LeBron James is now 38 years old, but Giannis Antetokounmpo says there is still really no way to guard the Los Angeles Lakers superstar.
“You can’t,” Antetokounmpo said when asked how to guard James.
Giannis was taking part in “Guess The Secret NBA Player” with YouTuber Jesser here, and he paid LeBron quite the compliment. The points that were brought up in the video were the ones you tend to hear when asked how to guard James.
The San Antonio Spurs used to drop off of him and dare him to shoot when they faced off against him in the NBA Finals in 2007, 2013, and 2014. The outside shooting was an issue at that point, but it isn’t anymore. If you dare him now, he is not going to hesitate, and more often than not, he’ll make it too.
You also hear about how can’t allow LeBron, who is actually left-handed, to go left, but try to make him go right, and the outcome still won’t be all that different.
Giannis Antetokounmpo Is One Of The Best Defenders In The League
Any superstar saying this about LeBron would be noteworthy, but the fact that Antetetokounmpo said it, makes it quite special. We had Giannis as the player who can best guard LeBron, but even the man himself doesn’t think there is actually a good way to do it.
You’d think Giannis has the size, athleticism, and defensive awareness to pull it off. He is 6’11”, is literally called the “Greek Freak” and won Defensive Player of the Year in 2020, but he still concedes there is no way to guard James. It is a testament to the 19-time All-Star’s greatness, and we should appreciate him while he is still playing.
The Lakers Have A Plan To Keep LeBron Healthy In 2023-24
The only thing that has held James back in recent years, is his health. This past season, he averaged 28.9 points, 8.3 rebounds, 6.8 assists, 0.9 steals, and 0.6 blocks per game, which is very impressive, but he only managed to play in 55 games.
LeBron also had to play with a torn tendon on his foot for the last few months of the 2022-23 campaign, and injuries have started to come at a greater frequency now. Things might be getting a bit better moving forward, though, as head coach Darvin Ham revealed how the Lakers plan to keep James healthy in 2023-24.
“Just kind of easing into it,” Ham said of the plan for James. “The fact that our roster is what it is, he doesn’t have to come start the season with his cape on, so to speak. … The help that he has around him will allow him to not have to be full throttle in every practice and every preseason game.”
We have heard for years now about how the Lakers plan to reduce the load on James, but once the season came around, they were unable to do so. They never really had the kind of roster to pull it off, but that has changed now.
The Lakers have a lot of depth, and they showed toward the end of last season too, that they can stay afloat even in his absence. I certainly hope he stays relatively healthy, as it is a joy to watch him in action.
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