At the age of 38, most players have retired, or accepted reserve status to help them grow old when they no longer have enough strength to compete at the highest level. However, this statement is not true for LeBron James.

In the first 14 games of NBA 2023/24, LeBron James averaged 26.4 points, 8.2 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 58.6% total efficiency and 39.7% 3-point shooting rate. point. Those are all statistics that are among the best players in the NBA. Every time the Los Angeles Lakers have LeBron James on the court, they score an average of 28.4 points better than their opponents in every 100 possessions.

So why can LeBron James still maintain such peak performance when he will turn 39 at the end of December this year? In the article below, The Sporting News will provide you with the answer.

Why does LeBron James still play excellently even though he is over 38 years old?

LeBron James significantly improved his 3-point shooting ability

When he first joined the NBA, LeBron James was highly appreciated for his physical ability, speed and flexibility. He is an extremely strong breakout player, but is not the type of player who can shoot well from the 3-point line.

However, LeBron James is gradually upgrading himself in converting 3-point shots into scores. In his rookie season, LeBron James had a 29% rate at the 3-point line. In the 2023/24 season, he owns a rate of 39.7%, the second best in 20 years of professional play in the NBA.

Not only that, LeBron James also significantly improved his ability to score points near the basket. According to NBA statistics, the Lakers’ superstar has an efficiency of up to 68% on 2-point shots. In particular, if LeBron James approaches the area near the basket, this rate even goes up to 81.7%, 5% better than his best season when he won the MVP title in 2013.

Those are extremely impressive statistics for a 38-year-old player.

The ability to “read people” LeBron James’ opponent

Not only possessing superior soccer skills, tactical vision and understanding of the opponent are also strengths that no one can compare to LeBron James.

In a recent podcast, Los Angeles Clippers guard Norman Powell said LeBron James even knows in advance which run his opponent will make. Norman Powell faced LeBron James many times when he was playing for the Toronto Raptors in the East, admitting that he and his teammates were often “read” by LeBron. every time performing tactical running situations.A typical example was the confrontation with the Houston Rockets last weekend. LeBron James even signaled D’Angelo Russell to follow Dillon Brooks’ position, before the opponent could make a run to cut into the basket. LeBron James himself also kept a certain distance to block a Rockets’ shot from Jabari Smith Jr, when he realized that Dillon Brooks was being marked.

LeBron James played more minutes as a secondary striker

In recent years, the Los Angeles Lakers have often used LeBron James in the main forward positions depending on the score in the match. When confronting players in this position, LeBron James has the advantage of speed, but it will take more strength when his opponents have large bodies to withstand collisions.

This has changed in the 2023/24 season, when the Lakers have a squad with many taller, more quality players in the main forward positions. This helps LeBron James return to his forte position as a striker, in addition to sometimes taking on the role of regulating the gameplay of the match.

Statistics show that LeBron James is playing the most minutes as a secondary striker since the 2020 season. When combined with Anthony Davis as a main striker and Christian Wood as a center forward, the Lakers scored an average of 41.4 points better than opponents for every 100 possession situations.When facing Dillon Brooks, an extremely annoying defensive player, LeBron James showed that he was unstoppable. He brought home 37 points with an efficiency of up to 74% in the whole match.

LeBron James still often has moments when he has to face tall players. However, having more time to take on the secondary striker position with supporting satellites around is helping LeBron James explode at the age of 38.

LeBron James is getting better support than ever

LeBron James always puts his health first. It is known that the 38-year-old superstar has spent up to 1.5 million USD every year since his early days in the NBA, through advanced therapies to maintain his body. Even LeBron James has followed an extremely strict diet over the past 20 years.

Although he has suffered injuries in recent years due to the burden of age, LeBron James still proves to be too durable compared to the vast majority of NBA players. This season, he only missed 1 match for the Lakers, and played an average of 34.4 minutes per match, ranking 29th in the league.

To do this, LeBron James also shared some roles with other players. According to NBA statistics, LeBron James’ ball control rate is at the lowest level of his career. Not only that, 54.3% of LeBron James’ scoring shots this season came from teammates’ assists, the highest rate in the past 20 years.

These numbers show that LeBron James no longer has to take on the role of creating play, as well as hunting for space for his teammates himself. That helps LeBron James distribute his energy better, as well as play explosively more often in the 2023/24 season.