LeBron James complements Matthew Stafford after the Rams win

Los Angeles Lakers' 20-time All-NBA combo forward LeBron James, 39, praised another aging but still elite L.A. athlete on Thursday night.

36-year-old Matthew Stafford, a two-time Pro Bowl quarterback for the Los Angeles Rams, may have saved his team's season by leading LA to a 30-20 victory over the ascendant Minnesota Vikings.

With the win, the Rams improved their season record to 3:4 (3:1 at home), while Minnesota fell to a still good 5:2 (2:1 away). Stafford completed 25 of 34 pass attempts for a total of 279 yards and scored four touchdowns against one pick. For his performance, he received a passer rating of 124.5 and a quarterback rating of 86.7.

All-Pro Second Team wide receiver Puka Nacua led Los Angeles with seven catches for 106 total yards (15.1 average). Demarcus Robinson scored two touchdowns. Pro Bowler Cooper Kupp logged one. All-Pro Second Team Running Back Kyren Williams also had another explosive night, recording 97 rushing yards on 23 carries, plus 19 receiving yards and a touchdown.

The Rams will now get an extended break before their next game against the Seattle Seahawks 4-3 on Sunday, November 3rd.

The James' Lakers, meanwhile, are back in action on Friday evening after a long (for the NBA) break of three days in total. On Tuesday, LA defeated a smaller and stronger Minnesota Timberwolves squad than last year, 110-103. With All-NBA Second Team center Anthony Davis now the team's focal point on offense (he responded to his new status with a double-double with 36 points and 16 rebounds, beating out Defensive Player of the Year Rudy in his own game). Gobert), James was featured much less often. The four-time MVP scored 16 points on 7 of 16 shooting from the field (1 of 4 from long range) and 1 of 1 shooting from the charity stripe, grabbed five rebounds, handed out four dimes and blocked two shots.

Both James and Stafford are proud veterans who want to keep their clubs in the championship conversation. Other teams appear to have the edge in each of their leagues this season, but both LA teams have the talent to at least give their opponents a scare in their respective postseasons.

James, a huge NFL fan, was at St. Vincent-St. a top-tier wideout candidate. He attended Mary High School in his hometown of Akron and had interest in several NCAA programs. He made the difficult decision to hang up his soccer cleats after his sophomore season and focus on basketball full-time. It seems to have paid off.

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