There’s no way a 38-year-old player is in the top 15 in the NBA in points, assists, steals, field goal percentage and player efficiency rating (PER).But there has never been a player like LeBron James. In his rookie season, he played against multiple opponents whose parents were in the league (which is a good way to say he’s old), and he was still the better player most nights.
In the Lakers’ first 14 games of the season, James averaged 26.4 points, 8.2 rebounds and 6.5 assists per game, shooting 58.6% from the field and 39.7% from three-point range.. They are not empty statistics, he is one of the most valuable players in the NBA. The Lakers are 28.4 points better per 100 possessions with him on the floor, according to Cleaning the Glass.
How could James still play so well at his age? Let’s take a look at it.
Why is LeBron James still so good?
LeBron has performed well this year whether shooting or driving to the layup.
Considering James wasn’t a great shooter when he entered the league, it’s surprising how good he’s become. His three-point shooting percentage this season has increased from 29.0% as a rookie to 39.7%, which is the second-highest result of his career.
His elite shooting isn’t limited to the three-point line. James’ two-point shooting percentage also reached a career-high 68%., mostly due to his ridiculous shooting at the rim. According to Clean the Glass, he’s shooting 81.7 percent from within three feet, which is better than his best years when he was MVP.
If you thought James would break out more this year, you’d be right. According to NBA statistics, the number of breakthroughs reached the highest value since the 2019-2020 bubble season. His post-breakthrough shooting percentage is as high as 67.1%. He’s the best player averaging at least six drives per game. James is still basically unstoppable.
LeBron’s understanding of the game remains unparalleled
James’ preparation and his vast knowledge of the league never get old. Norman Powell recently told the story of how he faced James in the playoffs as a member of the Raptors on Paul George’s podcast. James knew his playbook so well that he explained to one of Powell’s teammates what plays he should take.
James continues to show exceptional acumen in every game. On Sunday, he pointed out to teammate D’Angelo Russell that the Rockets are trying to prepare for tackles before they happen by blocking top options.
James also showed his smarts on the other end of the court, clearing everyone and leading Dillon Brooks to hit the game-winning free throw.
LeBron dominates as small forward
In recent years, there has been a trend for James to play higher positions. He’s playing more minutes at center, which could put a greater strain on his body. This season, the Lakers’ lineup is even bigger. As a result, James has played more minutes at small forward than he has since the Lakers’ 2020 championship run.
James’ small forward lineups are terrible, and he’s usually paired with Christian Wood and one of Anthony Davis or Jackson Hayes. In 179 possessions, they outscored their opponents by 41.4 points per 100 possessions. Sunday’s game against the Rockets was a perfect example of James’ dominance in smaller games. Even against perimeter defenders like Brooks, he’s too strong to stop him from going downhill.
James controlled Brooks, making him stumble back on thrusts, pulling over him, stepping over him, or simply walking over to him and giving him a thumbs up. “Too small” After a basket.
James continued to play most of his time at power forward, but his time at small forward gave him a nice break and allowed him to crush smaller players.
LeBron looks healthier than ever
James has always taken his health very seriously, spending $1.5 million a year to stay in shape through cryotherapy, hyperbaric chambers and other expenses. Despite these precautions, he suffered a number of nagging injuries as he aged, causing him to average just 52 games over the past three years.
He looks healthier than ever this season. He missed just one of the Lakers’ first 14 games and ranked 29th in the league with 34.4 minutes per game. This fitness has helped him have more practice time to fine-tune his game.
“Because of my foot injuries the past two years or whatever, I’ve been able to play more on my off days this year,” James told ESPN’s Dave McMenamin. “So being able to focus on everything I have to do and not having to stop unless we’re playing a game allows me to keep up,” he added.
James has become more judicious with his playing time, taking the stress off his body. His usage rate (an estimate of how many possessions he uses) is one of the lowest rates of his career. According to NBA statistics, his shooting percentage this season is 54.3%, which is the highest in his career so far.
James still has the ability to control a game, but he’s choosing his spots more wisely and letting his teammates shoulder the load more than ever before.
James continues to remain in the top ten. We shouldn’t take this for granted. Estimated Plus-Minus (EPM), one of the league’s most respected impact statistics, ranks him as the fifth-highest impact player in the league to date. It’s truly unique and there’s still a lot of work to be done.