NBA: LeBron James does NOT age, or does he?
We're well into the NBA season, which also happens to be the 15th season for one of the greatest players to have ever stepped onto the court, LeBron James. Now without delving into any discussions about choosing between LeBron and "Jumpman" Michael Jordan, let's focus on what LeBron has been doing in his 15th season in the league. He is set to turn 33 years old later this year.
LeBron has been making close to 11 out of every 19 shots he has taken, giving him a field goal percentage of 57.6%. He has made close to two out of every five three-point attempts he has taken with a three-point field goal percentage of 41.7%. He is also averaging just over eight rebounds and nearly nine assists per game!
Statistically, LeBron is having the most efficient year of shooting he has ever had. He is averaging more assists than he ever has, and everything else he does on court, which basically amounts to everything, he is doing just about as good as he ever has in his 15 years in the league.
We know we are nowhere close to the end of this long season, but do bear in mind the fact that most of his teammates still think he isn't even 100% engaged yet. So what does this mean? Maybe James is still IMPROVING in his 15th year in the NBA.
LeBron James, if he continues to do exactly what he has been doing since the season tipped off, will go down in the history of the NBA as probably the only player who dominated the league through his career and had the best season of that career in his 15th year.
Let's find out how the All-Star may have managed to do this. We often see that as players grow in the league, they tend to understand the game much better. They also become much more aware, wise and just generally smart towards the later part of their careers.
However, we also see that their bodies don't support them enough to do the smart things their minds tell them to do. When we talk about LeBron, that's not the case. He has kept himself in the condition where his body is not growing old.
No, he isn't throwing the hammer down like he was when he was a part of the "Big Three" on the Miami Heat with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh back from 2010 to 2014. But what he is doing today isn't anything less than what a 22-year-old athlete is capable of doing.
So yes, LeBron has reached the top level of play, which is higher than the level reached by even the best players when they get to their 15th season. He has even outsmarted most of them. But his body does not seem like it's about to slow down in any way, shape or form.
So no, LeBron James does NOT grow old, but at the same time, he does.