They are no longer strong enough to contend at the greatest level. LeBron James, on the other hand, does not fit this description.

LeBron James averaged 26.4 points, 8.2 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 58.6% total efficiency, and 39.7% 3-point shooting percentage in the first 14 games of the NBA 2023–2024 season. All of those stats rank among the top players in the NBA. When LeBron James plays for the Los Angeles Lakers, they outscore their opponents by an average of 28.4 points for every 100 possessions.

Given that LeBron James will turn 39 at the end of December this year, how is it possible for him to continue performing at such a high level? The Sporting News will provide you with the solution in the article below.

Why, at the age of 38, does LeBron James still play at such a high level?

LeBron James’ ability to shoot 3-pointers has greatly improved.

When LeBron James initially entered the NBA, his athletic prowess, quickness, and adaptability were greatly valued. Although he is not the kind of player who can shoot well from three points, he is an incredibly powerful breakout player.

LeBron James is, nevertheless, getting better at turning 3-pointers into baskets. During his rookie campaign, LeBron James’ 3-point percentage was 29%. With a rate of 39.7% in the 2023–2024 NBA season, he has the second-best in his 20 years of professional play.

Furthermore, LeBron James’s ability to score basket-close points also saw a major improvement. NBA statistics show that the star player for the Lakers can shoot 2-pointers up to 68% of the time. This rate even rises to 81.7% when LeBron James enters the area close to the basket, which is 5% higher than during his best season when he won the MVP award in 2013.

For a player who is 38 years old, those statistics are incredibly impressive.

The rival of LeBron James’s aptitude for “reading people”

LeBron James is unmatched not only in terms of his soccer prowess but also in his tactical awareness and opponent comprehension.

Los Angeles Clippers guard Norman Powell claimed in a recent podcast that LeBron James even predicts the run his opponent will make. While playing for the Toronto Raptors in the East, Norman Powell frequently faced LeBron James. He acknowledged that LeBron frequently “read” him and his teammates when they were in tactical running situations.

The altercation with the Houston Rockets last weekend served as an exemplary example. Before the opposition could make a run to cut into the basket, LeBron James even motioned for D’Angelo Russell to follow Dillon Brooks’ position. When LeBron James realized Dillon Brooks was being targeted, he also maintained a certain distance to block a shot from Jabari Smith Jr. of the Rockets.

LeBron James spent more time as a backup striker.

Depending on the game’s score, LeBron James has frequently been used as the Los Angeles Lakers’ starting forward in recent years. LeBron James has the advantage of speed when facing players in this position, but it will require more strength when his opponents have bulky bodies to withstand collisions.

This is no longer the case for the Lakers in the 2023–2024 season, as their roster features numerous taller, higher-caliber players in the key forward positions. This assists LeBron James in resuming his primary role as a striker and occasionally assumes the role of controlling the game’s play.

LeBron James is playing more minutes as a secondary striker than he has since the 2020 campaign, according to statistics. With Christian Wood at center forward and Anthony Davis as the primary scorer, the Lakers outscored their opponents 41.4 points on average for every 100 possessions.

LeBron James proved he was unstoppable against defensive player Dillon Brooks, who can be very annoying. Throughout the entire game, he scored 37 points at an efficiency of up to 74%.

LeBron James still encounters tall players regularly. Still, LeBron James, 38, is exploding because he has more time now to play the secondary striker role with supporting satellites nearby.

Support for LeBron James is greater than it has ever been.

LeBron James prioritizes his health above all else. The 38-year-old superstar is rumored to have spent up to 1.5 million USD annually on cutting-edge therapies to keep his body in tip-top shape since his early NBA days. Over the past 20 years, even LeBron James has adhered to an incredibly strict diet.

Despite some injuries in recent years brought on by aging, LeBron James continues to outlast most NBA players in terms of durability. He only missed one game for the Lakers this season, averaging 34.4 minutes per game to rank 29th in the league.

LeBron James collaborated with a few other players to accomplish this. LeBron James’ ball control percentage is at its lowest point in his career, per NBA statistics. Moreover, this season’s highest percentage in the previous 20 years—54.3%—came from assists from teammates for LeBron James’ scoring attempts.

These stats demonstrate that LeBron James is no longer required to initiate plays or look for openings for his teammates. LeBron James can play more explosively and more efficiently as a result in the 2023–2024 season.