NBA analyst reckons LeBron James has been 3rd best player behind European superstars since February
Despite being in his 21st season, LeBron James still managed to play at a high level in 2024. One analyst even went as far as to say that he was a top-three player in the league down the stretch.
During a recent episode of his "Hoops Tonight" podcast, Jason Timpf broke down his NBA player rankings. When talking about LeBron, he felt only Nikola Jokic and Luka Doncic were better than him from the month of February on.
"LeBron has actually been one of the five best basketball players on the planet since February," Timpf said. "I'd argue he's been the third best player. Behind Jokic and Luka, he's been better than everyone else in the league since February."
Following the All-Star break, LeBron James went on a dominant run to get the LA Lakers into the playoff picture. In the last 22 games of the regular season, he averaged 27.5 points, 7.6 rebounds and 9.5 assists. On top of that, LeBron shot 58.4% from the field and 45% from beyond the arc.
Even with this impressive streak from LeBron, the Lakers still found themselves in the play-in tournament, where they won the No. 7. They ended up facing off against the Denver Nuggets in round one and were eliminated in five games.
Breaking down LeBron James' top performances following the 2024 All-Star break
As Jason Timpf broke down, LeBron James raised his game to a high level following the All-Star break. Down the stretch of the regular season, he put together an array of impressive outings.
One game that stands out came against the Golden State Warriors in the middle of March. Even though the Lakers lost that game, LeBron erupted for 40 points, eight rebounds, nine assists and one steal.
Two weeks later, LeBron James had his second 40-point night in the month of March. This time, it was in a winning effort against the Brooklyn Nets. Along with reaching the 40-point plateau, the Lakers star also shot a stellar 9-for-10 from beyond the arc.
Typically, stars are taking a smaller load in the final games of the regular season to rest a little before the playoffs. Since LA was still battling for a playoff spot, LeBron did not get to enjoy this luxury. Instead, he put on a pair of dominant performances to close out the schedule.
First LeBron notched 37 points, nine rebounds and five assists in a nail-biting win over the Memphis Grizzlies. Then, in the season finale against the New Orleans Pelicans, he recorded a triple-double in a blowout victory (28 points, 11 rebounds, 17 assists).