Udonis Haslem credits LeBron James for his own longevity and ability to play at 42
Miami Heat veteran forward Udonis Haslem credited former teammate LeBron James for being able to play as a 42-year-old. Haslem claimed he learned from James how to take care of his body, which has allowed him to still take to the court at this stage of his career. Here's what Haslem said (via Miami Herald):
"I learned from ‘Bron years ago, the first thing I noticed was the way he takes care of his body and the weight room and things like that.
"I’ve been able to implement some of that. There’s no way I’m able to still be out here running and jumping and keeping up with these guys at 42 if I didn’t take care of my body in a certain way. So that was definitely something I took out of Bron’s book."
LeBron James spent four years in Miami and won two championships alongside Haslem. The four-time MVP has faced a gradual decline due to age, but he remains one of the most impactful players in the league. James, 38, is averaging 29.0 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 6.6 assists per game with the Lakers in his 20th year this season.
Meanwhile, Udonis Haslem doesn't play at the same level he did years ago and isn't in the rotation. But he's still in good shape. He started a game for the Miami Heat this season on December 16th, 2022, against the Houston Rockets.
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LeBron James on a phenomenal run since Anthony Davis' injury
LeBron James' longevity could remain unparalleled. No player in the game's history has produced the numbers he has at his age and experience in the NBA. "King James" has upped his level since the LA Lakers' best player this year, Anthony Davis, was sidelined due to a foot injury after the team's 126-108 win over the Denver Nuggets on December 16th.
Since then, James has averaged 35.1 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 7.4 assists per game, shooting 58.1% from the field across eight games. The Lakers had a 4-4 record during that stretch. James dropped a season-high 47 points on his birthday on December 30 against the Atlanta Hawks.
LeBron James' contributions have come in handy in each of the Lakers' four wins in his presence. The team could've fallen further behind the .500 mark if not for his contributions. While AD was healthy, the team relied on him to produce results, even with James on the team.
The Lakers are 16-21 right now and on a two-game winning streak. They will hope to inch closer to the .500 mark before Davis returns.