In less than a month, LeBron James will turn 39 years old. Most players retire at this age or are unable to perform at their peak. Nonetheless, LeBron James remains one of the finest players in the NBA.
LeBron James’ outstanding form has helped him average 25 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 6.6 assists while shooting at up to 55.8%. He even led the Los Angeles Lakers to the NBA’s In-Season Tournament Final.
Furthermore, LeBron James becomes much more dangerous in the fourth quarter, or crunch time. This is the term used to describe the final 5 minutes of a match, when the difference between the two teams is no more than 5 points and no winning or losing outcome can be predicted. That was also when the players needed to show the most bravery, and LeBron James gave an incredible performance. Since the beginning of the season, LeBron James has made 65.5% of his shots in crunch time.
So, how can LeBron James retain such outstanding performance at nearly 39 years old?
Three reasons why LeBron James performs well during crunch time
1. LeBron James defends with high basketball IQ.
LeBron James, at 39, cannot be compared to his most productive spell on defense. He is frequently outpaced by opponents with faster and trickier talents, but this does not indicate that LeBron James’ defensive ability is undervalued at the moment.
If he couldn’t defend with physical power, LeBron James used his basketball IQ and tremendous expertise to keep his opponents at bay. Extremely strong situational awareness, alerting teammates to perilous places before the opponent makes a run. He even serves as a backup for his comrades to avoid the worst-case scenario.
Check out the video below to see how LeBron James moves smartly to block an opponent’s pick-and-roll before reading the ensuing pass to win the ball back for his side.
LeBron James adds vital values to the Los Angeles Lakers during crunch time. According to statistics, the Lakers are the greatest defensive club in the NBA this season, allowing opponents to score an average of 93.8 points per 100 ball control situations. The Sacramento Kings are the tournament’s second-place squad, with an average of 97.6 points per 100 ball possession situations.
During the conference call, LeBron James even instructed his teammates on potential circumstances that opponents could present. At 39 years old, LeBron James is no longer the finest one-on-one defensive player, but he is one of the best system support players for the 2023/24 season.
2. Make use of your physical edge versus smaller opponents.
LeBron James is not just adept at guarding, but also at conserving energy while attacking. Typically, opponents would send players with superior defensive abilities to accompany LeBron James. But, of course, the Los Angeles Lakers did not let this happen.
The Lakers players often stepped forward to help by forming a wall, forcing the opposition players to change their markers if they did not want a gap to create right away. A similar situation occurred during the game against the Phoenix Suns, when LeBron James earned two assists to face Grayson Allen, a good defensive player but too little in comparison to LeBron James.
LeBron James does not use speed to beat his opponents. He just took use of his greater height and physical strength to secure the best position, resulting in an easy scoring opportunity.
This allows LeBron James to save energy at the most vital part of the game, resulting in valuable points for the Los Angeles Lakers.
3. Improve three-point shooting ability.
In the 2023/24 season, LeBron James’ 3-point shooting performance has improved significantly. He has an average 3-point shooting success rate of 38.7%, which is significantly higher than his first season in the NBA (29%).
With LeBron James, he blossomed as a player with exceptional physicality, quickness, and talent, specialized in scoring close to the basket or from midrange. Throughout his career, LeBron James has never received much praise for his 3-point shooting ability.
In a professional setting, altering your playing technique to accommodate age is difficult, and few people can perform as well as LeBron James when mastering a completely foreign ability. However, that is exactly what he achieved, strengthening and upgrading his 3-point shooting ability to a strong weapon, making it more difficult for opponents to follow him during the crucial moments of the game.
That is how LeBron James continues to dominate the NBA despite being almost 39 years old. Take advantage of peak basketball IQ, play energy-efficiently, and improve other talents to keep up with the times. Time is what LeBron James gives to the 2023/24 season.