LeBron James's unexpected scoring renaissance
LeBron James, at the age of 37, is scoring like he did when he was 25.
A lot goes on with the Lakers. Today, let’s focus on LeBron James, whose greatness has been their one constant. Even as everything has fallen apart around him, LeBron has continued playing like one of the best players in the league. The only reason he’s not realistically in the MVP conversation is the Lakers’ mediocre record.
LeBron, at the age of 37, is in full-on carry mode. Just like old times, LeBron has been handed an ill-fitting, mismatched roster not suited to his strengths, and has been asked to carry them to glory. This time, most of his teammates are barely even real NBA players. None of them (except Austin Reaves!) can defend and shoot threes at the same time.
But LeBron has re-entered 2009 Cavaliers mode. He is looking for his own shot, going to a series of scoring moves that have led to him becoming one of the NBA’s highest-volume (and most efficient) scorers again. He’s averaging 29.1 points per game, good for fourth in the league, while adding only 6.5 assists, his lowest assist rate since 2013-14.
Of players who shoot at least 15 field goal attempts per game, LeBron’s effective field goal percentage is second, at an outstanding 58.8 percent (behind only Nikola Jokic). He’s getting to the rim a ton and finishing at his customarily absurd rate. Per NBA.com, he takes the second-most shots within five feet of the rim per game and makes 75 percent of those looks. He’s equivalent to Giannis Antetokounmpo in rate and percentage. This is absolutely ridiculous! This man is 37!
LeBron is also taking a high-volume of three-pointers and converting them at his usual 35 percent clip, plus a useful share of midrange shots.
This isn’t the direction that many expected LeBron to go as he aged. Just two years ago, when the Lakers won the championship, LeBron played point guard and led the league in assists. He was still scoring plenty, but he averaged 25 points and spent more of his time orchestrating the offense. It was expected that LeBron would dominate more as he aged with his prodigious IQ and passing sense.
But that hasn’t been realistic this season. He simply has no one to pass to. Anthony Davis has been out a lot. The Lakers play multiple non-shooters. Russell Westbrook has been a huge detractor for much of the year. The Lakers would not survive if LeBron didn’t spend most games putting up more than 30 points on efficient shooting.
We’ve seen LeBron find all sorts of ways to score. Always a great cutter, he slashes to the hoop at the right times. In late-game situations, he’s found a nice chemistry with Malik Monk, running both ends of a pick-and-roll to generate mismatches. His three-pointer is league-average, but it is always available, oblivious to contests. He has a deepening arsenal of midrange fadeaways and pullups:
Most of all, he finds ways to get to the hoop. He powers through players and leaps through rim protectors, softly laying the ball in off the window like he’s always done:
LeBron is inevitable. His defense comes and goes, his effort varying, but his communication is top-tier, putting teammates in the right spots. He’s still one of the league’s most effective playmakers even as his assist numbers have gone down. The Lakers have unlimited problems, but LeBron is not one of them.
What else is happening in the NBA?
Today is the first day of the All-Star break. Tonight is the Rising Stars Game, featuring four teams of the league’s best young players. Then Saturday night are the events: the Skills Challenge, 3-Point Contest, and Slam Dunk Contest. All-Star Game is Sunday. I’m picking Zach LaVine to win the 3-Point Contest and Jalen Green to win the Dunk Contest.
Last night featured some fun games. The Heat and Hornets ground out a double overtime game. They went into overtime tied at 87, and Miami eventually pulled it out. Jimmy Butler managed to shoot 5-24, but he made a big shot late.
The Sixers and Bucks had quite the battle last night. Philly came away with an impressive win, led by another outstanding Joel Embiid performance. Two thoughts on this game: 1) the Bucks alternated through a few closing lineups, often trying to put Serge Ibaka on Embiid, but found problems with all of them; 2) Matisse Thybulle played just 15 minutes in the game, and only two in the second half. Foul trouble wasn’t an issue. It’s something to monitor.
Anthony Davis is out at least four weeks with a foot sprain. It’s obviously a significant loss for the Lakers, who have a very difficult schedule and sit in ninth place, with virtually no chance of getting out of the play-in.
Luka Doncic is quietly on a tear. He scored 49 points last night in a win over the Pelicans, who got 38 from CJ McCollum.