LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers caught a lot of flack for their abysmal defensive effort in their 134-93 loss to the Miami Heat. James, in particular, looked completely lethargic defensively. In the wake of this performance, a clip of Michael Jordan and LeBron James, both at the age of 40 (almost for LeBron,) playing defense has gone viral, showing the difference in their level of effort.
Michael Jordan at 40 vs Lebron at 40
Sped up 2x for Bron and mofo barely moving on Def 😂 pic.twitter.com/Zt18r2P3mN
— Brandon (@clickthatfollow) December 4, 2024
Michael Jordan is known for his incredible defensive skills. But what goes under the radar for the amount of effort he puts in. In the clips above, even at 40 years old and playing on a bad Wizards team, Jordan would give his 100% when guarding opposing players, most of whom were younger, faster, and more athletic.
As for LeBron James, one can understand why he doesn’t dedicate as much effort to the defensive end anymore. James made a conscious decision to commit to defense during the playoffs, as the consistent 82-game grind was starting to wear on his body as he grew older.
Much of James’ longevity can be credited to his decision to play defense less intently. But this has come at a cost, as his teams are never able to cope defensively, outside of the 2019-20 NBA season, when they were one of the best defensive teams in the entire league.
In the season he turned 40 years old, Jordan averaged 20.0 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.5 steals, and 0.5 blocks per game, with a defensive rating of 102.9. As for LeBron, this season, he turns 40 and is currently averaging 22.3 points, 9.0 assists, 7.9 rebounds, 0.6 steals, and 0.5 blocks per game, with a defensive rating of 118.0.
Of course, it should also be noted that, unlike James, Jordan had two separate stints away from the NBA, first to play baseball between 1994 and 1995, and then from 1998 to 2001, when he retired. Those years away might not have been taxing on his body, but he also had to work extremely hard to get into basketball shape twice after those stints.
Here is one iconic highlight from Jordan’s time with the Wizards, as he pulled off an iconic two-handed snatch-block against Ron Artest and the Chicago Bulls.
Should LeBron James Play Harder Defense?
A lot of fans might be demanding that LeBron James play harder on the defensive end of the court. And that might be a double-edged sword. On the one hand, the Lakers will benefit in the short term, as James, despite his advanced age, is still capable of playing incredible defense, even if it is not up to the level he did in his prime.
But on the flip side, it could have legitimate long-term ramifications for the Lakers, as playing defense on a regular basis will exhaust James and perhaps open him up to possible injuries. Or it could leave him so tired come playoff time, that the Lakers suffer without their best player playing at the highest level possible.
A recent video exposed James’ reluctance to play defense, highlighting a big problem for the Lakers. But this seems to be a team issue, as another recent clip highlighted James, along with Anthony Davis and Austin Reaves, being lethargic running back on defense.
James is currently having a decent season, averaging 22.3 points, 9.0 assists, 7.9 rebounds, 0.6 steals, and 0.5 blocks per game. But the Lakers will need him in the playoffs to have any chance to make a deep run.
And James, over the last few years, has shown that he takes the regular season very easy, so he can give his 100% in the playoffs.
Perhaps the Lakers should try to compensate for his lack of defensive effort by getting their other players to play tough defense. Other NBA stars like Stephen Curry, Luka Doncic, and Nikola Jokic have had their teams cover for them defensively, and James has more than earned that privilege.
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