Lakers rookie Lonzo Ball praised by LeBron James after triple-double

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Cleveland Cavaliers superstar LeBron James on Monday delivered a congratulation to Los Angeles Lakers point guard Lonzo Ball, who became the youngest player in NBA history to record a triple-double two days ago.

At 20 years old, Ball last Saturday set the new record in the game against the Milwaukee Bucks with 19 points, 13 assists, 12 rebounds, 4 blocks and 3 steals, surpassing LeBron James' record by five days, which was set in the 2004-2005 season.

According to the Lakers, the last rookie to get a triple-double with at least 19 points, 13 assists, 12 rebounds and 3 steals before Ball was NBA legend superstar Michael Jordan, who did so in 1985.

Lonzo Ball of the Los Angeles Lakers during the first quarter against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts, November 8, 2017. /Getty Images/AFP Photo

Before Monday night's game against the New York Knicks, James told ESPN that Ball's performance revived his memory of more than a decade ago when he became one of the last players that made the trip straight from high school right into the NBA then ascended into stardom.

"I definitely think back to when I was that young. There're not many games that I can remember when I was 20 years old or 19 or even 18. So first of all, congratulations to him," James told ESPN.

"I think he's going to be a really, really good point guard in our league, probably a great point guard if he continues to work on his craft, which it seems like he does."

Lonzo Ball before the game against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts, November 8, 2017. /Getty Images/AFP Photo

Ball, born in the Los Angeles metropolitan area, was selected with the second overall pick in the 2017 NBA draft by the Lakers and signed a four-year rookie scale contract with the Lakers this summer.

During the 2017 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, he was the named the league MVP after averaging 16 points, 9 assists, 8 rebounds, 3 steals, and 1 block per game. He had two triple-doubles, the first in the Summer League since 2008 and the first ever in Vegas by a rookie.

James had his eye on Ball after attending a summer league game to watch him play as well as sending him a special Happy Birthday message on Twitter at that time.

Ball, who has played 13 games for Lakers so far, showed out surprised energy with 29 points, 11 rebounds, and 9 assists in a 132-130 win against the Phoenix Suns on October 20.