LeBron James entered the NBA in 2003 as a highly skilled player, but he acknowledges that he has undergone significant transformation and improvement throughout his 21-season career. In a recent episode of his Mind The Game podcast with JJ Redick, James discussed the evolution of his game.

While advanced analytics play a significant role in today’s NBA, guiding players and teams on shot selection, James has always been an efficient player and hasn’t received much feedback in that regard. He has focused on finding the best shot within each possession, occasionally taking forced shots late in the shot clock or when he feels he has a good rhythm. Over the years, he has moved away from being a pull-up jump shooter and has become more of a post player, expanding his game to include three-point shooting.

As he has gotten older, James has found success in the post and mid-range areas, resembling Karl Malone’s style of play. In recent years, he has also become a threat from beyond the arc, making him difficult to guard. Despite the Lakers’ loss to the Nuggets in the first round of the playoffs, James displayed dominant scoring performances throughout the 2023-24 season.

Throughout his 21 seasons in the NBA, James has consistently defied age with his remarkable efficiency and productivity. In his rookie season, he shot 43.8% from the field and 29% from three-point range. However, in the 2023-24 season, at the age of 39, he improved his shooting efficiency to 59.2% from the field and 41% from three-point range. This increase in efficiency, combined with his high basketball IQ, has allowed him to maintain a high level of production even in his later years.