LeBron James is no longer a member of the Los Angeles Lakers, but he made his mark on the franchise during his eight years with it. He consistently played at a high level during that time, even if certain aspects of his game had clearly slipped, and he delivered an NBA championship in 2020.
As we take a look at James' greatest performances as a member of the Lakers in chronological order, we go back to a game early in the 2019-20 season when the team started to make a statement that it was the best in the world.
Taking a Stand in Dallas
The Lakers had something to prove during the 2019-20 season after missing the playoffs the previous spring. They had traded for superstar big man Anthony Davis over the summer and added a number of other new players, and the national pundits felt the squad would do little more than make the playoffs.
In fact, when ESPN polled its panel of basketball experts on who would win the NBA championship that season, the Lakers came in fourth, and those experts picked the team to finish fifth in the Western Conference.
After losing its first game of the season to the Los Angeles Clippers, the Lakers defeated the Utah Jazz, Charlotte Hornets and Memphis Grizzlies. They then faced Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks on a Friday night on national television in Texas, and it was a riveting game.
Dallas took a 58-48 lead at halftime, and in the third quarter, James and Doncic went at each other a bit. Los Angeles was able to rally in the fourth quarter, and a 3-pointer by Danny Green as time expired sent things into overtime.
In the extra period, James scored nine points as the Lakers surged ahead for a 119-110 victory. He finished with 39 points, 12 rebounds, 16 assists and four steals. Doncic didn't do too badly himself with 31 points, 13 boards and 15 assists.
The Lakers would end up winning seven in a row before losing to the Toronto Raptors on Nov. 10. They then ripped off 10 more wins in a row, and by mid-December, they had a gaudy 24-3 record as they continued their charge toward their 17th NBA championship.
This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: LeBron James' greatest games with the Lakers: Early statement vs. Mavs