The elixir of eternal youth: LeBron James turns 38 in physical and mental prime
The elixir of eternal youth, that treasure so sought after in fiction, must really exist for a privileged few because, otherwise, feats such as the one that the Akron native performs day in and day out would be impossible to live.
It is not at all easy, almost utopian, to remain at the top of a sport with such physical demands - with 82 regular season games - and mental demands - with constant travel and training camps - at almost 40 years of age and after 20 years of professional career. Just ask, for example, another legend, in this case a football legend, Cristiano Ronaldo, who on February 5th will be 38 years old, apparently far from the big leagues.
LeBron James, who continues to be the great beacon that lights up the NBA's most glorious franchise, the Lakers, has been that age since the penultimate day of 2022. Even if the Los Angeles Lakers now shine less brightly, their decline would be even greater if they did not have LeBron and his 27.8 points per game, 8.1 rebounds, 6.6 assists and 1.1 steals that he is averaging this season. And all these numbers, already spectacular in themselves, let alone at 38 years of age, are close to 50% shooting from the field.
Just remember that just ten seasons ago he won his last MVP with 26.8 points per game to which he added 8 rebounds, 7.3 assists and 1.7 steals, playing 2.2 minutes more on average and scoring, yes, 56% of his shots.
So if LeBron isn't in the running for MVP this season, he must not be lacking much. Or they must have some sort of resentment for him despite yet another bad season from a team that has left him alone and abandoned him to his fate.
But his legend, at least on an individual level, continues to generate praise and break records. Now, without his partner in crime Anthony Davis, once again injured, the small forward has once again carried all the weight of Los Angeles on his punished back: 31.8 points, 7.3 assists and 6.2 rebounds since the centre went to the sidelines.
History to be made
Not only will he be remembered as the player who changed the history of the Miami Heat and Cleveland Cavaliers, and turned the Lakers back into champions, but he will surely go down in the basketball history books as the all-time leading scorer in the best league in the world. He is 574 points away from matching Kareem Abdul Jabbar. Or, in other words, about 21 games away.
He could also, by the way, equal the record of 19 All-Star nominations by the legendary center who invented the Sky Hook. And thus come closer to fueling the debate of who has been or is the best player in NBA history, Michael Jordan or himself.
What is clear is that LeBron James can continue to blow out candles every December 30th because time does not seem to pass him by.
