LeBron James might be on the older side for an NBA player, but you wouldn't always guess it from the way he plays. As the Los Angeles Lakers' star, he's still a pivotal part of their game plan, even as he crosses into his forties.
The Lakers, currently sitting third in the fiercely competitive Western Conference with a 42-25 record, are chasing the Oklahoma City Thunder and the San Antonio Spurs. Despite his age, the team continues to lean heavily on LeBron, much more than fans might prefer, as they push through the season.
Lakers head coach JJ Redick recognizes the delicate balance they need to strike. Ahead of their matchup with the Houston Rockets, Redick acknowledged that while LeBron's usage is high, it's when he's heavily involved that the team truly shines.
“He’s still going to be, and still has been, a high-usage player relative to your average player,” Redick mentioned. “The best thing for our team is being the third-highest-used player, you know, and obviously there’s been stretches of the year where he’s had to do more with injuries or guys being out of lineup.”
LeBron might not be the one-man show he once was, but his contributions are still crucial. Post-All-Star break, he's averaging 18.7 points per game over 10 games, ranking third in scoring for the Lakers behind Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. Additionally, he’s pulling down 5.2 rebounds and dishing out 6.6 assists per game, sharing the offensive load more than ever.
The Lakers are eyeing their first championship since their 2020 triumph in the bubble. They've flirted with success in the years since but haven't quite made it back to the Finals.
Could this be the season LeBron captures his sixth championship, matching the legendary Michael Jordan's six rings? The journey continues, and with LeBron still in the mix, anything is possible.