Over the course of time, NBA history has produced many great players, but none have stayed in peak form for as long as LeBron James. The current Los Angeles Lakers superstar has defied what we know about aging in the NBA.
James is about to enter his 22nd NBA season, but he remains one of the best players in the league. He will turn 40 next season, avoiding a massive decline.
While James isn’t the same player he once was, he’s learned to dominate the court in different ways. His athleticism isn’t the same, but he’s improved his three-point shooting to continue to make a difference on the court.
The way James plays is incredible and it’s something we’ve never seen before. But that hasn’t stopped former Lakers player Michael Cooper from comparing him to the Hall of Fame as he prepares for the new year.
Cooper spoke with Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson on Scoop B Radio discussing James and his comparison was a bit interesting.
“It was magical when he came back from retirement. You know, LeBron still has the athleticism, but he’s not at the level that we’re used to. But he still has the knowledge and the intelligence.”
James has been compared to Magic Johnson in the past, so this isn’t new. But comparing him to the older version of Johnson makes sense.
However, James remains one of the best players in the NBA and can still take control of a game when he wants to. Johnson was still a good player but wasn’t as dominant as James is now.
James will be looking to win his fifth NBA title this season, alongside partner Anthony Davis. Together, they form one of the best duos in the league, but the supporting cast will have to step up for the Lakers to win.
With new head coach JJ Redick in place, the Lakers are confident in the group they have at hand. Despite the lack of significant roster changes from last season, Los Angeles is trusting Redick to maximize the core of players.
The journey to another title begins soon for the Lakers, with James leading the way as he has since joining the organization in 2018.
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