forward Jalen Slawson caught him from behind on a transition layup during Philadelphia’s 114-109 win Wednesday. The Pacers successfully challenged the original foul call.
The four-time NBA Finals MVP contributed at the other end against New York as well. Jalen Brunson’s 3-pointer gave the Knicks a 90-89 lead with 1:32 remaining, but James put Philadelphia back in front with a basket 22 seconds later.
VJ Edgecombe followed with a 3-pointer, and the NBA’s all-time scoring leader added a tip-in as the 76ers held on for the win.
James finished with 20 points on 8-for-15 shooting in 34 minutes. He also had 9 rebounds and 8 assists, narrowly missing a triple-double.