%20%20--%3E%0A%3Csvg%20version%3D%221.1%22%20id%3D%22Layer_1%22%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20xmlns%3Axlink%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F1999%2Fxlink%22%20x%3D%220px%22%20y%3D%220px%22%0A%09%20width%3D%2239px%22%20height%3D%2240px%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%2039%2040%22%20enable-background%3D%22new%200%200%2039%2040%22%20xml%3Aspace%3D%22preserve%22%3E%0A%3Cpath%20fill%3D%22%23FFFFFF%22%20d%3D%22M38.5%2C7H28.2v26h10.3V7z%22%2F%3E%0A%3Cpath%20fill-rule%3D%22evenodd%22%20clip-rule%3D%22evenodd%22%20fill%3D%22%23FFFFFF%22%20d%3D%22M26.1%2C25.5c0%2C5.8-4.1%2C7.5-12.9%2C7.5C3.9%2C33%2C0%2C31.2%2C0%2C25.2v-1.1h11.6%0A%09v2.4c0%2C0.7%2C0.1%2C1.4%2C1.2%2C1.4c1%2C0%2C1.2-0.4%2C1.2-1.3v-0.9c0-1.6-0.9-1.6-3.5-2.2C2.2%2C21.7%2C0%2C19.7%2C0%2C15.3v-0.9C0%2C9.3%2C5.5%2C7%2C12.9%2C7%0A%09c10.2%2C0%2C12.8%2C2.6%2C12.8%2C7.4v1.8h-11v-2.9c0-0.6-0.4-1.1-1.2-1.1c-0.6%2C0-1.2%2C0.4-1.2%2C1.1v0.9c0%2C1.5%2C0.9%2C2%2C3.3%2C2.5%0A%09c8%2C1.6%2C10.5%2C3.3%2C10.5%2C7.5V25.5z%22%2F%3E%0A%3C%2Fsvg%3E%0A)
LeBron James Switched Hands Midair and Threw Down Crazy Dunk, Shocks NBA World
LeBron James is still doing LeBron James things in his 22nd NBA season.
James, who just turned 40 last week, threw down a vicious slam early in the first quarter Tuesday night against the Dallas Mavericks. Los Angeles Lakers wing Max Christie whipped a pass to a cutting James who headed to the rim at full force.
Dallas big man Dereck Lively II tried to deter James from getting to the hoop, but he changed hands midair and somehow still threw down a ridiculous windmill slam dunk.
LEBRON. JAMES. π€―
β NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) January 8, 2025
He puts down a lefty HAMMER to kick things off on TNT! pic.twitter.com/pnl22TeatN
Even though James's athleticism has awed game after game throughout his illustrious career, the slam on Tuesday night brought the NBA world to their feet:
HOW OLD IS HE AGAIN????
β TB EGO (@TomBradyEgo) January 8, 2025
thatβs the greatest dunk ever
β πππ π£ (@OwnedByCeedee) January 8, 2025
WOW
β Lakers Lead (@LakersLead) January 8, 2025
40-YEAR-OLD LEBRON JAMES WITH A DUNK OF THE YEAR CONTENDER π± pic.twitter.com/IgqLwnlvKA
β SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 8, 2025
LeBron is throwing down like he's 20, not 40 π±
β The Athletic (@TheAthletic) January 8, 2025
π₯ @NBA pic.twitter.com/extZ3dbR41
Look at what LeBron James still does pic.twitter.com/Wbve4GH3nR
β Inside Hoops | NBA Basketball (@InsideHoops) January 8, 2025
Did he just windmill with the left pic.twitter.com/071oeiOAFr
β Paulos (@LoswitheMos) January 8, 2025
The steal afterwards is almost more impressive
β KlawWrld (@kawhi_ring) January 8, 2025
James and the Lakers (20-15) try to bounce back Tuesday against the Mavericks after a 119-115 loss to the Houston Rockets on Sunday.
More of the Latest Around the NBA
feed
Blake Silverman is a contributor to the Breaking and Trending News team at Sports Illustrated. Before joining SI in November 2024, he covered the WNBA, NBA, G League and college basketball for numerous sites, including Winsidr, SB Nation's Detroit Bad Boys and A10Talk. He graduated from Michigan State University before receiving a master's in sports journalism from St. Bonaventure University. Outside of work, he's probably binging the latest Netflix documentary, at a yoga studio or enjoying everything Detroit sports. A lifelong Michigander, he lives in suburban Detroit with his wife, young son and their personal petting zoo of two cats and a dog.