LeBron James turned 41 last month. Reports confirm he has appeared in only 14 of the Lakers’ first 30 games this season, sitting out every back-to-back for the rest of the season.
But his agent, Rich Paul, just explained why defenses still can’t solve him. The Klutch Sports CEO dropped basketball science on a recent podcast, breaking down why Year 23 Bron remains a nightmare matchup.
Rich Paul Explains Secret Behind LeBron James’ Longevity
Paul’s latest comments about James longevity and his ability to maintain elite production even late in his NBA career came during a wide-ranging discussion. The best part? He wasn’t selling hype but teaching film study in real time.
Paul set the baseline first on why James is aging like fine wine. “I said that obviously the ceiling is who he is or who he has been for his career, but the floor was Karl Malone,” the popular sports agent said.
That’s the worst-case scenario. At the very least, James’ playing at Hall of Fame power forward levels, which was missing in Malone’s longevity. The Mailman averaged 25 and 10 until age 39 despite being reputed for being an immense physical specimen.
However, Paul didn’t stop there. He broke down the tactical nightmare James creates that left crowds in the Crypto.com arena still in awe.
“If LeBron just decided to set screens… If Deandre Ayton sets a screen, they’re going to blitz Luka and make Deandre Ayton make a decision, right?” Paul explained.
Then came the money line. “If LeBron sets the screen, you pretty much have to switch it, because if you blitz him now, he’s short-rolling as a decision maker,” Paul revealed.
That’s the cheat code, quite frankly. Most bigs rolling to the rim can’t punish aggressive defense but James got the full arsenal. On short rolls, he creates plays — finding teammates on four-on-three situations, hitting pocket passes, or kicking the ball out to shooters.
Paul also highlighted how James could affect the game in various other ways beyond just scoring. That versatility at 41 years old separates the Lakers King from every aging star before him.
Plus, with Luka Doncic in the team, he has got full freedom to perform more than a shooter and utilize every bit of his big size. But again, due to his age, he can’t play every game. So, coach JJ Redick is figuring out how to maximize what he has got.
James sat out on Wednesday against San Antonio Spurs, continuing his pattern of resting on back-to-backs, but he dropped 30 points on Tuesday against New Orleans Pelicans in just 33 minutes.
James is currently averaging 21.7 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 6.8 assists this season. Quite frankly, those aren’t MVP numbers. But the impact he brings to the table is unmatched, which is enough to win if he can continue through the season.
