LeBron James has essentially been selected longer than any athlete in sports history by playing his 24th season for the Philadelphia 76ers this year. James was 42 years old in Dec. is involved, and if he completes the second period of his contract, he has played 10 times more than Michael Jordan. James’ peak was not as high as MJ’s by most models, but CAPELLA is trying to capture the longevity debate, and he certainly made the pay-per-view debate.
Father Time doesn’t lose, and even chances are against a monster of nature like LeBron. James showed some signs of age last night with the 76ers in dire need of a fourth quarter to get by the Indiana Pacers without Tyrese Haliburton and Ivica Zubac. James in a solid win with 13 points, 10 assists, five rebounds, and three steals, but also at the end of a bad two highlight play that is still talked about the day after.
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Early in the second part, James hastening down the hall, what must have been a fast course. Instead, Indiana’s Jalen Slawson, who has only been contracted in two ways, beat him at the rim for a block offense. LeBron made it to LeBron! Watch the game here:
It was LeBron never caught behind for years and years and years. There’s only so much he can do before he turns 42, though, and this time another super athlete like Slawson got the best of him. Watch Slawson’s trash talk to LeBron at the end of that clip. Respect some elders, young man! I’m saying this as a big Slawson fan, I think it’s too good for the Summer League list this year.
As if that wasn’t enough, LeBron got even worse in the fourth quarter. Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard squares James and hits him on a dirty cross that sent a 40-something jolt. Nembhard shot, so the clip couldn’t be so low.
The Sixers came back and improved to 4-1 on the year. That’s great. LeBron has remained durable while so many other players have gone down with injuries early this season, and he has proven to be a key player with championship aspirations come playoff time.
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Everything LeBron is doing at this age is crazy, but he’s still showing plenty of signs of slowing down. The end is near, but LeBron is fighting for an athletic life like we’ve never seen before.