Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
LOS ANGELES — LeBron James looked at the reporter with a confused look.
"I'm older than who?" James said following the Los Angeles Lakers' 131-99 win over the Utah Jazz Tuesday.
The 38-year-old future Hall-of-Famer had just been asked if it was strange to be older than an opposing head coach. When it was clarified the question was about Utah Jazz head coach Will Hardy, James had a fun reaction.
"I'm older than the head coach?" James asked in a tone of some self-reflection. "Oh, wow."
He put his head down, shook it, and said, "Oh my goodness."
James then broke into laughter and said: "I'm not even mad. That's a good one. You got me on that one."
The great @geeter3 asks LeBron James how he wraps his head around being older than Jazz coach Will Hardy. Great reaction pic.twitter.com/UxD2WGldWJ
— Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina) November 22, 2023
Coincidentally enough, hours earlier, Hardy was asked about James' longevity in the league. After lauding all the usual compliments — the basketball intelligence, overall skillset, etc. — upon James, Hardy got to his long career and how it can impact others in the league.
"The way that he takes care of himself and plays hard every night, that's what we're hoping that some guys in our program will aspire to be — that type of longevity," Hardy said. "That commitment to his body has been very well documented. That's what we're trying to instill in our young players."
He conceded that having a career like James (or anything close to it) is a "pipe dream" for just about everyone, but there are lessons to be learned from his approach and how he prepares.
"He's somebody that we're going to compete against tonight; and in some ways, he's a role model for a lot of the guys on our team," Hardy said.
James proved that longevity again Tuesday. He became the first NBA player in history to reach the 39,000-point plateau with a first-half bucket. He finished with 17 points and nine assists against Utah in the blowout win.
Oh, as for Hardy being young, the Jazz head coach was sporting a candy bracelet during Tuesday's game. Why was that? It's simple: His young daughter had made it for him.
"I have a 4-year-old; she made it. Here we are," he said with a smile. "It makes her happy. I have no control of my own life."
