Lakers News: Bonkers Reminder Of Just How Long LeBron James Has Been In The NBA

Los Angeles Lakers All-Star forward LeBron James will be achieving a very strange benchmark today, as L.A. faces off against the Detroit Pistons.

19 years ago tonight, the 6'9" 18-time All-Star and four-time champion and league MVP suited up for his 11th NBA game, his first against an L.A. team. With the Cleveland Cavaliers that time as the single most-hyped draft pick ever, James battled the Los Angeles Clippers.

The eventual 2004 Rookie of the Year scored 14 points on 6-of-14 shooting from the floor, pulled down seven rebounds, and passed for eight assists in a 103-95 road win.

Tonight, at the recently-rechristened Crypto.com Arena, James might play against the promising young Detroit Pistons. He is still dealing with a left adductor strain and is currently questionable to suit up. It also marks the 19th birthday of Pistons rookie center Jalen Duren, drafted with the No. 13 pick out of Memphis this summer.

So there you have it: the 37-year-old James has played in the NBA longer than the 6'10" big man he's potentially squaring off against has been alive.

This juicy factoid was pointed out by Tim Reynolds of The Associated Press last month.

The Chosen One continues to produce at an All-Star level in 2022. Though he is no longer the lethal All-Defensive perimeter menace he had been in his prime (at least not in the regular season), and he has adjusted his game to take less of a beating in the paint, LBJ remains one of the league's marquee draws, and still good enough to be counted squarely among the NBA's 20 or so best and brightest, when healthy.

It's pretty darn insane that, amidst his 20th season, James is still athletic and effective enough to give players practically half his age fits.

Duren is one of several intriguing young lottery picks being fielded by Detroit. The rebuilding team is led by oversized second-year point guard Cade Cunningham and this year's fifth pick in the draft out of Purdue, shooting guard Jaden Ivey. Small forward Saddiq Bey and center Isaiah Stewart number among the franchise's other bright lights.