LeBron James secured another NBA record during the Los Angeles Lakers’ Game 1 win over the Houston Rockets on Saturday night.
Taking charge of offensive duties with Luka Dončić (hamstring) and Austin Reaves (oblique) sidelined, James’ performance, combined with a Luke Kennard clinic, helped the Lakers upset Houston 107-98.
Lakers’ LeBron James’ Latest Playoff Record Questioned by Former Celtics Guard Dan Dickau
Against a Kevin Durant-less Rockets side, James recorded 19 points, 8 rebounds, and 13 assists to help seal a Game 1 upset against Houston at the Crypto.com Arena on April 18.
In the process, James, 41 years and 109 days old, also set a new record, becoming the oldest player in NBA history with 10-plus assists in a playoff game. He surpassed the record held by John Stockton, who achieved the feat at age 40 years and 28 days.
“Another record for The King. LeBron James is the oldest player with 10+ assists in a playoff game in NBA history 👑,” ESPN highlighted.
However, the ESPN statline celebrating the night immediately drew fire from former Celtics point guard Dan Dickau, who was not convinced of its validity.
“Some of these aren’t assists,” Dickau stated. “Turn the corner of a dribble drive and create your own finish.”
Some of these aren’t assists. Turn the corner of a dribble drive and create your own finish. 😳 https://t.co/cWLhaf9msY
— Dan Dickau (@dandickau21) April 19, 2026
Dickau’s claims are the latest addition to the debate around assist-tracking accuracy in the league.
In 2024, former NBA scorekeeper Alex Rucker revealed that there was a practice of “juicing up” the box scores of certain players in the ’90s.
During an episode of “Pablo Torre Finds Out” uploaded in February 2024, Rucker said,
“There’s a discussion, ‘That wasn’t an assist, that was a pass.’ … And the majority opinion by a mile was, ‘Oh no, that’s definitely an assist. It’s John Stockton.’…”
“So I left there clearly understanding that you know, yes we are supposed to create the most accurate representation we can, but the NBA is also an entertainment business. It’s up to us, in very small part, as statisticians, to support or reinforce stars and excitement,” he added.
Besides the contentious NBA record, James’ Saturday night was also memorable for a historic family milestone: he and Bronny James became the first father-son duo to share the court in an NBA playoff game.
While Bronny played limited minutes, the Lakers’ offense found its rhythm through Kennard, who seized the opportunity and recorded a career playoff-high 27 points on 9-of-13 from the floor.
The Lakers now hold a 1-0 series lead heading into Game 2 against the Rockets on Tuesday night, looking to capitalize on their momentum for a deep playoff run.
