As LeBron James enters his third decade in the NBA, he finds himself surrounded by teammates who grew up idolizing him and watching him dominate the game. He has even played against the sons of his basketball contemporaries, as well as his own son’s former high school teammates. Bronny, his 18-year-old son, is set to attend USC in the fall, a source of great pride for his father.
At 38 years old, signs of time’s passage are evident for James. However, the new all-time leading scorer in NBA history is defying conventional wisdom about aging in a sport that demands merciless athleticism. When fully healthy, which admittedly occurs less frequently than he would like, James continues to sprint, dunk, throw no-look passes, and compete with the same intensity that has kept him at the top for 20 grueling NBA seasons.
Teammate Anthony Davis acknowledges James’ uniqueness, stating, “Bron is just different. He keeps showing us, showing you. He’s not done yet, either.”
Just two days before the Los Angeles Lakers eliminated the formidable Golden State Warriors to advance to the Western Conference finals, James was named to the All-NBA third team. It was his 19th selection to an All-NBA team, an astonishing feat considering he played in only 56 games during the season.
“I don’t take those moments for granted,” James humbly expressed. “I don’t take anything that I’ve been able to accomplish for granted, and I’m always appreciative. To be a part of that class of 15 guys is still pretty cool, even at my age and where I’m at right now, Year 20. Just don’t take it for granted. Obviously, I’ve got bigger fish to fry. But those small moments, those small wins right there, is all part of the journey, all part of the legacy.”
The “big fish” James refers to is his fifth NBA championship, which is remarkably just eight wins away despite a tumultuous Lakers season. It is an incredible achievement for a team that started the season with a 2-10 record and was 26-32 in mid-February, shortly after James surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the league’s all-time leading scorer.
After an impressive 27-12 run over the past two months, including victories over the second-seeded Memphis Grizzlies and the defending champions, the Lakers will begin the conference finals against the top-seeded Denver Nuggets. The Lakers have been resilient, avoiding back-to-back losses since March 17 and losing only once at home since March 26.
As Lakers coach Darvin Ham frequently emphasizes, James’ impact is evident in the team’s success, particularly in crucial games. During the first round of the playoffs, James had his first 20-point, 20-rebound playoff game in the Lakers’ victory over the Memphis Grizzlies in Game 4, where he also hit the dramatic game-tying shot in the final second of regulation. In the second round, James recorded 30 points, nine rebounds, and nine assists in the series-clinching Game 6 win over the defending champion Golden State Warriors, marking his first 30-point playoff performance since the 2020 season.