Wednesday night's Los Angeles Lakers vs. Dallas Mavericks game was one of the most anticipated matchups of the NBA season. It was Luka Doncic's return to Dallas following the shocking trade deadline move that sent him from Dallas to Los Angeles.
Doncic, ever the showman, torched his old team to the tune of 45 points in a Lakers rout of the Mavericks.
With all eyes on Doncic in the postgame, something interesting occurred in the postgame as Lakers superstar and the NBA's all-time leading scorer was asked about former Alabama star RB Derrick Henry, who was in attendance for the game. Henry has lived in the Dallas area for a few years now. The Mavericks trade of Doncic is easily the worst decision a Dallas franchise has ever made. The Cowboys not even reaching out to Henry last offseason when he was a free agent might be No. 2.
LeBron James on Derrick Henry, who was in attendance for Luka's return to Dallas last night:
— Bobby Trosset (@bobbybaltim0re) April 10, 2025
"I've said over and over that King Henry is my favorite player in the National Football League."
via @SpectrumSN pic.twitter.com/R5Oy5OXnHH
There are plenty of parallels between James and Henry. Both are 1/1 athletes who take care of their bodies like no other. James is still playing at a high level despite being 40 years old. No player in NBA history has accomplished what he has at his age.
Henry is quite a bit younger, but crossing 30 in NFL terms is a big deal. It's an even bigger deal at running back, a position with one of the shortest shelf lives of any in the league. Last year, in his first season with the Baltimore Ravens, Henry became the first running back in NFL history over 30 years old to rush for 1900 yards.
He also became the first player in NFL history to have three separate seasons of 1500 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns. He eclipsed 10,000 rushing yards and 100 career touchdowns last season as well. With another 1000-yard season in 2025, Henry would catapult into the Top 10 in NFL history for rushing yards.
James and Henry have made careers out of doing what people said they couldn't do. James more than lived up to the hype as a young phenom. Most didn't think Henry could realistically play running back, even in the SEC, due to his size. He's now become one of the best running backs in NFL history and will continue to stack accolades and milestones.