Even after 20+ years of excellence LeBron James is still playing at an elite level, and not even Jason Kidd can hide his amazement. Speaking up after the loss against the Lakers, Kidd gushed about LeBron’s continued greatness and his ongoing battle against Father Time.
“It’s LeBron… if you were a betting man, you would bet with him against Father Time. Just the things that he’s done, it just doesn’t look like he gets tired, he understands the game at a high level, he’s shooting the three very well, and he just lets the game come to him. It just shows our youth that if you understand the game you can play for a long time. And hopefully, our youth is watching.”
"If you were a betting man, you would bet with him against Father Time."
Jason Kidd praises LeBron James' longevity in the NBA 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/0BCTaRj8d4
— NBA (@NBA) January 18, 2024
As a 6’9″ forward who can do it all on the court, James is as naturally gifted as they come. When it comes to his supernatural longevity, however, the secret is really about his mental game and that’s exactly what Kidd was alluding to. More than anyone, LeBron has a deep knowledge and understanding of the game itself and it has allowed him to adapt his approach to stay competitive over 20 long years.
Unprecedented Longevity
Drafted in 2003, LeBron James entered the league as a 19-year-old teenager with enormous expectations. Hailed as ‘The Chosen One,’ LeBron was compared to some of the all-time greats before ending his rookie season. Fast forward to today, 20 years later, and LeBron is still playing at an All-Star level, and he’s still living up to all expectations. This season, through 38 games for the Lakers, he’s averaging 24.7 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 7.6 assists per game as the orchestrator on offense and primary playmaker for his team.
James is making history right now, and he makes history with every point he scores as the NBA’s all-time leading scorer. With one or two more championships, LeBron can solidify his case as the GOAT and conclude his amazing career in the way that it deserves. Ultimately, however, it’s up to the Lakers to make something happen and help LeBron make his final seasons something to remember.
Lakers In Win-Now Mode
While LeBron is still playing like one of the best in the world, the Lakers have not been up to par as a contender in the West. At 21-21 this season, they are just 10th in the West and on track to finish their season with a fight in the play-in tournament. Despite showing some signs of life recently, the intensity has increased for the Lakers’ front office this season and all signs point towards them making a move to maximize LeBron’s longevity.
One potential decision could be the firing of Darvin Ham, who has been rumored to be on the hot seat for weeks now. With him gone, it could give the Lakers a fresh perspective and it might unlock something new in the rotation. If not, the trade market is always an option for the Lakers and Rob Pelinka has been connected to several big-name players already. Regardless of what happens between now and the deadline, you can be sure that the Lakers will consider all their options to improve around LeBron James and there is belief that he can still make it work with the right pieces.
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