LeBron James will be under the spotlight anew as he tries to lead the Los Angeles Lakers versus the Houston Rockets in the first round of the playoffs, with Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves likely to miss the entire series.
The obvious question is, can James still carry a team at 41 years old? In recent years, many thought that he would start regressing. But he has proven repeatedly that while he has slowed down a bit, he is still among the NBA’s elite.
The four-time MVP is at his best in the playoffs, where the stakes are higher, the lights are brighter, and the pressure is heavier. For Lakers coach JJ Redick, that is exactly what makes James a threat, even at his age, according to a report from Los Angeles Times’ Thuc Nhi Nguyen.
“I think a lot of the great players, the best players, what they’re addicted to is being the showman, and being on the stage and giving a performance,” said Redick.
“One of the reasons they’re great and they’re able to be the showman so consistently is because they recognize (that) to be the showman, I have to do all the things necessary to then go on stage and perform at my best. That’s the commitment with LeBron that I’ve talked about so often.”
James has won a title with three different squads, a testament to his greatness and ability to imbibe a winning culture almost single-handedly. But Redick stated that he will not rely solely on James versus Houston.
The NBA’s all-time leading scorer willingly took a backseat to Doncic and Reaves in the latter part of the season, resulting in an impressive surge.
James has seen it all in his 23 years in the league. While trying to carry the Lakers against the Rockets is not an easy task by any means, he is ready to be the showman.
LeBron James will be under the spotlight anew as he tries to lead the Los Angeles Lakers versus the Houston Rockets in the first round of the playoffs, with Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves likely to miss the entire series. The obvious question is, can James still carry a team at 41 years old? In recent years, many thought that he would start regressing.