CAMDEN, N.J. – Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James is still one of the best players in the league at 38 and 21 years old, which is a given given how difficult this season has been and how long he’s been doing it. Surprisingly.
Entering 21 years, James shows no signs of slowing down. He averaged 25.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, 6.6 assists and 1.5 steals per game, all on the court. He takes care of the ball, he takes care of the wings, he also takes care of the defenders.
When 76ers head coach Nick Nurse prepared a game plan for James on Monday night, he understood the complexity of the challenge that awaited him and his team.
“I mean, listen, I think the biggest thing for him is you can basically defend in any situation possible, right?” Nurse said of James. “He’s going to bring transition. He’s going to post you up. He’s going to run the pick-and-roll. He’s going to run the pick-and-roll. He’s going to catch it with his elbow. “He’s going to catch it on pegs. “
Nurse was right about James. He does a lot of things offensively. He rolls to the basket in pick-and-rolls, is an elite finisher, is an elite passer and an extremely smart player who is difficult to defend in these situations.
James has done all this despite being in his 21st year in the league. He was very good and that’s why he is considered one of the greatest players in the sport.
“You have to watch — and this is a long shot — when he has the ball, they’re going to use the 5, they’re going to use the 1,” Nurse added. “Like everything. So every time you play against him, it’s a long defensive game plan. Yeah, unbelievable. 21 years. It’s unbelievable what he’s done.”
The 76ers and Lakers will play Monday at the Wells Fargo Center at 7 p.m. ET.
Story originally appeared on Sixers Wired