“If you want to win, the key is you will have to overcome a LeBron James team. That’s what we have to focus on. We can’t just focus on LeBron because there are a lot of really good players around him. You will have to pass the same test over and over again until you pass it. That test is LeBron James.”

Jimmy Butler answered like that when he successfully brought Miami Heat to the 2020 NBA finals in his first season moving in. That’s not simply a compliment about LeBron. A person who has reached the final match of the NBA 9 times in the last 10 seasons is definitely a true “bogey man”.

Smash doubts

But just a year ago around this time, the position of “The King” was more shaken than ever. LeBron James, who is playing his 17th NBA season and preparing to turn 36 next December, went through a season where a groin injury limited him to only 55 games, the lowest in his career.

LeBron is also no longer the most overrated player in the NBA. ESPN and Sports Illustrated only ranked LeBron James third, behind Giannis Antetokounmpo and Kawhi Leonard. James called the 2019/20 season an opportunity for “revenge” and that is exactly what has happened since last October when the Lakers, led by LeBron and Anthony Davis, began their journey to the NBA Finals. .

LeBron’s success and persistence are a testament to a talent that seems to come from another “world” as well as an incredible adaptability. In fact, LeBron has almost always played as a ball defender on the court since the beginning of his career

At the Lakers, coach Frank Vogel even asked “The King” to take on more responsibility for building play. For the first time in his career, LeBron ranked No. 1 in the NBA in assists with an average of 10.2 per game. According to NBA Advanced Stats tracking data, LeBron is averaging more touches, passes and possessions per game since the 2013/14 season.

Change to be better

James remains one of the league’s most explosive players. However, it must be admitted that King James is no longer at the peak of his form like when he “got his feet wet” in Cleveland and won 4 consecutive NBA finals with Miami.

Even a normal fan can clearly see this. Scouts and coaches all have the same opinion: LeBron is no longer “crazy” breaking into the area under the basket like before.

Instead, “The King” relies more on calculated moves and pure physical fighting style. Statistics don’t lie. This was the season where LeBron posted a career-low free throw percentage but his scoring output was not affected.

“The King” currently averages 26.7 points, 10.3 rebounds and 8.9 assists per game in the Playoffs with superior defense and finished second in the MVP voting. This year’s Playoffs have shown an obvious truth that many people doubted last season: James is still the best basketball player in the world.

LeBron’s physical condition has and will continue to change over the years, but his basketball thinking ability has not. LeBron has always been a smart player with the size, finesse and vision to make any pass.

Those skills cannot fade over the years. If LeBron’s scoring declines in the coming years, he will likely rely more on his playmaking ability while still making a huge impact on the game.

James is clearly changing his style of play in that direction. In the past 4 seasons, King James has successfully broken 4/5 personal records for the highest career assist rate. This season, LeBron continued to set a new personal milestone with an assist rate of up to 49.1% for teammates scoring while on the court.

Great physical condition and top-notch thinking

Over the past 30 seasons, LeBron’s assists milestones have only been surpassed 26 times by 9 other players, mainly by pure point guards like John Stockton, Steve Nash, Chris Paul or Rajon Rondo. .

Magic Johnson is the only player with a height of more than 1.95 m to ever do this. If LeBron continues to maintain this style of play in the coming seasons, it will not be surprising if he continues to break personal records.

With LeBron’s body shape and strength, it is clear that he is “endowed” with better things than ball-dribbling defenders who are at a disadvantage in height. “The King” has the ability to maintain his playmaking style until his late 30s or 40s, depending on LeBron’s own health status.

This is even more convenient for LeBron when next to him is Anthony Davis, one of the best scorers in the NBA today. Davis can completely dunk after high passing situations, score points with skillful movement or even retreat to an empty position to shoot 3 points when Pick n Pop.

If the defense catches wall situations, LeBron can completely trust Davis to hit the ball 1-1 in the bottleneck area (the area right in front of the free throw line from the basket to the line).

In fact, James has done that very often this season. According to NBA Advanced Stats, “The King” assisted Davis 2.7 times per match in the Regular season and 3.1 times per match in the Playoffs. Those are all LeBron’s highest assist stats for a teammate to show that this All Star striker is clearly the most preferred “partner”.

Anthony Davis is only 27 years old and is in the prime of his career. If LeBron starts to show signs of age, he can completely play “through” AD like he did in game 3 of the series with the Denver Nuggets or choose his own position to be the main scorer with 38 points. , 16 rebounds and 10 assists in game 5.

LeBron James can completely retire today with a huge list of achievements: 16 times selected to the All-NBA team (most of all time), 4 MVP titles (tied for 3rd place with Wilt Chamberlain), 3 titles. NBA championship, 3 MVP titles in the finals (second all-time after Michael Jordan with 6).

LeBron will add more color to his magnificent record if the Lakers defeat the Heat in the upcoming finals. And while we debate whether James has surpassed Michael Jordan as the GOAT (greatest player of all time), that conversation isn’t over yet.

For LeBron, there is simply no end in sight as his physicality and well-rounded skill set will allow him to continue competing for NBA championships as long as he remains motivated. Whether it’s a new role, on a new team in the West or the East, talking about LeBron James is remembering one thing: “The guard” of the NBA ring.