Frank Vogel Praises LeBron James for 'His Best Weekend in a Lakers Uniform'

The Los Angeles Lakers picked up their biggest back-to-back wins of the season, topping the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday and the Los Angeles Clippers two days later.

LeBron James played a starring role in both victories, inching himself into the MVP conversation with Giannis Antetokounmpo. James totaled 65 points, 17 assists and 15 rebounds while playing with an off-the-dribble attacking ferocity that's been more limited this season in his primary ball-handling role.

"LeBron was unbelievable," Lakers coach Frank Vogel told reporters. "This was his best weekend in a Lakers uniform. He really dominated both games and helped close them out."

The Lakers are now 6.5 games clear of the Clippers for the top seed in the Western Conference.

From a statistical perspective, there's little merit to voting James over Antetokounmpo for MVP. Giannis is a human wrecking ball, putting up 29.6 points, 13.7 rebounds and 5.8 assists per night—numbers we haven't seen since Wilt Chamberlain—while remaining in the Defensive Player of the Year conversation. Couple that with the Bucks being on a near-70-win pace and how few minutes he's averaging (30.9), and Antetokounmpo is without question the objective MVP.

James has a number of narrative factors in his favor. His stats (25.7 PPG, 10.6 APG, 7.8 RPG, 34.9 MPG) have never been reached by a player older than 29. James is 35. He and Anthony Davis have also revived the NBA's most important franchise after more than a half-decade of ineptitude. With James having clearly lost MVPs he deserved during his peak, there would be some level of irony in him overtaking Antetokounmpo.

"I prepare myself both in my body and my mind and to endure anything, even at this stage in my career," James said. "I know what it takes for me to prepare mentally and physically and go out and perform on a high level, and it's my responsibility to put this team in a position to be successful. They look at me as a leader. It's my job not only on the floor to give guys opportunities, get them great looks, but inspire them as well and show them I'm not slowing down, even at this stage in my career."

Of course, James himself knows this season will not be measured on regular-season greatness. He came to the Lakers with a goal of winning a fourth NBA championship, and anything less will be seen as a disappointment. But following up perhaps the most frustrating year of his career with a brilliant campaign at age 35 is evidence he may not be ready to relinquish the crown just yet.