Lakers player LeBron James enters his 21st season and is redefining NBA longevity

El Segundo, California —

With his strength, skill, intelligence and relentless will to win, LeBron James has become a defining figure in this era of basketball.

The Los Angeles Lakers superstar now seems determined to redefine how long an elite player can stay at his peak.

James will begin his 21st NBA season next week and his 39th birthday is approaching in December, but surprisingly, the league’s all-time leading scorer has little to show for his unparalleled level of performance. Any sign of decline. From a statistical standpoint, James’ prolific output didn’t win out in any significant way for two full decades.

James admits he can feel the passage of time. For others, they are nearly impossible to see.

“I feel different. I’m not a 21-year-old, that’s for sure,” James said with a smile. “Every day I wake up feeling a little different. But as far as my energy level goes, I feel pretty good.”

From Tom Brady to Kelly Slater, modern athletes in all sports have rewritten traditional norms about age and decline in the 21st century. Few have done it like James, who surprised his Lakers teammates by ascending to the throne of the NBA’s oldest player.

“He certainly doesn’t play like that,” Austin Reeves said. “He’s still here and making us look bad in training.”

James makes this unprecedented NBA longevity look relatively easy, but he also smiles and deflects when asked about his last game. He said he didn’t know how long he wanted to play, and he admitted he seriously considered leaving after last season before deciding to return to the Lakers while still focusing on next summer’s Paris Olympics.

“I don’t know what it’s going to look like at the end of the day,” he said. “I have no idea.”

James is the sixth player in league history to enter his 21st season, but no one has played for as many years at James’ current level of performance — it’s important to note that James entered his career directly from the league. made a leap. High school, of course.

The difference allowed him to play more NBA seasons at a younger age, but also exposed his body to more wear and tear from competing with other grown men. It’s becoming increasingly clear that no one has been as consistent as LeBron, who averaged 28.9 points, 8.3 rebounds and 6.8 assists last season.

Five other NBA players – Robert Parish, Kevin Willis, Dirk Nowitzki, Vince Carter and Kevin Garnett – have all declined significantly from their primes. Only Carter has played 22 seasons, but James currently seems capable of removing that obstacle if he wants to.

While nearly all NBA players who stick around into their 30s experience a steep decline in efficiency before hanging up their boots, the former teenage phenom from Akron remains an elite, All-Star caliber player on a strong team. actor actress. The Lakers reached the Western Conference Finals last season under James and looked capable of competing for his fifth championship.

While James’ ruthless work ethic is a hallmark of the NBA legend, he also cited more comprehensive reasons for his ability to stay at the top of a sport that needs young athleticism more than ever.

“It’s just staying focused and passionate about the purity of the game,” James said. “Understanding those who have come before me, respecting the history of the game and understanding that if you want to be good at something you have to put in the work. There is no substitute for work. “I put in the work on and off the field . “

Only injuries significantly slowed James down at the end of pro basketball’s second slump. James has missed 80 games over the past three seasons and about one-third of the Lakers’ regular season games.

He was slowed by a tendon injury in his right foot last spring, but he still extended his streak to an eye-popping 282 postseason games without missing a game.

James and the Lakers are working harder than ever to keep him healthy this season — and for those who know the years to come.

In addition to consulting James and Anthony Davis on minute management, the Lakers have replenished their stars with more playmakers than last season, potentially freeing James from some of the heavy lifting of running the offense.

“It’s going to make us more efficient at managing (James),” Lakers coach Davon Hamm said. “Right now, we feel like we’re a well-balanced, skilled, young team from top to bottom, made up of guys who have played significant minutes in the NBA, and we can surround (James) with guys that are hungry to play in the NBA. and AD. Contribute and impact winning. LeBron does a great job of taking care of himself.”

A player who has done it all and won it all may lack motivation, but James always has new worlds to conquer.

One year after surpassing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s career scoring record, James is just 549 minutes away from surpassing Abdul-Jabbar’s record for most minutes played in NBA history. If healthy, he will almost certainly become the first person in the NBA to score 40,000 points.

After dedicating this season to his oldest son, Bronny, James has another motivation. The USC freshman is recovering from a horrific heart event, and James is determined to continue to be an example of hard work and perseverance.

When asked what still inspires him two decades into his career, James immediately mentioned his three children. After a tumultuous Lakers season, the opportunity to coach an AAU team this summer for Bryce James reignited his passion for the game.

“I was just talking to my family, talking to myself,” James said. “I feel like I have a lot more to give.”

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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA