Reaching 37 as an active player in the NBA is not something that many stars have had the luxury of achieving, which is why the case of LeBron James is worthy of being highlighted, still playing at the level of the best.
Approaching the middle of the 2021-22 regular season, the “King” averages 28 points, 7.2 rebounds and 6.8 assists with 37 minutes per game. This statistical line is comparable with several of the best campaigns of James’s career, which gives him even more credit.
LeBron James turns 37 today?
He’s averaging 28.0 PPG, by far the most by a player age 37 or later in NBA history. pic.twitter.com/SwjoRcIjBo
– SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) December 30, 2021
When trying to compare LeBron’s feat with legends such as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Karl Malone, Michael Jordan and more recently Kobe Bryant, the numbers play in James’ favor.
Abdul-Jabbar averaged 23.4 points and 6.1 rebounds per game, playing an incredible 79 games with the Lakers. In Malone’s case, the “postman” registered 22.4 points and 8.6 rebounds, which was his last season as an All-Star selection.
His “Majesty” was in his second retirement from the league at age 37, but just a year later he played his first season with the Washington Wizards, averaging 22.9 points and 5.7 rebounds per game.
LeBron is now averaging the most points he’s averaged in a season since his last year in Cleveland… the first time, in 2009-10.
The Lakers have a ton of issues, but their soon to be 37 year old with 60K + minutes on the odometer, who’s averaging 28-7-7 on 52% ain’t one of them.
– nick wright (@getnickwright) December 29, 2021
Finally, there is the case of Kobe, who remained active until he was 37 years old and in what was his last season in the league, he had a role as the experienced player of a staff full of talent, registering a line of 17.6 points and 3.7 rebounds in 28 minutes per game.
Doubt hangs over how sustainable this impressive performance will be from LeBron, who while he has had many more injuries over the past two years compared to the other 17 years of his career, he still doesn’t seem to find a enough bump to drive him away. of NBA leaders as the seasons go by.
